Public Broadcasting for All Campaign - Global

The campaign supports journalists' organisations and civil society in the transformation of state broadcasters in regions such as central Europe, West Africa, and South Asia into what organisers call "genuinely public service institutions". The latter, they say, are not state-run or government-controlled, but impartial, high-quality networks characterised by efforts to promote public service values, editorial independence, and democratic and accountable systems of administration.

Face-to-face events are central to pursuing this goal. For example, in December 2003, IFJ will hold its first regional meeting in South Asia. The aim of the meeting is to set an agenda for campaigns promoting public service values in Asia; to define priorities and actions for different countries; and to build resources for promoting public service broadcasting in the region. Participants at the meeting will be mainly representatives of IFJ unionsand other press freedom groups and media active in the region. An expected outcome of the meeting will be a statement of goals, strategies, and action similar to the document that emerged from a February 2002 conference in Budapest.

The Internet is another strategy for sharing information and mobilising action. The campaign site features a library of documents related to public broadcasting, including declarations, media releases, meeting minutes, news, calls to action, publications, and web links.

Media Development.

Organisers are motivated by the belief that globalisation and commercialisation in the media pose an increasing threat to the future of public service broadcasting. Developed countries, they say, are seeing low-cost, low-quality programming, cuts in editorial budgets, and a reduction in employment rights. In developing countries, they say, international financial institutions or local governments seek to privatise former state broadcasters.