Proposal for: A WORLD CONGRESS ON MEDIA AND COMMUNICATION

Version 1.2.2

1. GENESIS

At a meeting convened in Madison, Wisconsin in September 1997 to debate the future of the People's Communication Charter, the idea for a World Congress on Media and Communication (a working title) emerged, that would gather together growing but dispersed concern on trends in media globally. It aims to play a strategic role in the consolidation of a global social movement around media and communication, challenging what has become the new orthodoxy of market dominance.

It is not seen as yet another independent initiative, but rather as a development of, and support for, existing actions such as, amongst others, the People's Communication Charter, the MacBride Round Table on Communication and the Platform for Cooperation on Communication and Democratisation.

Since Madison, the idea has been refined, an Interim Organising Committee set up, and agreement reached on the following.

2. THE PROBLEM

The long-term implications of current trends in media and communication extend far beyond media per se to the broader social, cultural and economic structures and environment. We are witnessing rapid centralisation of ownership and control globally, a wholesale shift towards a trade paradigm in national and global interactions, and the enfeebling of what limited democratic global governance structures exist. Media and communication are more and more treated as merely another sector, producing commodities destined for consumption according to principles of private property and oligopolistic market control. The potentially destructive impact of such a scenario, in the long-term, cannot be underestimated.

The risks relate not simply, or even primarily, to mass media and communication channels themselves. Rather it is the impact on the broader social, cultural and economic structures that is of far greater concern. The narrowing of the public communication sphere and the failure to democratise media and communication could stifle the growth of democratic processes in society, restrict meaningful participation in the creation of a common life-world, and undermine our heritage of cultural richness and diversity. The long-term consequences are unknown, but there is a disturbing absence of debate in the public domain regarding the undeniable risks.

3. VOICES OF OPPOSITION

Certain UN organisations such as ITU and UNESCO have sounded notes of warning, if somewhat timidly and hesitantly. However, more vociferously raising the alarm is a growing number of internationally active NGOs and independent organisations. These include community media NGOs (AMARC, Videazimut, Group of 8 etc.); organisations concerned with constraints on mass media (FAIR, Article 19); academic organisations (IAMCR etc.); international trade unions (IFJ, PTTI etc.); nascent national/regional social movements (CEM) and various NGOs, Foundations and others (MacBride Round Table, VECAM, etc.). Many have organised major international meetings on these issues. Lately, these groups have been reaching out to each other, and several attempts have been made to build networks and coalitions (for instance the People's Communication Charter, Platform for Cooperation on Democratisation and Communication, Network for the Social Empowerment over New Communication Technologies).

4. THE NEED TO REACH OUT

Yet for all this activity on the ground, an understanding of the issues and a sense of their urgency has yet to penetrate broader progressive constituencies, for instance in development and environmental movements, and amongst the public in general. Media and communication organisations talk almost entirely amongst themselves - an essential stage in building a critical mass, but unlikely on its own to have any significant impact on the scale of the challenge confronting us. There is a real danger that unless this nascent movement can move beyond the existing level of loose internal organisation, and take advantage of the impetus that has built up, it may turn inwards and fail to progress.

Certainly, many feel the time has come to reach beyond organisations concerned directly with media and communication, to begin the process of building a broader social movement with the capacity to mobilise other progressive movements and motivate the general public to express its concerns.

5. WHERE THE CONGRESS FITS IN

The Congress is to take a major step in this process of reaching out. It will open out beyond those groups already talking to each other, to its natural allies among NGOs and international organisations; first and foremost to those who see the dangers of a market driven agenda in their own spheres, in economic development and trade, in the environment, in gender issues, in indigenous people, in cultural homogenisation, and so forth.

The Congress aims less at encouraging new actors into the media movement (premised on the notion that they should become more concerned with media issues), than at the idea that such movements will find it ever more difficult to achieve their own ends if trends in media and communication continue unchecked (premised on the notion that we bring something to them, that we can help them achieve their aims).

