NEWS vs. PROPAGANDA:
The Gatekeepers' Dilemma

A forum on the media's impact on today's
United Nations anti-discrimination agenda

Thursday, 6 December 2001
10:30 to 12:00 noon
Conference Room 4

Twenty-four hour television news coverage is shaping public opinion the world over and has revolutionized international political communications. The impact of decision-making by news executives on the media's coverage of major world events will be discussed by key United Nations officials and media decision-makers at a televised forum on Thursday, 6 December 2001. The event is being held in observance of Human Rights Day.

A special focus will be on media coverage as it relates to the United Nations' agenda for human rights and its forward-looking role in promoting tolerance and respect for diversity. The responsibility of the media in reporting on efforts to form a viable and representative government in Afghanistan will also be discussed.

Speaking at the forum will be:

Television:

  • Al Jazeera: Hafez Al Mirazi, Washington Bureau Chief
  • BBC World News: Steve Williams, Senior Editor
  • CNN: Karren Curry, Vice President and New York Bureau Chief
  • South African Broadcasting Corporation: Mathatha Tsedu, Deputy Chief of News

Newspapers:

  • Al Quds Al-Arabi: Abdel Bari Atwan, Editor-in-Chief
  • New York Times: Barbara Crossette, Correspondent

United Nations:

  • Mary Robinson, United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
  • Lakhdar Brahimi, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Afghanistan.

Moderator:

  • Shashi Tharoor, Interim Head, United Nations Department of Public Information.

Following the debate, the forum will be opened to questions from the floor.

A live webcast of the forum can be accessed at www.un.org/webcast/events/hrday. Broadcasters requiring a live television feed or videotape of the event should call (212) 963-3507 or (212) 963-7650.

Additional information materials can be accessed on the following web sites: www.un.org/rights, www.un.org/Dialogue and www.un.org/News/dh/latest/afghan/afghan2.htm.

For further information, contact:
Laufey Love, Public Affairs Division, Department of Public Information, tel: (212) 963-3507; e-mail: love@un.org or
Oleg Dzioubinski, NGO Section, Department of Public Information, tel: (212) 963-1859; e-mail: dzioubinski@un.org.