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News from the Field: Global Forum for Media Development convenes in Athens to shine a light in dark times

A free, independent, viable and inclusive media is essential to the quality of democracy and to respect for human rights. The Global Forum for Media Development World Conference in Athens on December 7-10, 2008, under the heading of "Quality Information for All", was yet another important UNDEF project promoting democracy through media development.

The Global Forum groups some of the world's leading media development agencies, ranging from organizations with international scope such as, BBC World Service Trust or Internews to national media assistance groups such as the Free Media Movement in Sri Lanka and the Media Rights Agenda in Nigeria. "The Athens Forum meets in dark times," said David Hoffman, GFMD Chairman. "These are times when people need media to shine a light that can help them overcome the ignorance, prejudice and fear which undermine conditions for economic development and democracy."

With 480 participants from 105 countries, the World Conference exceeded expectations. Some 10 plenary and panel discussions featured representatives from international organizations, and 30 workshops gave participants the chance for in-depth discussions building partnerships.
UNDEF is proud to be a part of this bold venture with a wide reaching impact to the civil society as a whole.

Aim	Achievement/Output
To develop actionable recommendations in key areas of media development	A set of recommendations and issues for a GFMD work plan
To establish the GFMD as a membership network with a clearly defined mission, statutes and governance procedure	GFMD was not only established as a membership network with a mission, statutes and governance procedure but 100 organizations from 68 countries joined the network immediately in Athens
To promote South-South partnerships between media assistance groups and overall between media assistance organizations and civil society organizations	Through the workshop and regional caucus structure, the conference succeeded in promoting South-South partnerships
To promote better access and relations between policy makers and donors and media assistance groups based in developing and least developed countries	Provided for closer relations and many GFMD members from the South established new contacts with donors

Prior to the conference, regional meetings were held in Colombia (Latin America and Caribbean), France (Eurasia), Sri Lanka (Asia), South Africa (Africa) and Lebanon (MENA). During the consultation process, the GFMD secretariat established contact with some 600 media assistance groups from around the world. The following themes were developed through the regional conferences, the GFMD Steering Committee and input from the organizations contacted:

• Advocacy strategies, building links with civil society;
• Enabling media environments;
• Media and governance;
• Developing South-South partnerships;
• Media and Dialogue;
• Freedom of Expression and enabling environments; and
• New technologies, opportunities, and markets.

To read more about the conference, please click here. Videos can be watched here.
For more information about GFMD, please visit its website www.gfmd.info.

 

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