year 2003 2003 year INTERNATIONAL of Review COMMUNICATIONS FORUM also forthe better. sometimes but or forthe worse, - to not often Europestick who with her -whether wewant wayto in us show the and first to rebound ica seems, as usual, on the point of being the Amer- towards degradation, media ledthe ing States, asI have justbecomeaware. After hav- the United in than more perceptible nowhere this is hope Anyhow irreversible? terribly so seemed ago not long which sensation, lies and superficiality, the slide mediaby this towards we are witnessing the beginning of the end of beginning to blow. Would it be possible that is of optimism time, anew wind curiously, war? and crisis, hatred times of inthese place take reporting dignified to besurprised.reason Howcan honest and peded, but three of the main pillars ofthe main pillars threeofthe dig- but peded, media their activities continue unim-sational strange coincidence! The most partisanorsen- isin turmoil. report, the deep Hutton What a Blair affair. Finally the BBC, condemned by Times commitment. political hidden having covered with amodest veil of honesty a seen itselfreproached in the objects of savage attacks. the objectsofsavageattacks. most respectedmedia in notice, but cannot war, butalso for themedia themselves. One times of these world in forthe only been, not yetAnd how difficultthese months last have W

who tragically died in a died tragically who Cape Townconference dent of the ICF, at the (bottom right), Presi- (bottom in April with thecon- with April in President of the of ICF. President Bernard Margueritte Margueritte Bernard Porter, theFounder- Top right is right William Top has been shamed following the Jason Stephen Wrottesley, road accidentfew a the chief chief organiser, the ference organisers. The beginningoftheend? ble yearble forthemedia. We have no terri- another through lived just e have In thecentre is South-African months later. Savage Attacks Editorial byBernardMargueritte for example, thatthree of the And yet, at the same same yet,atthe And a sensational book for book asensational

stitutions have have been stitutions The New York NewYork The

Media: the beginningof has distortion ofthe American media Events have increasedeven further thestrange justice" to mother to a free Algeria, already saying; Was not AlbertCamus, explaining his hostility is not so easy, even for the noblest of minds. for truth, patriotism and tions. What must bethe relationship between themselves againa number of difficult ques- times have, indeed, led media people to ask journalism" togood challenge (IPI)" PressInstitute national Journalist Global The ism" "The war is Iraq has shaken American journal- in Paraschos writes Manny As ultr an Iraq,practised in United States, before, during andafter the war the in chain, the Fox into way the look to Perhaps it would have been more worthwhile lic, remains astandard-bearer for us all. by majority recognised the of the British pub- is objectivity the lack of ofwhich areport, by BBC, wounded The world. in the newspapers but itisstill the best of one foundation, without Monde allout of proportion. Thefactswhich for up blown hasbeen situation regrettable this and per can be responsible for each of itsreporters son Blair affair is unfortunate, but no newspa- as well the mind ourselves of oursolidarity with the tore- caseit the any gives us opportunity In chance? just by Is this attacked. themselves find profession of our nity . In short, every war, adds Peter Preston in PeterPreston every war, adds . short, In has been reproached arenot entirely end? Le Monde ?

