| |
Back to Index
Broadcasters'
Declaration
World Broadcasting
Unions (WBU), World Summit on the Information Society
December 09, 2003
Back
to main article
Statements
from broadcasters representing the world's main regions:
Fred Cohen,
for North America
Comments on Article 3 (1-2-4 ) of the Broadcasters' Declaration.
Today's gathering
of the World Electronic Media Forum is an important step in helping
to define the guiding principles as we move forward in the electronic
age. The role of the broadcasters in the information society is constantly
changing and evolving. Keeping abreast of the latest developments
and applications of the communications media is a 24- hour, seven-day-a-week
task. We are, indeed, in the digital world.
And yet as broadcasters
and media professionals, we have an extremely important role to
play in helping ensure that quality content is provided to the many
diverse publics on all levels. We must help bridge the gap between
the haves and have nots. However, convergence of media - whether
satellite, television, computers, personal video recorders, PDA's,
digital audio, bio-information technology, the list goes on - does
not mean in the United States or elsewhere there should be requisite
convergence of opinions or attitudes delivered by the media. A healthy
and respectful diet of diversity of news, information, education,
and entertainment helps to ensure the future growth of the information
society. For without that diversity from all sources on the international,
national, and local level, we will have failed our public responsibility
as broadcasters.
A diverse mix
of content from commercial and public service broadcasting (both
radio and television), cablecasting, satellite, internet, wire or
wireless to all publics on an equal access basis is essential in
the information age. This will require significant investment from
both private and public sources as the new information infrastructure
and content platforms are f urther developed to meet the needs and
interests of all peoples throughout the world.
However, as broadcasters, there can be no more important investment
that we can make than to invest in the education and development
of the creative talents, media expertise, and integrity of our young
children. They are the future of the digital age. Whether on the
national, international, and increasingly local level, we must assist
in the education and training of the next generation of broadcasters,
journalists and digicasters. They will be responsible for the creation
and delivery of the content for the new digital age. And that content,
like the faces of our future broadcasters, must respect and honour
the cultural diversity in both the workplace and on the TV screens
around the world.
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
