New York Festivals Television & Film Awards Grand Jury 2020 Interview profiles prominent award-winning Broadcast executives from around the globe. As industry leaders, they understand the elements that go into creating compelling award-winning nonfiction content.

Grand Jury member Manuela Kasper-Claridge is a journalist and head of Deutsche Welle Business and Science Dept. DW is Germany's international broadcaster. She initiated partnerships with the WEF and is on the board of trustees of Germany’s ifo Institute and a member of the Hamburg Institute of International Economics.

NYF: How do you think being an award winner yourself will help evaluate this year’s submission?

Manuela Kasper-Claridge: I certainly do know now how challenging the competition is :-)

NYF: Where do you see the industry evolving in the next 5 years?

Manuela Kasper-Claridge: Digital Players will disrupt the industry further, new players will enter the market, the industry will be marked by rapid change, video-on-demand will become even more important than it is today but what do the consumers really want? We don´t know yet. I certainly do hope that unbiased journalism is on top the consumers wish list.

NYF: What are the biggest challenges facing content creators in today’s world?

Manuela Kasper-Claridge: Content is king but what kind of content is difficult to predict. Do we need strong visuals or is the story the driver or both and how do we finance these stories?

NYF: What would you love to do as your next project?

Manuela Kasper-Claridge: I do love solution-based journalism or constructive journalism. I would like to do more stories about people who have an impact on society like Melati Wijsen, Co-Founder of Bye Bye Plastic Bags, Indonesia (Bali). She is only 18 years old and an impressive young woman who achieved a plastic bag ban for Bali. I know there are many more women and men who change our world in a positive way. I would like to produce these stories.

For more information or to enter the New York Festivals TV & Film Awards, please visit: www.newyorkfestivals.com/tvfilm/ or view the 2019 Winners Showcase.