Joint position of the broadcasting
unions around the world
Geneva, 19 February
2003: The broadcasting unions for the various
regions of the world, on the initiative of the European
Broadcasting Union (EBU), have issued a statement* to the
governments and organizers involved in the World Summit on the
Information Society.
It marks a historic milestone because after
several months of negotiations the public service and private
broadcasters throughout the world have reached an agreement on this
position presented under the banner of the World Broadcasting
Unions (WBU).
The WBU statement recalls the key role of
public and private broadcasting, in particular digital broadcasting
and advanced services to be launched in the next few years, in
creating an information society which involves all citizens.
The unions underline the responsibility of
broadcasters and their contribution to promoting the fundamental
values of freedom of expression, access to information, media
pluralism, and cultural diversity, and consider that the
information society ought to be based on the principles of the
Universal Declaration of Human Rights which claims the fundamental
right to freedom of speech.
The WBU statement includes five principles
and objectives:
- Communications technology is not an
end in itself; it is a vehicle for carrying information and
content.
- Freedom of speech, media freedom and
pluralism, and cultural diversity are values to be respected and
promoted.
- Electronic media have a major role to
play in the information society.
- Television and radio are indispensable
to ensure social cohesion and development in the digital
world.
- Information must remain accessible for
everyone.
The WBU comprises the EBU, ABU (Asia-Pacific
Broadcasting Union), IAB (International Association of Broadcasting),
ASBU (Arab States
Broadcasting Union), CBU (Caribbean Broadcasting Union), NABA (North American
Broadcasters Association), OTI (Organización de la Televisión
Iberoamericana) and URTNA (Union of National Radio and Television
Organizations of Africa).
With 71 active Members in 52 countries in
Europe, North Africa and the Middle East, and 45 associate Members
in 28 countries in other regions of the world, the EBU is the
world’s largest professional association of national
broadcasters
* Full text at http://www.ebu.ch/departments/legal/position.php
Further information
Jacques Briquemont
Head of Public Affairs,
Tel: +32 475 84 02 45
briquemont@ebu.ch
Michael Wagner
Head of Legal Affairs,
Tel: +41 (0)22 717 2511
wagner@ebu.ch
