Global Forum for Media Development to hold a major Conference in Athens on December 7-10 2008

Some 500 media experts from over 100 countries will be invited to attend the second Global Forum for Media Development in Athens on December 7-10, 2008 to develop common strategies for media development and to ensure that free, independent and pluralistic media are at the core of development programmes.

The President of Greece, Dr. Karolos Papoulias will open the conference. Key speakers, such as Nobel-Prize winner Orhan Pamuk have been invited to attend. High-level representatives from the UN, UNESCO, World Bank and other intergovernmental institutions will address the conference. Senior media executives and key representatives from a wide range of media development organisations will present new and innovative ideas for ensuring sustainability of independent media and media development goals.

At the Cutting Edge of Media Development:
New technologies are offering the chance for citizens around the world, even from the poorest countries, to gain access to information. Members of the GFMD are working at the cutting edge of these developments, creating new ways of using use technology for information services. Participants will have the chance to engage with leading experts in spotting new opportunities for increasing the reach of media in all parts of the world.

New Strategies, More Sustainability
The Global Forum will review existing support to media development, identify short-comings and develop new strategies to increase and diversity support to independent media. The conference will show-case successful business models for independent media and address the limits of the market in supporting free media.

Voice and Accountability
For media to play its role to provide a platform for democratic discourse and holding those in power to account, media outlets themselves have to engage with communities, provide the highest quality of journalism and adhere to internal rules of good governance. The conference will adopt strategies to support good governance in media, in public affairs and in media development.

New Opportunities, New Markets:
The Global Forum brings together key players in building viable media systems and creating new opportunities for media development around the world. It offers the chance to discuss with groups and individuals who are at the forefront of shaping free, independent and viable media, of exploring new markets and creating new opportunities for citizens and media consumers.

Free Media and Freedom of Information
The GFMD's basic values are free expression, media freedom and independent journalism as defined by internationally accepted documents such as the UNESCO Windhoek Declaration. The GFMD believes that free, independent, viable and inclusive media are prerequisites for creating and strengthening democratic society and human development. The Global conference in Athens will provide an opportunity to support these goals and to promote freedom of information in all parts of the world.

Invitations to the Global Forum for Media Development 2008 will be sent out in the coming months.

For more information, contact:
Bettina Peters
Director
Global Forum for Media Development
director@mediagfmd.org [1]