FIAM advocating for inclusion of multimedia into International Standard Industrial Classification

Over the past few years, as FIAM has opened up its membership throughout the world, we have found out that acquiring appropriate information on the multimedia industry is a hard task: first, there is a lack of specific indicators for the measurement of this industrial sector, second, the development rate of multimedia activities varies enormously from one country (or continent) to another. One more confusing factor relates to the numerous terms used to define the sector: digital content production, new media, interactive media or content, online media, etc. And to top it, there seems to be a confusion with the notion of ICT, which in fact is exclusively associated with a “combination of manufacturing and services industries that capture, transmit and display data and information electronically” (OECD Definition of ICT Sector, Measuring the Information Economy, 2002, Annex 1) .

There is no standard industrial classification by which we can measure economic activities and trade development between countries in the multimedia content industry. The UNESCO Institute for Statistics, for example, is interested in adding new statistical indicators defining “culture and communications” by including digital content on top of traditional sectors such as books, libraries, cinema and radio/television. Therefore, in view of OECD’s major revision of ISIC (International Standard Industrial Classification) to be undertaken in 2007, FIAM will instigate the designing of a clear and comprehensive map of the multimedia sector.

This ambitious undertaking will require the support and commitment of major partners among whom international organisations, governments and other private sector sponsors. Welcome to all.

André G. Côté, Director-general

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The Multimedia World Watch (M2W),
an organization of FIAM, is taking part in the organization of the 9th International Society on Virtual Systems and Multimedia (VSMM) conference to be held in Montreal, Canada, October 15-17, 2003. (Read more)

FIAM is joining the Multimedia Market of the Americas (MMA)
for the third time by organizing the Quebec delegation traveling to IT@americas, to be held in Tijuana, Mexico, May 20-23, 2003. (Read more)

This month interview: David O'Sullivan, Secretary general of the European Commission
(Read more)

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United states
The New York New Media Association (NYNMA) published this month a report entitled The website’s transforming role: from marketing channel to marketing central. The 14-page document was produced by CRM Metrix, a New York-based online marketing and business consulting firm. (Read more)

Malaysia
PIKOM, The Association of the Computer and Multimedia Industry of Malaysia calls its members to focus on exporting their technologies and know-how to the world and will provide help to penetrate international markets. (Read more)

Russia
The Institute of the Information Society-Russia (IIS RU) is involved in two related projects to reinforce the online network capabilities of Russian libraries and information centres across the country. (Read more)

France
French multimedia association Franche-comté Interactive (FCI) announces the change of name of Pôle multimedia de Franche-comté, the organization in charge of promoting digital content and usage in this south-eastern region of France. (Read more)

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Czech artist Tom Drahos is the latest winner of the 10,000 Euro Arcimboldo Price for digital creation, awarded every year since 1998 by the French Association des gens d’images and Hewlett-Packard France in late February. (Read more)

Are movie theatres going digital?
Yes but slowly seems to be saying John Fithian, President of the National Association of Theatre owners (NATO). Answering questions regarding the current state of digital cinema (late 2002) in the United States, Mr. Fithian considers the medium to be at the testing stage still.(Read more)

IPv6 is about to take hold in the United Arab Emirates as the Emiratee company UAEnic is set to deploy the worldwide yet to be tested new Internet Protocol. The implementation of IPv6 will increase the number of IP addresses available and by the same token increase the number of electronic devices and appliances that can be connected to the Internet. (Read more)

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