>Press release from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: [log in to unmask] [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
>Sent: 03 September 2002 12:22
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: DCMS:JONATHAN DRORI IS TO BE FIRST DIRECTOR OF CULTURE ONLINE
>
>
>DEPARTMENT FOR CULTURE, MEDIA AND SPORT
>172/2002                                             3 September 2002
>JONATHAN DRORI IS TO BE FIRST DIRECTOR OF CULTURE 
>ONLINE
>
>Jonathan Drori has been appointed as the Director for Culture Online, 
>the Culture Department announced today. 
>
>Jonathan Drori is currently - and will remain - Managing Director of
>Thoughtsmith Ltd, a media, education and culture consultancy, and is
>a former Head of Commissioning and Editorial Director for BBC Online
>(1999-2001). He has considerable experience of establishing digital
>services for education, including websites and interactive
>programming, and was Head of Digital Media and Learning Channels at
>BBC Education (1996-1999).
>
>Jonathan Drori said: 
>
>"I am very excited by the prospect of leading the delivery on Culture
>Online. It's a wonderful project. Not only does it have the potential
>to enhance our relationship with the nation's cultural heritage, but
>we might also foster some really unusual and worthwhile partnerships
>between groups that might not otherwise have worked together. I
>strongly believe that by using new techniques we can inspire and
>motivate children and adults to take part in - and become part of -
>their culture and heritage in new and creative ways."
>
>Arts Minister Tessa Blackstone added:
>
>"Jonathan Drori is the ideal person to lead the creative decision-
>making, and commissioning of projects and content which will make
>Culture Online exciting and vibrant. I look forward to seeing Culture
>Online projects as they begin to go online in 2003."
>
>Notes to Editors 
>
>1. Jonathan Drori will take up his early next month. He will recruit
>a small team to support his work on Culture Online and will report to
>Alex Stewart, Director of Arts and Culture. He will be part of the
>Senior Civil Service at the DCMS. The Director's role is expected to
>become part-time after the initial set-up period.
>
>2. Jonathan Drori's previous roles include Head of Digital Media and
>Learning Channels for BBC Education where he was responsible for
>establishing their digital services for education, their first
>website and the BBC's first interactive programmes. During this time
>he had a team of up to 120 people. He was also Head of Commissioning
>for BBC Online between 1999-2001, responsible for a commissioning
>team working across most of the BBC's genres. He has experience of
>working with Government on the Creative Industries Task Force, and as
>a Trustee of the 24 Hour Museum, and of the private sector with
>Thoughtsmith and as a Managing Director of Scient, a digital business
>consultancy, and of private\public partnerships from his time at the
>BBC.
>
>3. At the DCMS he will be responsible for a team of approximately six
>people, and will work closely with staff throughout the Department to
>deliver the high level objectives of Culture Online.
>
>4. Culture Online has £13m funding for 20-30 projects which will
>increase digital access to the nation's cultural heritage. Projects
>will unite the abilities of cultural organisations and the private
>sector, including broadcasters, education professionals and those on
>the cutting edge of digital technology, to create innovative, high
>quality resources for adults and children. The Director will be
>responsible for selecting and commissioning projects, for overall
>management of the programme and for monitoring and evaluating the
>success of the projects.
>
>5. Culture Online is an integral part of the DCMS e-business
>strategy, which, in itself is a response to the Government's
>commitment to the UK Online programme. This programme aims to ensure
>everyone who wants it has access to the Internet by 2005 and that all
>Government services are online by that date and to make Britain one
>of the leading knowledge economies.
>
>6. For more information on Culture Online please see the website
>www.cultureonline.gov.uk
>
>Press Enquiries: 020 7211 6276/6272
>Out of hours telephone pager no: 07699 751153
>Public Enquiries: 020 7211 6200
>Internet: http://www.culture.gov.uk
>Department for Culture, Media and Sport
>2-4 Cockspur Street
>London SW1Y 5DH
>www.culture.gov.uk




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