Credits
Special
Sietse Bakker speaks exclusively to esctoday
Junioreurovision.tv on today!
Sietse, do you miss working with the esctoday.com team?
"Yes, I do. Actually, I didn’t think I would miss it so much. Even though my new job provides great new challenges, it cannot be compared to the atmosphere inside the esctoday.com team, the challenges we faced and the informal approach. After six years of fun, who would expect something else?"
How was the transition from working for an independent site to working for EBU?
"From the EBU as well as from the esctoday.com team, I got a lot of support during the transition period. After some reorganization, esctoday.com is growing more than ever, so I’ve heard, new people joined the team and coverage becomes more and more extensive. That’s certainly worth a compliment to the current team. On the other hand, everyone at the EBU is very excited about the current changes and everyone's very supportive."
How different is it to work for EBU?
"Even though I had a clear picture of my new job when I started, I learned a lot over the past months. Of course, it’s a lot different from working on an independent website, which partly has the task to reflect and criticize the EBU’s activities. That’s a very healthy task, but cannot be compared with the role of an event site, which simply has different objectives. Working at the EBU is hard working, but very excited, full of challenges and inspiring".
"Yes, I do. Actually, I didn’t think I would miss it so much. Even though my new job provides great new challenges, it cannot be compared to the atmosphere inside the esctoday.com team, the challenges we faced and the informal approach. After six years of fun, who would expect something else?"
How was the transition from working for an independent site to working for EBU?
"From the EBU as well as from the esctoday.com team, I got a lot of support during the transition period. After some reorganization, esctoday.com is growing more than ever, so I’ve heard, new people joined the team and coverage becomes more and more extensive. That’s certainly worth a compliment to the current team. On the other hand, everyone at the EBU is very excited about the current changes and everyone's very supportive."
How different is it to work for EBU?
"Even though I had a clear picture of my new job when I started, I learned a lot over the past months. Of course, it’s a lot different from working on an independent website, which partly has the task to reflect and criticize the EBU’s activities. That’s a very healthy task, but cannot be compared with the role of an event site, which simply has different objectives. Working at the EBU is hard working, but very excited, full of challenges and inspiring".
Since you took up the post of Project Manager Internet of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest a lot has been done. Which would you say is the most important achievement of your new team so far?
"I can be very short about that: Getting a new site up and running within an extremely short time frame. The new JuniorEurovision.tv is already very different from the previous version, but I also realize there is a need for constant change and improvement. But that cannot be a surprise, as basically all websites need to keep up with the latest developments!"
What are the new features of the improved Junioreurovision.tv?
"The MediaCentre puts the songs and the performances of the young stars to the centre of the virtual arena. It’s the key element in the new design, which is refreshing, appeals to children and contributes to the spirit of the event. We are also aiming for more interactivity, more content and more exclusive stories!"
In what languages will it be offered?
"We start with the launch of the English version, the Romanian version will follow shortly after, which is the result of an intensive and very pleasant co-operation with Romanian broadcaster TVR".
So French is not an option any more. Why is that?
"As the French speaking territories are not represented in this year’s contest, it was a logical choice to focus on the host country".
What is the average Junioreurovision.tv visitor’s profile? What features will you be introducing in the new site for them?
"When we started building this new website, we had several user profiles. We realize that kids of 8 years old use the internet in a different way compared to kids aged 15. For instance, we tried to find a good balance between entertainment and education, by giving some trivia about each participating country, showing flags and statistics. To establish a safe and child-friendly website, was one of the key aims for the new JuniorEurovision.tv!"
What would you say is the site’s main focus?
"The 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest on the first place, the contest’s history on the second place. In the future, we will enlarge our perspective".
How do you feel the new site will help increase the popularity of JESC?
"I feel confident about this. Not just because the current site is an improvement compared to the previous one, but also because we are on the verge of giving the Junior Eurovision Song Contest an online dimension. That’s my cliffhanger, for the moment! "
Everyone here at esctoday.com would like to wish our former colleague and mentor the very best in your new career!
"I can be very short about that: Getting a new site up and running within an extremely short time frame. The new JuniorEurovision.tv is already very different from the previous version, but I also realize there is a need for constant change and improvement. But that cannot be a surprise, as basically all websites need to keep up with the latest developments!"
What are the new features of the improved Junioreurovision.tv?
"The MediaCentre puts the songs and the performances of the young stars to the centre of the virtual arena. It’s the key element in the new design, which is refreshing, appeals to children and contributes to the spirit of the event. We are also aiming for more interactivity, more content and more exclusive stories!"
In what languages will it be offered?
"We start with the launch of the English version, the Romanian version will follow shortly after, which is the result of an intensive and very pleasant co-operation with Romanian broadcaster TVR".
So French is not an option any more. Why is that?
"As the French speaking territories are not represented in this year’s contest, it was a logical choice to focus on the host country".
What is the average Junioreurovision.tv visitor’s profile? What features will you be introducing in the new site for them?
"When we started building this new website, we had several user profiles. We realize that kids of 8 years old use the internet in a different way compared to kids aged 15. For instance, we tried to find a good balance between entertainment and education, by giving some trivia about each participating country, showing flags and statistics. To establish a safe and child-friendly website, was one of the key aims for the new JuniorEurovision.tv!"
What would you say is the site’s main focus?
"The 2006 Junior Eurovision Song Contest on the first place, the contest’s history on the second place. In the future, we will enlarge our perspective".
How do you feel the new site will help increase the popularity of JESC?
"I feel confident about this. Not just because the current site is an improvement compared to the previous one, but also because we are on the verge of giving the Junior Eurovision Song Contest an online dimension. That’s my cliffhanger, for the moment! "
Everyone here at esctoday.com would like to wish our former colleague and mentor the very best in your new career!
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