History Congress Announces New Name, Event

BANFF, June 13: The World
Congress of History Producers (WCHP) event has been renamed as History Makers:
International Summit of History and Current Affairs Producers, and will take
place in New York from January 24 to 26, 2008.

Bill Nemtin, the newly
appointed executive producer of the event formerly known as the WCHP, made
the announcement at a press conference at the Banff World Television Festival
(BWTVF).

“The new name reflects the fact
that history is not just stories about dead people or prehistoric animals,”
said Nemtin. “History is a force behind our daily headlines, wars,
international relations, beliefs and institutions. Our current affairs programs
today form the history programs of tomorrow and history often forms the context
for current affairs.”

The History Channel will be
host broadcaster for the reconfigured History Makers event, which will permanently
move from November to January. The History Makers Summit will continue to have
a strong focus on history programming but will also include current affairs
programming and the connection between what is current affairs today and
history tomorrow. Specific program details will be announced closer to the
event.

Michael E. Katz, the VP of
international programming and production for A&E Television Networks, the
parent company of The History Channel, has been elected chair of the History
Makers Advisory Board, an international group of broadcasters, producers and
archivists who specialize in history and current affairs television.