The International Federation of Television Archives (FIAT/IFTA) and the Public Media Alliance (PMA) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the FIAT/IFTA World Conference 2025, hosted by Cinecittà’s Archivio Luce in Rome.

The agreement was formally introduced after the opening keynote delivered by Kristian Porter, PMA’s CEO, which explored the critical role of public media archives in preserving democratic values amid rising global challenges — from political interference and funding cuts to the ethical dilemmas posed by AI.

Both organisations operate on an international level and share the mission of promoting the preservation of audiovisual heritage and strengthening public service media. This partnership establishes a long-term framework for collaboration, mutual support, and capacity building across the global audiovisual and public media sectors.

The cooperation will focus on preservation and media management, the use, value, and copyright of archival content, and the advancement of media studies. Two key topics have been identified as priorities: the impact and responsible use of Artificial Intelligence and Large Language Models, and the challenges of Climate Change and Emergency Planning. Initial efforts will concentrate on Africa, Central and South America, and the Caribbean, with the flexibility to expand to other regions and topics over time.

Collaboration will take shape through joint initiatives and research projects, shared development of proposals for international funding, and the exchange of expertise and resources. Both organisations will also promote reciprocal membership and networking activities, facilitate joint training and skills development, and support the dissemination of technical standards, publications, and best practices for digital preservation.

Reflecting on the significance of the partnership, Kristian Porter stated:

It’s a huge honour to sign this MoU between our organisations. FIAT/IFTA shares many of PMA’s values, and I see many opportunities for our organisations to work together, not least because of the unprecedented and increasingly shared challenges facing public service and public interest media worldwide.

This MoU is not just a formal agreement—it’s a call to action. In an era marked by rapid technological developments and constrained public funding, this partnership will allow us to find ways to pool resources where appropriate, align strategies, and speak with a unified voice. At a time when truth is under attack, protecting, modernising, and utilising public media archives, has never been more important.

Echoing this vision, Virginia Bazán-Gil added:

This is a proud moment for both of our organisations. We both believe that audiovisual heritage is part of our collective memory — a mirror of our societies and their challenges. With this agreement, we will explore new ways to innovate, to educate, and to empower professionals across the world. We will support research, exchange expertise, and promote inclusion and sustainability as guiding principles of our work.

Together, we are building bridges between institutions and across regions to ensure that the world’s audiovisual memory remains relevant, diverse, and accessible for all.

The FIAT/IFTA World Conference is recognized as the premier annual gathering for media archive professionals, from archivists and managers to researchers, technologists, and policy-makers. More than a business event, it is a dynamic forum where ideas meet action, and where the international community comes together to address the most pressing challenges in media preservation and access in an atmosphere of collaboration and openness.

About the Public Media Alliance

The Public Media Alliance is the largest global association of public service broadcasters. Founded in 1945, the organisation today has a role of promoting, connecting, and advocating for public service media. With a global membership across six continents, it offers members an equal opportunity to exchange ideas, views, and best practices in public media. The association’s vision is a world where the public can continue to access free, independent, engaging and representative national and international public service media. PMA recognises the critical importance of safeguarding and ensuring access to audiovisual heritage as an essential part of a strong, independent, and trusted public media worldwide.