, the revue of The Inter- example? The answer answer The example? or the BBC. The or Ja- a-partisan journalism. . Thesetroubled is the greatest greatest is the Media Ethics "I prefer my , especially NYT Le ; that of the three great TV networks, ness among our colleagues is at the Journalism Review, gives concrete CBS, ABC & NBC, which, (according source of the constant development of examples, showing that people are to the American Journalism Review) associations such as the "Committee of making themselves heard in the pro- have had in 2001 92% of their inter- Concerned Journalists", "The Poynter tests against the concentration of media views with Whites, 85% with men and Institute", "The International Center for ownerships. 75% with Republicans! Fortunately, Journalists" and many others, including Those responsible for the media are even during these last few months, no doubt the International Communica- beginning to take into account this evo- many of our American colleagues, in tions Forum. lution of society. Their courage and the New York Times and the New honesty shown in the crisis have been Happy Catharsis Yorker, but not only them, have set us well demonstrated by The New York an example by showing us that our The public is showing itself increas- Times and the BBC. dignity as media people lies in being, at ingly concerned by world affairs and is So new times seem to be on the way. all costs, servants of the truth. demanding a more serious coverage of Would the crises of these past years If therefore we are in the process of international events. Enquiries, carried have acted as a happy catharsis? It is touching the bottom and rebounding, out for example by the Pew Founda- as yet only a glimmer of hope. It de- especially in the United States, it is tion, reveal that the American public is pends on all of us, and especially those because the crisis we have lived demanding from now on serious and who have got together in the Interna- through has been a source of revelation dignified treatment. Already, incisive tional Communications Forum, to act in at least three spheres: news programmes, such as Ted Kop- in such a way that the media again be- pel's Night Line, see their audiences Journalists are becoming aware in a come what they should never have growing, while more superficial pro- new way of their responsibilities for ceased to be: a guarantee of democracy grammes are in constant decline. Tom the public and for democracy. The and an essential factor in drawing peo- Kunkel, dean of the Philip Merrill Col- growing success of organisms engaged ple closer together. lege of Journalism at the University of in the defence of worthy media is a Maryland and president of American demonstration of this. This new aware- Bernard Margueritte

The International Communications Forum in 2003

India: Bernard Margueritte spoke at a "Sensationalism and the erosion of Stephen Ward, of the School of Jour- conference held in January on global- journalism" on the occasion of a nalism in the University of British isation at the Panchgani Centre near Round Table at the Congress of the Colombia, Graham Turner, feature Pune, organised by the Indian commit- World Association of Newspapers writer of The Daily Telegraph, Dorina tee of the Caux economic sessions. (WAN). Although the main speeches Osipov, director of the Independent France: At the Chirac-Blair summit at were devoted to the external menaces Press Association of Moldova, and Le Touquet on 4th February, William that weigh on the press, Porter concen- Danko Plevnik, columnist for the Porter, an honorary consular officer of trated on the internal threats, those that Croatian daily Slobodna Dalmacija. the United Kingdom, was among the newspapers can more directly con- front. Austria: At the International Press first to shake hands with the two lead- Institute's congress at Salzburg in Sep- ers. Later he was interviewed by the According to an article that appeared tember, Bernard Margueritte spoke at Arab TV chain, Al Jezira. in the Irish Independent, Porter stated, a round table on pluralism, democracy in part: “Newspaper audiences do not Sri Lanka: In February-March Wil- and the clash of civilisations. It was liam Porter went to Colombo to lead a consist of violence-loving, sex-mad, also an occasion to meet journalists one-day seminar for 70 journalists and moronic idiots but of reasonable, and media leaders. represented the Forum at a conference hard-working, family-loving, decent of the Commonwealth Press Union. people. It is for them that we should Wales: Another opportunity for Ber- He then visited Chennai (Madras) and fill our pages." nard Margueritte to meet British media Nagaland (North East India) for inter- and political leadership was at a con- Switzerland: As in previous years, the views with the press and politicians, ference in November on displaced Communications Forum took part in and spoke to staff and students at the persons at Cardiff, a city that the the presentation of the economic ses- Asian College of Journalism. Welsh are proud to call "the youngest sion at Caux, with the theme capital in Europe". Lebanon: The conference planned for "Globalisation as if people really mat- March in Beirut, for which an invita- tered". A report of the dialogue be- United States: Bernard Margueritte tion committee very representative of tween Ignacio Ramonet, of Le Monde undertook in December a three-week the Lebanese media has been formed, Diplomatique, and José Maria Fi- tour in the United States - from New had to be postponed because of the gueres, of the World Economic Fo- York and Washington to Miami and war that was about to break out in rum, will be found on Page 3. Among from Saint-Paul to Chicago - mainly to Iraq. It will now take place during the those present were Magnus Linklater, inform people of the future projects of first week of June 2005. feature writer of the London Times, the Communications Forum and to Ireland: William Porter spoke in June Louise Seals, Managing Editor of The seek possible sources of finance for in Dublin on the theme: Richmond Times Dispatch, Professor them.

