Star Photos Auction - Global
In 2002, Reporters sans frontières, or RSF (Reporters Without Borders) launched a programme to raise money to continue its work defending press freedom around the world and to convince the public of the need take a stand in favour of freedom of expression. The annual event involves giving celebrities disposable cameras to fill with personal photos for auction to the highest bidder.
Communication Strategies
The Star Photos project relies on the connection that many people feel (or would like to feel) with high-profile celebrities. It also depends on the willingness of these celebrities to share details about their personal lives.
The press freedom organisation gives participating celebrities a disposable camera and asks them to capture glimpses of their daily lives and things that move them - such as visiting the Cannes Film Festival, their pets, behind the scenes of a film set, their friends, and so on. Fans of the stars are invited to attend the auction, which typically features musical entertainment. Those who cannot make bids in person are invited to do so on the Internet prior to the auction.
The 53,000 euros raised at the 2002 event were donated to various media organisations and individual journalists in need. For example, funds were used to support Afghanistan's magazine for women, Malalai, to ease the financial burden of the families of five jailed Burmese journalists, and to cover the hospital bills of a Ukrainian journalist who had hydrochloric acid thrown in her face. The 2003 auction, which took place on June 16 in Paris, raised 65,000 euros.
The press freedom organisation gives participating celebrities a disposable camera and asks them to capture glimpses of their daily lives and things that move them - such as visiting the Cannes Film Festival, their pets, behind the scenes of a film set, their friends, and so on. Fans of the stars are invited to attend the auction, which typically features musical entertainment. Those who cannot make bids in person are invited to do so on the Internet prior to the auction.
The 53,000 euros raised at the 2002 event were donated to various media organisations and individual journalists in need. For example, funds were used to support Afghanistan's magazine for women, Malalai, to ease the financial burden of the families of five jailed Burmese journalists, and to cover the hospital bills of a Ukrainian journalist who had hydrochloric acid thrown in her face. The 2003 auction, which took place on June 16 in Paris, raised 65,000 euros.
Development Issues
Rights, Freedom of Expression, Media.
Partners
The event was supported by the French culture and communications ministry, Paris-Match (weekly magazine), "Tout le monde en parle" (TV programme), RTL2 (radio station), Color Club, Henriot, the Grand Hotel Inter-Continental, Musiques Hybrides, and aucland.fr and ecrannoir.fr.
Sources
Press release dated May 27 2003 forwarded to the Creative-Radio (creative-radio@yahoogroups.com) list server.
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