Monaco Revue -- The celebrity and lifestyle magazine with purpose

Social Diary by Candace Durocher

Media moguls meet in Monte Carlo

So what's new on television? How about your family's photo album? Or that report the boss is after you to finish? Or maybe your favourite magazine?

Media moguls meeting in Monaco got a sneak preview of technological innovations that in a few years will most likely change the way you use familiar gadgets in your home.

The future seems to be in integration. Betting that the biggest screen in the house will remain the focus of attention, companies are shortly to roll out systems that will make your television work more like a computer. Instead of just zapping channels with the remote, you'll be able to access almost any kind of digital information through your television set. But there was even a company offering technology going the other way, putting the telly inside your computer...so you can now watch live television on your computer screen while pretending to finish that report for the boss.

The event, the Monaco Media Forum (MMF), brought together a diverse group of folk involved in various aspects of media and technology, and made for a very stimulating experience. One minute we were talking with Catherine Ladousse, executive director of communications for Lenovo, the Chinese company that bought out IBM's PC division a couple of years ago; the next, we were swapping notes with the impeccably stylish Yaffa Assouline, editor of LuxuryCulture.com; and then we found ourselves seated next to Francine Costeau (widow of the famous seafarer, Jacques), who excitedly told of progress in filming the work to restore his beloved ship Calypso.

The MMF was co-chaired by Maurice Lévy, head honcho at the international advertising giant Publicis Groupe, which organized the event.

A highlight of the gathering was the presentation by Prince Albert II of Monaco of the inaugural MMF prize to Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury for courage in journalism. The Bangladeshi editor, whose weekly tabloid has condemned Islamic extremism and promoted interfaith dialogue among Jews, Muslims and Christians, has faced detention and mob beatings and is awaiting the start of his trial for sedition.

Amidst the excitement of the technology demos and talk of big media deals, Nobel Peace prize winner Elie Wiesel made a passionate and eloquent plea for the media leaders to "Think higher and feel deeper." We were particularly fascinated when he urged the high-powered gathering to dedicate at least one percent of their efforts to social causes rather than being purely about profit, so that they, for example, might join the fight to eradicate poverty or educate children. When you look at our raison d'être, you'll see that's precisely what Monaco Revue is all about. It made us feel very cutting edge.

Prince Albert greets Elie Wiesel; Maurice Lévy looks on
Monaco

European MP Prof Gianni De Michelis with MMF prize winner Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury of Bangladesh
Monaco

Rebecca Magniant with Yaffa Assouline
Monaco

Publicis Groupe vice president, communications, John Rossant with Ernst & Young partner Jack Anderson

Photos: © DP Inc.

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Comments to date: 2. Page 1 of 1.

Sohail Choudhury, Dhaka, Bangladesh	Posted at 10:31am on Tuesday, November 13th, 2007
Our editor on his coming back from Monaco tells everyone that this is not a country but "a piece of heaven on the earth". He also tells us about the greatness of HSH Prince Albert II. We all now know this very excellent country and the most esteemed Prince. May the relations between Bangladesh and M... read more »
Chanel, Ontario	Posted at 2:16pm on Monday, November 12th, 2007
Wow...the technology is definitely unbelievable these days! Accessing almost any kind of digital information through your television set...how cool is that?

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