With preparation for this year’s Junior Eurovision Song Contest in France well under way, changes within the contest’s Steering Group ahead of the contest taking place in Nice in November.
The role of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest Steering Group
As mentioned by the EBU, The Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC) Steering Group is the executive committee representing all Members whose purpose it is to supervise and guide the Junior Eurovision Song Contest (JESC). Its objective, as defined by the EBU, is to:
- secure the format of the JESC;
- modernize the brand and raising the awareness of the JESC;
- overlook the yearly preparation by the Host Broadcaster.
The JESC Steering group meets four or five times each year on behalf of all participating broadcasters, and is required to take decisions in the general interest of the JESC.
The JESC Steering Group is composed of the following members :
- The chairman;
- Two elected members of the heads of delegation;
- The executive producer of the previous host country, the executive producer of the current year’s host broadcaster and the executive producer of the next host broadcaster;
- The EBU Junior Eurovision Song Contest Executive Supervisor.
Members of the Junior Eurovision Steering Group
The current members of the Junior Eurovision Reference Group are as follows:
| Member | Broadcaster | Country |
| Martin Österdahl (Executive Supervisor of the Junior Eurovision Song Contest) | N/A (EBU) | N/A |
| Marta Piekarska (Chairperson) | TVP | 🇵🇱 Poland |
| David Tserunyan | AMPTV | 🇦🇲 Armenia |
| Anja Zegwaard | AVROTROS | 🇳🇱 Netherlands |
| Mellis Hardinge | BBC | 🇬🇧 United Kingdom |
| Alexandra Redde | France Télévisions | 🇫🇷 France |
| Mariangela Borneo | RAI | 🇮🇹 Italy |
| Carla Bugalho | RTP | 🇵🇹 Portugal |
The changes within the reference group is Ekaterina Orlova from Russian broadcaster RTR leaving the group after the suspension of its EBU membership, with Melissa Hardinge from the BBC taking up the vacant spot.
What do you think of the changes to the steering group composition? Are there any changes you’d like to see them make in the future contest? As always, let us know what you think by commenting below. Also, be sure to follow ‘That Eurovision Site’ on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok as we start our preparations for Junior Eurovision in France later this year!
News Source: EBU
Photo Credit: EBU
