Nauşa Felan
Nauşa Felan | |
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| Born | December 12, 1960 |
| Alma mater | Anca Déuréy University |
| Known for | Second Director of the GNBS |
Nauşa Felan (born 12 December 1960) is a Gylian television producer and executive. She was the second Director of the Gylian National Broadcasting Service, from 1990 to 2020. Her tenure saw significant internal reforms of the GNBS and its adaptation to the era of digital broadcasting.
Early life
Nauşa was born on 12 December 1960 in Antánas. Her parents were a tray vendor and an elevator attendant. She had a colourful childhood, with her parents imparting on her a passion for the arts and popular culture.
She attended Anca Déuréy University, graduating in 1981 with a degree in technical arts. She then went on to work at the GNBS, where she experienced steady promotion. Her work drew notice from incumbent Director Eija Nylund, who took her as a protégé. As part of her preparations to retire, Eija encouraged Nauşa to be a candidate for the post and helped her build support within the GNBS, particularly in the Management Board.
Director of the GNBS
Nauşa won election to Director of the GNBS in 1990. Only turning 30 that year, she was younger than Eija when she had assumed the post.
Nauşa took the post at a time of renewed national optimism following the wretched decade. She abandoned Eija's highly personalised leadership style, announcing in her inagural speech that "the age of philosopher kings and grande dames in broadcasting management is over" — a reference to two of Eija's epithets. She strengthened the governing boards of the GNBS, reduced the powers of the director accrued under Eija, and imposed a clear separation between executives and presenters, another marked departure from the practices of Estelle Parker and Cecilia Parker.
Another significant reform was the separation of the GNBS' non-broadcasting components such as production companies and record labels, which instead became independent companies associated with the GNBS. Nauşa felt that these divisions diluted the GNBS' focus on its main purpose, public broadcasting. She also implemented measures to reduce bureaucracy and supervision over productions to avoid the dangers of micromanagement stifling creativity. Executives' roles were greatly reduced to the benefit of producers.
Nauşa's tenure coincided with great changes for the GNBS, principally the abolition of its federal broadcasting monopoly in 1991. She fought to preserve its distinctive identity, saying at one Management Board meeting, "We won't allow a gourmet restaurant to be turned into a fast food drive-through." GNBS retained its 14-hour schedule and predominantly live programming, leaving automated programming and 24-hour services to private competitors.
She put little value on late night television, once telling the Permanent Committee on Culture, Arts and Leisure:
"I personally believe that insomniacs and night owls would be better served by their own broadcasting services, which would handle their needs much better than Gynbris, for which this would be an inappropriately niche task."
Nauşa is credited with spearheading far-sighted and thorough preparation of the GNBS for digitalisation and the growth of the internet in Gylias. The GNBS was a pioneer in using the publinet for digital distribution and archiving. Digital broadcasting began in 1995 and high definition television broadcasts in 2006, with the digital switchover being completed in 2009. The switch to digital broadcasting was accompanied by expanded use of close captioning, subtitling, sign language, and audio description services.
Nauşa disliked publicity and shunned the spotlight, viewing herself as a low-key administrator and protector of the GNBS' mission. She began to contemplate retirement in the 2010s, but was persuaded by the Toni Vallas government to stand for one last election. She retired as Director of the GNBS in 2020, completing a 30-year tenure that made her the second longest-serving Director after Eija.
Later life
Nauşa resumed working as a television producer after stepping down as Director.
Personal life
She is asexual and has never been in a relationship, and describes her religious stance as apatheist.