Globalisation, source of progress or of injustice ?

Ignacio Ramonet, director of , co-founder of the (WSF) of Porto Alegre, Brazil, founder of ATTAC, and José Maria Figueres, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, former President of Costa Rica, engaged on 13th July at Caux, Switzerland, in a public dialogue, courteous but frank, on globalisation, organised with the help of the International Communications Forum.

The two speakers quickly reached states that President Bush visited in essential the fact that the focus of capi- agreement to say that poverty in the July, and that the United States was talism has moved from industrial pro- world is “immoral, unethical and un- giving its cotton farmers subsidies duction to finance. sustainable”, to quote President Fi- worth more than three times its total In 1950 the respective shares of these gueres. Their disagreement therefore aid budget to Africa. two sectors in the GNP of the industri- was more concerned with the means Quoting the latest report of the UNDP alised countries were 95% to 5%; today than with the ends. (United Nations Development Pro- they are the opposite. Similarly, the President Figueres stated that “the gramme) he pointed out that the 54 economy has supplanted religion or enlightened self-interest” of business countries, representing the poorest war as the source of power: “the mar- should allow them to take up “the most quarter of mankind, are poorer today ket and the State are in conflict, the important challenge, that is to advance that they were ten years ago. market wants to reduce the State to the towards a world civilisation that is minimum” and the politicians are im- more jointly responsible, more inclu- The focus of has pelled to govern the State as they sive and safer”. He pleaded for liber- would a business. Our contemporaries moved from the industrial live in a state of permanent tension alisation, observing that each of the to the financial sector cows he sees as he drives to his office between individual and collective val- in Geneva benefits from $5 a day in ues, such as selfishness or the values of Not only have the UN’s development agricultural subsidiaries while a third joint responsibility. targets for the most vulnerable not been of mankind lives on less than $1 a day. ”Figueres also put forward his vision reached, but even the probable dates of the great challenges we face today - are continually postponed. Comparing He also insisted on the fact that human the effects of globalisation are still un- the economic crisis in the Argentine to development, health and education equal and those who remain outside the the fall of the Berlin Wall – symbol of must receive as much attention as the general economic progress are still too the failure of state – Mr economic factors. many, the democracies are perceived as Ramonet concluded that “the gospel of not producing the expected results, In response, Mr Ramonet first under- globalisation does not work”. A con- citizens feel left out by their leaders lined the fact that “the prophets of lib- clusion immediately contested by Mr and no one seems to take the world eral globalisation” of ten years ago, Figueres, for whom “bad governance problems to heart, not even the interna- people who could hardly be suspected and the poor quality of Argentinean tional institutions. of being leftists or enemies of the sys- leadership” were more to blame than tem such as George Soros, Jeffrey the economic forces alone. In this context he observed the useful- Sachs and Joseph Stiglitz, are now ness of the World Economic Forum of pointing out the dangers of all-out lib- In the exchange that followed Mr Davos “a forum, a platform for dia- eralisation. He quoted the fact that the Ramonet admitted that “globalisation logue to look at the global challenge, 400 millionaires in the United States is not responsible for the inequalities in to seek a broader understanding; a earn more that the combined incomes the world, but it gives little help to their catalyst for action as the hub of a of the 166 million people in the African elimination”. In any case he regards as knowledge network”. ►►

Ignacio Ramonet and José María Figueres - a meeting of minds Mr Ramonet declared that for hm the of third world debt, the suppression of to authorise a direct dialogue between alternative World Forum of Porto Ale- havens -“refuges of the corrupt” - the forums of Davos and Porto Alegre. gre is “the assembly of mankind, the the institution of the . United Peoples”, in contrast to the Yet the personal contact between them The dialogue’s moderator, the former United Nations.“ It brings together seemed excellent, and at the end of Canadian ambassador, Kimon the victims of a pitiless economy. This this long debate, carried on in English Valaskakis, president of the Club of year there were 120,000 people dis- by one and in French by the other, Athens for the good governance of the cussing and proposing solutions”. they had a relaxed conversation in world, noticed with surprise – and Spanish. The dialogue of 13th July He underlined the concrete proposals satisfaction – the numerous points of may therefore not remain without a made by the alternative world move- similarity in the two speakers’ analy- sequel. ment which does not intend to limit ses. However both agree that the nec- itself to contestation: the elimination essary conditions are not yet in place Antoine Jaulmes

