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Societal Indicators
Vivendi’s Four “Core” Issues Relating to Human Rights
Similarly, Canal+ Afrique was a partner to the first edition of Land
of African Business, which was held during COP 21 in Paris in
December 2015. This event, held under the high patronage of the French
Ministry of the Economy, Industry and Finance, was a place for sharing
best practices for innovative companies in Africa and Europe. The
group partnered with “L’Afrique au Féminin” (Africa by Women) round
table, whose title was inspired by Canal+ Afrique’s initiative aimed at
identifying and empowering young African female filmmakers. This round
table was an opportunity to discuss the role of art and culture production
in Africa, as well as women’s role in this production. The group has
also supported young female entrepreneurs from Africa and the African
diaspora by presenting the women’s entrepreneurship award in the
African Rethink Awards.
4.1.2.
EMPOWERING AND PROTECTING YOUNG
PEOPLE IN THEIR USE OF DIGITAL MEDIA
In a digital environment that is dramatically changing cultural practices
and the way in which the media is used, Vivendi has a major role to play
in assisting young people in their quest for self-fulfillment, in expressing
their creativity, in accessing knowledge and media literacy. This is why,
since 2003, Vivendi has defined the empowerment and protection of
young people as a strategic “core” issue of its CSR policy (see Chapter 2,
Section 1.1.1 of the Annual Report 2015). Since 2010, this objective
has been part of the CSR criteria taken into account in the variable
compensation of the group’s senior executives.
4.1.2.1. Empowering Young Audiences
INITIATIVES FOR ENABLING YOUNG PEOPLE
TO EXPRESS THEIR CREATIVE TALENT
AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT
GRI
UNGC OECD Scope covered
MSS M7
1, 2
II, IV
UMG
Canal+ Group
Corporate
Involving young citizens and students in discussions about the CSR of the
media sector is fully integrated within Vivendi’s approach. This is why, as
part of its partnership with Sciences Po (see Chapter 2, Section 2.1.2.1 of
the Annual Report 2015), Vivendi wanted to solicit the viewpoints of the
students in the Europe-Africa program by inviting them to write an essay
on the theme of cultural diversity and digital in Africa. The students,
aged 17 to 19, who produced the best essays were awarded a prize
during a ceremony at UNESCO celebrating the 10
th
anniversary of the
Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural
Expressions. Their essays were published on
Culture(s) with Vivendi
.
The
Culture(s) with Vivendi
site is included in the educational resources
recommended by the MOOC “Do It Yourself - media and information
literacy”, directed by media sociologist Divina Frau-Meigs. The site
appears in the section “Exposing students to intercultural dialog for
intercultural living together and respect for cultural diversity”.
In 2015, several programs on Canal+ Group’s youth channels encouraged
children to show their talents and skills. In addition to the
Le Club des
super héros
show, Piwi+ offered workshops for craftwork on its channel
to encourage children to create things by themselves. On Télétoon+,
Kids
Talents
from Kids 20 allowed young viewers to come and perform in the
TV studio with short demonstrations of songs or dances. In Poland, after
launching a call for contributions from young viewers, Télétoon Sport
broadcast the videos created by the children on the theme of basketball.
In addition, Canal+ works to identify and bring out young, talented and
promising journalists through its two
Grands matchs
on the theme of
news and sports. The 2015 edition of these competitions, aimed at
students in the final year of journalism school, offered the winners the
possibility of joining the channel’s editorial team for one year. In 2015,
Canal+ also renewed the
Grand match de l’innovation
, which invites
young people to develop an innovative program concept. This competition
is an opportunity for the candidates selected, accompanied by coaches,
to present their projects to channel executives, which will allow them, in
some cases, to join the Canal+ teams or participate in the implementation
of their project.
In November 2015 in Africa, Canal+ launched the
MDR!
project (Mort
de rire, or Dying of laughter) in partnership with CFI, the French media
cooperation agency, to identify and train the African talent of tomorrow
who will participate in the development of new short comedy programs.
The candidates selected will receive training in writing and series
production. Canal+ will finance eight pilots and will broadcast the best
on its channel.
UMG also pursues a number of initiatives to assist and promote a new
generation of artists and professionals in the music industry. In 2015,
Abbey Road Studios, owned by UMG, established the Abbey Road
Institute. Since September 2015, this educational institution has offered
one-year apprenticeship courses. After training under the studio’s
professionals, the students receive a diploma in sound engineering
and musical production. This training is not only offered in London, the
studio’s historical home, but also in Australia, Germany and France.
For the release of the song “Tell Everybody”, intended to raise awareness
of the UN’s global goals for sustainable development (see Chapter 2,
Section 2.1.2.2 of the Annual Report 2015), UMG partnered with director
Richard Curtis to organize a major contest for young Africans to write
the lyrics to the song which features verses in English, French, Swahili,
Pidgin and Zulu. Almost 6,000 young people from 24 countries sent their
proposed lyrics by mobile phone.
In Australia, UMG teamed up in 2015 with the charitable association
Musicians Making a Difference, which offers art therapy to tens
of thousands of troubled youths. Together, they have launched the
#MMAD4U campaign to support and promote the association’s work,
primarily through a major Instagram campaign. As part of this program,
UMG accepted 10 young people to a six-month tutoring program. During
the program, which was assisted by 10 managers from the record
company, the participants were able to write and record their song,
and participate in shooting the video and the press communication that
accompanied it.
Additionally, UMG and its artists develop young music fans by providing
many opportunities to exercise their creativity and share their passion for
music. One example is British singer James Bay, who partnered with the
Talenthouse platform and the British Film Institute to invite his fans to
produce short videos as concepts for a short film to accompany his new
album
Chaos and the Calm
. Following this project, James Bay selected
a young director to enrich the concept and shoot a 15-minute video to
be presented at the BFI Future Film Festival in London and SXSW in
March 2016.
EXTRA-FINANCIAL INDICATORS HANDBOOK
2015
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