[Media Caucus] CS benchmarks doc

[Steve Buckley]

Dear all

Work is going to be needed this week and next on the civil society draft 
vision statement so we need to close discussion in the media caucus on the 
civil society benchmarks document which sets out key non-negotiables.

The present draft paragraph reads:

"While allowing for government information services to communicate their 
message, state-controlled media at the national level should be transformed 
into editorially independent public service media organisations and/or 
privatised. Efforts which encourage pluralism and diversity of media 
ownership must be encouraged to avoid excessive media concentration."

In light of the discussion last week I propose this be replaced with:

"Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is the touchstone 
for an independent, pluralistic and free media. Media pluralism and 
diversity should be guaranteed through appropriate laws to hinder the abuse 
of media concentration. State controlled media should be transformed into 
editorially independent public service organisations. Security and other 
considerations should not  compromise freedom of expression, media freedom 
and access to information."

This does not cover all of the issues we may want to see in the final civil 
society vision statement but the language is consistent with previous media 
caucus wording and I think it covers the essentials for the civil society 
benchmarks doc.

Any objections?

Steve


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            steve at commedia.org.uk
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         http://www.commedia.org.uk
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