The World Summit on the Information Society

In the same way that, under the aus- during the Geneva deliberations? Let (cybergovernement, electronic com- pices of the United Nations, several us first record the part played by the merce, distance learning, distant significant summits have been held civil society, which was for the first healthcare, cyberwork, cyberagricul- (environment, development, social time associated with the nation states ture, cyberscience…..), is the work of rights), it was questions connected and the private sector in the prepara- the conference in danger of becoming with the information society which tions of a world summit. With very too diffuse? Finally, who will take on were the objective last December of a little organisation up to now, the play- raising the funds needed for a process large world assembly in Geneva. ers in the civil society in a way discov- which will cover the next twenty, per- The first thing to be done – a colossal ered each other in the process. Sec- haps 50 years? The cities of Geneva, enterprise! – was to make a diagnosis ondly, the adoption of a declaration of Lyon and Turin have taken on a move of the problems, dangers and possibili- principles very idealistic in tone, and to create a Digital Solidarity Fund, but ties produced by the world’s entry into of a plan of action for the next two for the present it is only a gesture. years, with, in particular, in the decla- the age of communication technolo- On the positive side, the faultless or- ration, the recognition, extracted al- gies. Since no international text had ganisation of the summit by Switzer- most at the last minute, of the freedom so far targeted the questions to be dis- land and the Canton of Geneva must of the press, whereas the defenders of cussed, the identification of these be acknowledged. Looking after the this freedom had been apprehensive questions at stake was a tricky exercise welcome and security of many Heads previously of it being omitted at this for the players. Such an approach of State and of 12,000 delegates – of summit. Finally, the mandate given to naturally came up against serious ob- whom only 3,000 had access to the the General Secretary of the United stacles: the yawning gap between de- meeting hall – arranging for more than Nations to set up a working party on veloped countries and the third world 200 discussion meetings and events, the governance of the Internet, as in the use of these techniques – what is welcoming the same number of stands thorny a subject as you could wish. called the digital divide, the holding of of all kinds, and finally providing the almost all the patents and therefore the logistical support as the framework of provision of services by the multina- Will we share our know- thinking and initiatives that enabled tionals, who see in information a prod- how? the discussions to proceed smoothly, uct like others as the source of sub- that was Switzerland’s contribution. It stantial profits; the confusion of the But the conference left some real ques- is perhaps one of the elements which States faced by the tentacular expan- tions unanswered. Will the Western gives confidence for the future of this sion of these advanced techniques, states and the big operators be ready to immense undertaking. particularly disturbing for authoritar- share their know-how with the rest of ian governments; and finally the con- the world? Can China, even if she siderable financing of any measures to sometimes hid her reticence during the International Communications Forum be taken. working sessions, allow the freedom 24 Greencoat Place London SW1P 1RD People also feared, in the preparatory of her media and internauts? Will Tunisia, chosen from the beginning as phase, especially in view of the pilot Tel: +44 (0)20 7798 6010 role assumed by the International host for the second phase of the sum- Fax: +44 (0)20 7798 6001 Telecommunications Union, that mit in 2005 follow the path of a liber- www.icforum.org greater attention would be given to the alisation that will allow her to give a e-mail: [email protected] technological problems at the expense worthy welcome in Tunis to the rough of the social or human dimension. and ultra-liberal world of communica- This report has been produced This fear, fortunately, proved un- tions? Incidentally, no budget has so by J.-J. Odier. far been allocated for this next stage. founded. Translation from French: Robin Evans What are the forward steps that have In trying to make a list of all the sec- Photos: B. Cummock, J. Leggat . been taken – or at least glimpsed – tors that might be concerned