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Mainstream the Media in the Information Society
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Between this September and December 2003, The Focus here is on developments about Africa in the WSIS. Most info here has been freely gotten thruogh emails from Highway Africa News Agency a Product of the Highway Africa Conference convened annually by Rhodes University in Grahamstown South Africa
 
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Friday, October 03, 2003

I feel it neccesary to put up the Highway Afrca Conference delcaration on the media and information society that was made last September at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, South Africa. It is in two ersions, including English and French.

Davis J. Weddi
Editor Afro Newsnode

Highway Africa Declaration on the Media and the Information Society

Recognising that the idea of an "Information Society" is an important international concept whose interpretation should be interrogated through critical public debate and discussion on a global scale, and

Believing that this debate, which deals with the dissemination of information, knowledge and understanding, is central to journalism, and

Anticipating that the World Summit on the Information Society three-year process creates an agenda and opportunity that challenges us to deepen the contribution of media to democracy and development in Africa:

We the participants of the 7th Annual Highway Africa Conference representing Africa’s print, online and electronic media, journalism trainers, media researchers, media-focused NGOs and academics meeting in Grahamstown (South Africa) on 8 – 10 September 2003:

Propose that the concept of the “Information Society” should be wider than the role of Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs) and incorporate:

· issues related to the mass media such as freedom of expression, access to information and the role of journalism;
· the knowledge, experiences and cultures of all African peoples.

Acknowledge that access to the Internet and other forms of new media can empower African media to play a more meaningful role in promoting democracy and development,

Note that freedom of expression is a two-way process that includes communication rights and access to information and means of communication,

Regret that economic, political and legislative constraints still hinder media and the productive use of ICTs in Africa, and

Accordingly recommend that:

African governments and regulators should, through an open and participatory process, develop and adopt Information Society policies that promote

· respect for freedom of expression, including of the media as enshrined in Article 19 of the universal declaration on human rights;
· the free flow of information and ideas;
· pluralism of ownership and diversity of content;
· universal service;
· media sustainability;
· the use of technologies, including open source software, that increase availability of, accessibility and affordability of ICTs;
· participatory community media.

African media should:

· recognise their social responsibility to accurately inform their audiences of local, regional and continental democratic and development issues, including the potential of media and ICTs therein;
· popularise, publicise and promote public debate on the concept of "Information Society" and the development of national information and communications policies;
· be creative in applying ICTs to showcase journalistic excellence and innovation, thereby promoting the knowledge capital of Africa’s media workers;
· exploit the potential of ICTs as advocacy tools for freedom of expression and other human rights;
· promote the capture and dissemination of African content in a wide range of African languages exploiting the widest range of technologies to achieve this;
· give space to a wide range of voices, especially the marginalized.

And call on the WSIS to reflect in its deliberations and documents the need to cherish the important role of African media and journalists in developing a people-centred interpretation of the global Information Society.


FRENCH:
Les Infos-Routes de l'Afrique 2003

Déclaration sur les Médias et la Société de l'Information


Vu que l'idée d'une "Société de l'Information" est un concept international important dont l'interprétation devrait faire l'objet d'un débat public critique et d'une discussion sur une échelle globale;

Convaincus que ce débat, dont l'objet est la généralisation de l'information, du savoir et de la compréhension, demeure essentiel au journalisme;

Sachant par avance que le Sommet Mondial, en tant que partie du processus triennal qui doit consacrer la Société de l'Information, génère un programme et une opportunité qui nous interpellent en vue d'accroître la contribution des médias à la démocratie et au développement en Afrique:

Nous, les participants à la 7è Conférence annuelle des Infos-Routes de l'Afrique, représentant la presse écrite et électronique du Continent, ses formateurs en journalisme, ses chercheurs en communication , des universitaires et des ONG tournées vers les médias, réunis du 8 au 10 septembre 2003 à Grahamstown, en Afrique du Sud,

Proposons que le concept de " Société de l'Information" aille au-delà du rôle des Technologies de l'Information et de la Communication pour englober:

- les problèmes relatifs aux masse-médias, tels que la liberté d'expression, l'accès à
l'information et le role du journalisme,

- la connaissance, les expériences et les cultures de tous les peuples africains.

Reconnaissons que l'accès à l'Internet et aux autres formes de nouveaux médias peut permettre aux médias africains de jouer un role plus significatif pour la promotion de la démocratie et du développement,

Notons que la liberté d'expression est un processus à deux voies qui englobe les droits à la communication, l'accès à l'information et aux moyens de communication,

Regrettons que des contraintes économiques, politiques et législatives continuent de former des obstacles au développement de la presse et à l'usage effectif des technologies de l'information et de la communication en Afrique;

En conséquence, recommandons que:

Les gouvernements africains et les organes de régulation, par un processus transparent et participatif, développent et adoptent des politiques de la Société de l'information, capables de promouvoir:

- le respect de la liberté d'expression, y compris celle des médias telle qu'elle a été inscrite en lettres d'or à l'Article 19 de la Déclaration Universelle des Droits Humains,
- le pluralisme de la propriété et la diversité des contenus,
- la libre circulation des informations et des idées,
- l'accès équitable aux technologies de l'information et de la communication,
- le service universel,
- la durabilité des médias,
- l'usage des technologies permettant d'accroitre la disponibilité, l'équité et l'accès aux nouvelles technologies de l'information et de la communication,
- le recours à des sources connues de matériel susceptibles de faire baisser les prix et d'encourager les innovations par la promotion des matériaux locaux.
- Les masses-médias communautaires, locaux et participatifs.