At the same time, the Congress seeks ways to feed into, stimulate and mobilise a popular coalition on media and communications, to be involved in on the ground, activism, lobbing and organisation.

Specific Congress objectives, to be refined during a period of consultation, might include:

  1. To bring together various ongoing efforts towards a global media social movement, consolidating otherwise dispersed activities;
  2. To focus on joint means to implement the programmes and good intentions of present initiatives;
  3. To identify media and communication issues on which inadequate attention is currently focused;
  4. To sensitise other groups and organisations around media and communications issues, and to establishes linkages between social movements in different but related areas of concern.

Output might include, for instance:

  1. 1. Joint agreements on means to implement existing proposals, such as those of the People's Communication Charter;
  2. The establishment of an umbrella organisation, that can reinforce existing actions;
  3. The establishment of linkages for ongoing cooperation between concerned groups and individuals, from grass roots to international organisations;
  4. Significant media coverage and enhanced public awareness of the issues;
  5. The creation of a new institutional structure or organisation.

6. ORGANISATION

Initial ideas for the organisation of the congress are that it would be:

  • Staged no sooner that the year 2000;
  • Organised by a broad coalition of groups, active in diverse areas not all related to media; o Involve a set of linked events/activities in different geographical locations;
  • Focus on achieving concrete outcomes for a popular coalition or social movement;
  • Aim for an impact with the public in general, through the mass media and other means.

7. EXPLORATORY PERIOD AND CONSULTATION

The period between April 1998 until March 1999 will be used to flesh-out and explore the desirability and feasibility of the Congress. At several events during the year, this proposal will be circulated and discussed in workshops or other fora. The aim is be put it to the test of rigorous consultation in a variety of arenas and by different groups and organisations. Ultimately it will lead to rejection, or to a second stage of development with suitable refinement and modification. So far, the organisers of the following events have agreed to run special sessions on the Congress during 1998:

* IAMCR Conference and General Assembly, July in Glasgow, Scotland
* AMARC World Congress, August in Milan, Italy.
* Videazimut Virtual Conference: Plenary Session, 19 - 26th June.
* Videazimut World Congress, September in Cape Town, South Africa
* MacBride Round Table, December in Amman, Jordan.
* WACC, Right to Communicate Event, December in The Hague, Netherlands.

Key questions to be addressed at these events might include:

* What are the central issues for democratisation of the global media and communication scene?
* Does the basis exist, on the ground, for a global social movement in media and communications today? What are the key requirements to bring on together?
* What role might a World Congress play in this (if any)? What are its primary objectives and outputs?
* Who/what (in terms of type of institutions, organisations, initiatives; NGOs, UN, others?) should be the main actors in organising this?
* Is such a Congress feasible, and what resources could it draw on?
* What shape should such a Congress take? (A single event, several events, virtual, modalities etc. Should it be a 'Congress' at all, or an Assembly, or a Popular Coalition)
* What are the next steps, how should they be organised, and by whom?

8. INTERIM ORGANISING COMMITTEE

An Interim Organising Committee will advise and oversee this exploratory phase. Initial members (in a private capacity) comprise the following. A gender and regional balance is to be established as a priority Expressions of interest are welcome especially from outside the media and communications domain.

Alain Ambrosi, Videazimut Michael Eisenmenger, Deep Dish TV George Gerbner, Cultural Environment Movement Cees Hamelink, People. Communication Charter Robert McChesney, University of Wisconsin Kaarle Nordenstreng, University of Tampere Sean O' Siochru, MacBride round Table on Communication Marc Raboy, University of Montreal Pradip Thomas, World Association for Christian Communication Lynne Muthoni Wanyeki, EcoNews Africa

A list of supporters is also being compiled, and those wishing to be included are asked to contact any member of the Committee, or the address below.

A secretariat is not yet formed, but communications can be directed towards:

Sean O'Siochru: 14 Eaton Brae Shankill Co. Dublin Ireland Tel: +353 1 2821003 Fax: +353 1 2720034 e-mail sean@nexus.ie.