Award ceremony to celebrate the quality management of Latvijas Radio (Latvia)

On April 3rd, 2008, Latvijas Radio received in Riga’s Great Guildhall the ISAS BC 9001:2003 certificate for the quality of its management system. Latvijas Radio is the first European media and the first radio in the world to comply with the requirements of this professional standard specially designed for the media companies.

The ceremony was attended by prominent representatives of Latvian authorities, Latvian television and radio, by Raina Konstantinova and Giacomo Mazzone from European Broadcasting Union, Christine Grieder from Swiss Development and Cooperation Agency, also Marius Dragomir, representing the Soros Foundation, London, and Magali Modoux from Certimedia. After a unique and impressive performance of Latvian Radio Choir, magnified by the Great Guildhall’s medieval archs, Latvijas Radio Director-General Aigar Semevics was awarded a special recognition by Guillaume Chenevière, executive director of the Media and Society Foundation. Whereas Agris Azipurietis, lead auditor, and Kimmo Haarala, regional manager of the certification body Det Norske Veritas gave him the valuable certificate.

“ISAS BC is a quality management standard based on ISO 9001 and specially tailored for electronic media. An ISAS BC- compliant quality management system is the most efficient way to improve the performance of a company. It is the most refined mechanism for identification of the requirements of audience and general public, and assists in focusing on corporate strategic goals and implementation of public broadcasting mission [..]. Certification of the quality management system initiates a constant self-assessment and improvement process. It is an advanced tool for analysis of the entire quality management system and identification of its weaknesses. In the creative domain, introduction of ISAS BC will ensue in awareness and approval of quality criteria and principles of their measurement, a prerequisite of constant improvement of content.” (Latvijas Radio, Press release, March, 28th, 2008).