Global media forum produces road map for media

JAKARTA. A three-day global forum in Bali has produced a road map for realizing the media's potential to contribute to sustainable development and promote media freedom and independence, which is one of the post-2015 Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Guy Berger, director for freedom of expression and media development at UNESCO, said during his speech at the closing ceremony on Thursday that the roadmap would help orientate the media in the future.

“It covers the complementary roles of key stakeholders, such as governments, media outlets, UNESCO and the international community,” he said at Nusa Dua Bali Convention Center.

A draft of the road map was distributed at the start of the forum on Tuesday, after which the contents were discussed by speakers and audience participants.

“Several participants gave detailed written comments of great value and it has evolved through many versions,” Berger said.

Some of the recommendations for governments outlined in the road map included calls for freedom of expression and a reform of legal restrictions -- including criminal defamation laws and other restrictions on media content or structures -- to better enable universal access to the Internet as a means of realizing freedom of expression and in order to promote diversity in the media.

Regarding media outlets, the road map recommended that they provide society with development-related information that reflected a diversity of views so as to satisfy the public’s right to a broad range of information and ideas; and also to take concrete steps to eliminate harmful stereotypes, prejudices and practices.

However, the road map is not compulsory or binding to the stakeholders, Berger said.

“[That said] it is something that can produce action and [is] available for anyone who wants to use it,” he said. (Hans Nicholas Jong)

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