draft petition to UNESCO

JICC

world journalism in crisis coalition

The following is a DRAFT petition for presentation to world lead agency on communications, UNESCO. Hyperlinks to come. Comments, criticism, feedback and suggestions very welcome

. . .

Petition to UNESCO Secretary General regards
world journalism in crisis

We, undersigned,

Assert world journalism in crisis.

State there is ample evidence betraying a lack of independent journalism within mainstream media, including a lack of critical analysis afore invasion of Iraq, and global economic crisis.

Recall contemporary apologies from mainstream media, for failure to fully report causes for war on Iraq, and global economic crisis.

Alert journalists to alarm at huge job loss among journalists since global economic crisis began three years ago.

Express deep concern at at least 100,000 journalists and other news room workers sacked from mainstream media over the last three decades.

Back establishment of this informal alliance to monitor the world crisis in journalism, and, advocate for effective solutions.

Support the idea that responses to global crisis should result in more independent investigative journalism,
not less.

Seek rapid response to world journalism in crisis, through industry unity, professional solidarity and multi-sectoral cooperation, both public and private.

Question a preponderance of public, and private, spending on so-called “communications” workers, also known as public relations.

Challenge a lack of strong and independent journalism, and how that lack results in massive societal disruption and armed conflict.

Warn against rampant worldwide corruption, including negligence of journalism.

Reject any idea of inevitability around economic crisis and the ‘need’ to further ‘restructure’ journalism.

Applaud 61 years under the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, especially Article 19 ensuring basic right to receive and impart information.

Encourage journalists to better organise lobby and advocacy efforts in response to world journalism in crisis, including the need for colleagues to work on their behalf.

Envision reclaiming a central role for public and state broadcasters by innovating ethics-based web2 training for community and citizen journalism, effectively bridging digital divides.

Safegaurd against corruption in journalism by adopting TTT, Total Transparency Tools, involving immediate public release of all JICC digital correspondence and any finances.

Embrace vision from the Pacific Islands Forum, calling for a “confident, well-informed and professional” news media, as formal precedent for responding to world journalism in crisis, along with other regional and international bodies, like UNESCO.

Refer to the associated Forum report as evidencing need for news media to be well-resourced, to achieve such an aim.

Ask that UNESCO, as a world body dedicated to news media advancement, seek to formally further these issues at all levels within UN systems and across world society.

Suggest, urgently, three main courses of action in response to world journalism in crisis:

¨       Draw attention to world journalism in crisis.

¨       Advocate retention and rebuilding of journalism.

¨       Support calls for rapid scaling up of funding.

Sign this petition in support of the above concerns, questions and suggestions.

. . .