Les Médias africains ont le devoir de:
- reconnaître leur responsabilité sociale pour informer correctement leurs audiences des problèmes de démocratie et de développement, tant au niveau local, régional que continental, y compris le développement potentiel des médias et des technologies de l'information,
- populariser , sensibiliser et organiser des débats publics sur le concept de "Société de l'Information" et le développement des politiques nationales de l'information et de la communication,
- faire preuve de créativité dans la mise en œuvre des technologies de l'information et de la communication pour mettre en exergue l'excellence journalistique et l'innovation, encourageant ainsi le capital de connaissances des acteurs des médias africains,
- exploiter les potentialités des technologies de l'information et de la communication comme moyens de promotion de la liberté d'expression et des autres droits humains,
- promouvoir l'intégration et la diffusion de la spécificité africaine dans une vaste gamme de langues africaines, grace à une gamme également large de technologies, capables d'y faire face,
- s'ouvrir à une très grande variété de voix, particulièrement celles qui ont été marginalisées.

Nous lançons un appel au Sommet Mondial sur la Société de l'Information pour que, dans ses délibérations et dans ses documents, il tienne compte de la nécessité de souligner le role important des journalistes et des médias africains grace auxquels la Société de l'information sera perçue comme étant celle tournée vers les peuples.





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WILL THE DIGITAL DIVIDE EVER END?

It look likely that WSIS will mention the pros and cons in how to end the digital divide, but how huge a maginitude. Where does Africa stand? What about the rest of the poor countries worldwide? Will WSIS really go beyond the issues of talking around tables and making beautiful speeches? Someone things there is no easy end to the digital divide. Perhaps this is why these people had to write this story:
NO EASY END TO THE DIGITAL DIVIDE

newsnode 12:00 AM - [Link]
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Thursday, October 02, 2003
KOFI ANNAN'S SAY ON DIGITAL DIVIDE

He believes ICTs can change life for the better among the ordinary citizens of this earth. Refer to the story below picked up from the BBC:

The United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, explains why he believes that information and communication technologies can improve the lives of people in developing countries.

Click that text above to get to the main story.

Posted by Davis Weddi
newsnode 12:00 AM - [Link]
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Wednesday, October 01, 2003
WSIS MEDIA CAUCUS WRITES TO KOFI ANNAN

This might be of interest for the friends of media. The Media caucus at Prepcom 3 in Geneva this September is reported by allafrica.com, as having written to UN Secretary General Kofi Annan.

It starts like this: The following is a 26 September 2003 open letter to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan from the WSIS Media Caucus/ARTICLE 19, the WPFC and the European Broadcasting Union:

Dear Secretary General,

The Media Caucus of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) wishes at the conclusion of the third Preparatory Meeting, to express its concern that fundamental, agreed principles on independent, pluralistic media are at risk.


You can catch up with the rest by clicking here: MEDIA'S LETTER TO KOFI ANAN UN SEC. GEN

Afro newsnode pledges to keep you updated on WSIS, the Media and Africa.

Davis Weddi

newsnode 12:00 AM - [Link]
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EDITOR'S NOTICE TO VISITORS

Please, if you have anything new to add here go through the links to the editor. It will be put up immediately. We shall welcome all pictures to the effect of New Media in Africa and any other exciting news about the continent. Read on for other news about Africa's position as we face December's WSIS in Geneva.

Davis Weddi
newsnode 12:00 AM - [Link]
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Monday, September 29, 2003
PREPCOM 3 ENDED WHAT NEXT?

There are so many developments. The Prepcom 3 in Geneva has ended and it looks like Africa is coming back with little if anything. There are a lot of things that were suddenly discussed at the Prepcom. The task now is on Africans and other developing nations to prove their case before the December WSIS in Geneva. Hopefully the Information Society will be of much importance.

The group of Journalists for the Highway Africa News Agency sent to cover the Prepcom 3 did a great job. I decided that I will put up everything they covered. As for photogrpahs, the News Agency has not yet uploaded newsworthy pictures so I decided that we should wait till December, probably they will have well-equipped photographers ready to relay home photo of the continent's plight at the WSIS.

Mainstream the Media in the information Society.
Posted by Davis Weddi
newsnode 12:00 AM - [Link]
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Managed by Davis Joseph Weddi. Based at The New Vision Newspaper (www.newvision.co.ug) PO Box 9815 Kampala, Uganda