Michiel Bicker Caarten

About Michiel Bicker Caarten

Moderator

Bicker Caarten is bilingual. He was a staff writer for the New York Daily News, then America’s largest-circulation newspaper, in 1983-1985; and he was anchor/presenter of CNBC Europe’s ‘Moneywheel’ programme, a daily four-hour live news show covering the financial markets and business stories of Europe. He held this job for 3,5 years, from 1995 until 1998. In all, Bicker Caarten lived and worked in New York and London for 13 years of his career. Bicker Caarten is also one of the few journalists to have worked in all the various forms of media. He worked in television (CNBC, RTL), radio (BNR Nieuwsradio), and print (Daily News, NRC Handelsblad). ‘Internet’ in his view is merely another vehicle for the distribution of audio, video and printed word. Like the traditional media, it has its own requirements and limitations. As television and radio presenter, Bicker Caarten developed his skills as a debater and moderator. He is well experienced on the stage, and has performed for audiences up to 1,000 people.

Speaker

Bicker Caarten is one of the few entrepreneurs in Europe to have succesfully challenged a government monopoly in broadcasting. His ‘Business Nieuws Radio,’ founded in 1998, has grown into a formidable competitor to state-owned Radio 1, winning the Marconi ‘Best Radio Station’ award at the end of 2011.

‘Launching a new medium is, essentially, about building a brand from scratch,’ says Bicker Caarten. ‘How do you wean people off their media habits to give a new news source a place in their busy day? How do you gain credibility? How do you make yourself desirable, even indispensible?’ The lessons can be applied to any business. Bicker Caarten has colourful stories about the tough initial years of BNR, when its budget was a mere 10% of its main competitor, Radio 1. How the business was run on a shoestring, how he lobbied politicians for more FM-coverage, how he kept the faith among employees and – importantly – shareholders.

Bicker Caarten is also one of the few journalists to have worked in all the various forms of media. He worked in television (CNBC, RTL), radio (BNR Nieuwsradio), and print (Daily News, NRC Handelsblad). ‘Internet’ in his view is merely another vehicle for the distribution of audio, video and the printed word and as such holds no mysteries.

Having been a part of the news business in its various manifestations for 30 years, he has a clear view on the future of media in our lives. Will there be any media left to restrain governments and businesses? Will it matter …?