This issue celebrates industry changemakers while honouring the memories of those we've lost.
Last month was a mix of big wins and tragic losses. The ASBU BroadcastPro Summit and Awards brought the media and entertainment community together for a rewarding time of sharing knowledge and celebrating innovation. With a record 177 nominations, the entries were so competitive that we had to award multiple winners in some categories. I’m incredibly grateful to our jury, who spent days evaluating the entries, and to all the companies and individuals who shared in the celebration.
But this month has also seen its fair share of losses. We were deeply saddened to learn of the passing of a dear friend, Nicolas Hans, who suddenly became ill. Nicolas and I worked closely over the past three years on my conference agenda. He served as a moderator the last two years and let me know this year that he was in a hospital bed, and it was unlikely he would be well enough to join us. We exchanged notes just a day before our conference on November 6, with the promise that he would be ready for the next, so his death came as a complete shock to all of us.
It was Nicolas who introduced me to AI for the first time with transcription software that reduced my workload substantially. I have since become a Descript evangelist, recommending it to all my journalist friends. As a former journalist who had moved into the world of tech and broadcast, he straddled both worlds with ease and treated my need for editorial integrity with great respect. In fact, one of our conversations last month was about a potential story for the January 2025 edition. He will be sorely missed. We were also deeply saddened to hear about the tragic passing of Vivek Chopra. My interactions with Vivek were quite rare although he was a regular figure at our Summit and Awards.
While this issue celebrates the changemakers in our industry, it also pays tribute to the dearly departed. May their souls rest in peace.
