-- The films will combine the journalistic heritage of The Economist with a commitment to making visually inspiring and carefully crafted video

LONDON, June 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Economist Films, a new video initiative from the global current-affairs newspaper, made its debut this week, premiering two series pilots on June 9th in New York and June 11th in London. Economist Films expresses The Economist's globally curious outlook in the form of short, mind-stretching documentaries, delivered via the publisher's social and digital platforms. You can find out more about Economist Films, and see the pilots for yourself, at www.economist.com/films

Each film captures the voice and identity of The Economist, complementing the daily and weekly output of the newspaper in print and digital formats. The initial production slate consists of high-end, short-form factual videos designed to appeal to existing Economist readers and to new audiences. The longer-term aim is to produce a wide range of short- and long-form content, both sponsored and commissioned, in a variety of programme formats.

The films released this week are pilots for two series. The first series, "Future Works", examines the jobs of the future that are being done today. The first film, "Drone Rangers", chronicles the day-to-day work of civilian drone operators in the fields of conservation, disaster recovery and construction. The second series, "Global Compass", looks at the countries and people pioneering new approaches to persistent social problems. The first film is "Drugs: War or Store?", a hard look at new kinds of drugs policy from Portugal to Colorado.

"We are very pleased to launch Economist Films, which brings our singular, trusted voice to video programming," said Zanny Minton Beddoes, editor-in-chief, The Economist. "It is the latest example of how we are using digital platforms to extend our reach and broaden our audience." (In recent months The Economist has launched its first daily edition and its first Chinese-language product, both delivered via smartphone apps.)

"This is a truly exciting moment as we begin sharing our first two films," said Nicholas Minter Green, President, Economist Films. "The work is the first fruit from an initiative to translate the world renowned Economist editorial into impactful and high end moving-image. We believe it will open up great possibilities to engage with our audience and commercial partners in a dynamic new way."

"These films really capture the essence of The Economist, illustrating big global themes with detailed on-the-ground reporting, and a dash of humour," said Tom Standage, editorial lead, Economist Films, and deputy editor, The Economist. "This is an exciting new way for us to bring our distinctive editorial perspective to new audiences."

For more information or to arrange an interview with Mr Minter Green contact: Rose Levy at rose.levy@havasww.com or call +1 (202) 262-1635.

To download clips of Economist Films go to:
http://www.digitalnewsagency.com/stories/9234-economist-films-makes-international-debut  

About The Economist (www.economist.com)

With a growing global circulation (more than 1.5 million including both print* and digital) and a reputation for insightful analysis and perspective on every aspect of world events, The Economist is one of the most widely recognised and well-read current affairs publications. The paper covers politics, business, science and technology, and books and arts, concluding each week with the obituary. In addition to the web-only content such as blogs, debates and audio/video programmes available on the website, The Economist is available to download for reading on Android, Blackberry PlayBook, iPhone or iPad devices. The Economist Espresso, our daily briefing smartphone app, is also available for download via iTunes App Store or Google Play.

*Audit Bureau of Circulations Worldwide, Jul-Dec 2014

Related Links

http://www.economist.com

SOURCE The Economist