Drugi jezik na kojem je dostupan ovaj članak: Bosnian
By: Ekrem Dupanovic
MEDIA MARKETING: Last year’s main speaker at SEMPL was Sheridan Shed Simove, a British entrepreneur; when leaving Portoroz he said: “SEMPL was astoundingly well organised!” Can such success be repeated? How are you going to keep the audience fascinated and spellbound, everybody is arriving in fifteen days for the next SEMPL?
Valerija Prevolsek: We will fascinate them with what you would expect from the best media trends conference: rounded programme, eight interactive workshops, appealing speakers, exciting events, parties till the early hours, a positive atmosphere, and magical view of Piran Bay.
MEDIA MARKETING: The list of speakers is again rather impressive. Have you told us everything that will take place or are there any last minute surprises? Who might be a star at this year’s SEMPL? There are plenty of candidates.
Valerija Prevolsek: For now that’s it. We might have a last minute surprise. I already said that I’m looking forward to seeing Susie Dent – a woman with excellent sense of humour whose presentation will be different from those I usually attend. Joe la Pompe, a masked copycat hunter, will be special attraction, his mask is already in Slovenia, and it’s on my table. And then, the excellent Jamie Turner, Dave Briss, Jon Watts, Slavoljub Stankovic ,actually everyone. They are all going to be great. I am certain. All the participant has to do is choose presentations that interest them. And choose at least couple of themes that they’re not so familiar with. That’s how you discover the unknown and expand your horizons.
MEDIA MARKETING: I see everything’s ready. Probably from your point of view there are few things that need tweaking, prettifying and a sprinkle of magic dust. What about the industry? There are still couple days to submit works. Are you satisfied with the number of works entered or is it all a bit of a last minute rush?
Valerija Prevolsek: Oh, dear Ekrem…if all I had to do is sprinkle the magic dust. It is all stress and action. One prepares for nine months and 80 percent of the work is done in the final month. That’s the way it is in our industry. Everything happens the day after the deadline. I realise now it is an integral part of organising events like this yet to me it’s magical.
MEDIA MARKETING: It’s been a year since regional media and advertising people last gathered at last year’s SEMPL. What will they be talking about in the corridors, what changes have taken place in the media industry over the last year?
Valerija Prevolsek: I believe they’ll create ideas that will help the region to prosper. How to bring former glory to media and communications industry, above all give it the value and the price it deserves.
MEDIA MARKETING: Is AI entering the media industry in a big way?
Valeria Prevolsek: AI is becoming a part of all industries, and media industry is no exception. When will the AI tools be developed enough to be in widespread use on a daily basis is the question. At the moment the technological giants are in the spot light by problems caused but not solved. In this world, Amazon decides what and where we buy, Google determines how we get information, Facebook determines our communication, and the future is interesting. The obvious monetisation and manipulation of information by a small number of companies who decide which digital voice you’ll hear thus influencing the whole world is a growing problem facing the technological giants.
MEDIA MARKETING: What is it you wish for most, what is it you’re looking forward at this year’s conference of media trends?
Valerija Prevolsek: I am looking forward to the atmosphere. Everything positive that SEMPL has to offer and different smell of the sea in November. I am looking forward to chatting to all the speakers and meeting new ones. Same goes for our participants. Conferences like SEMPL are rare; speakers mingle with participants for two days and chat. This is something you need to take advantage of.
MEDIA MARKETING: Who are the sponsors and most important partners of this year’s SEMPL?
Valerija Prevolsek: We have many sponsors, production partners and media friends such as Media Marketing who love and support SEMPL. I would like to let everybody know that the list of our sponsors is on our web page http://www.sempl.si/sponsors . This is a list of honourable companies who invest in the development of the industry, who know how to give and not just take.
Thank you all!