This post from George Lessard to the MediaMentor group found on Yahoo Groups may be of interest and importance to some of the readers of this list. George Lessard is the moderator of MediaMentor and a frequent and appreciated poster to Net-Gold.
MediaMentor <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/mediamentor/> Sincerely, David Dillard Temple University (215) 204 - 4584 [EMAIL PROTECTED] <http://groups.yahoo.com/group/net-gold> <http://www.edu-cyberpg.com/ringleaders/davidd.html> <http://www.kovacs.com/medref-l/medref-l.html> <http://listserv.temple.edu/archives/net-gold.html> <http://www.LIFEofFlorida.org> World Business Community Advisor <http://www.WorldBusinessCommunity.org> ---------------------------------------- Date: Wed, 18 May 2005 21:58:31 -0600 From: George Lessard <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Reply-To: [email protected] To: Creative Radio List <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: [MediaMentor] ObsMedia web site devoted to monitoring community radio Web site devoted to monitoring community media May 13, 2005 An international community radio group has established a Web site aimed at becoming an observatory for the development of community media worldwide. Obsmedia is the name of the site, announced on May 3 by the World Association of Community Radio (AMARC). Obsmedia aims to monitor freedom of expression violations, changes to relevant media laws, and other issues that affect the recognition and growth of community-based media. According to AMARC, ObsMedia will observe the progress of governments in their relations with grassroots media, and civil society access to community radio. The Web site includes articles, laws and news on the development of community media in various countries. AMARC also has called on governments to ease civil society's access to the air waves by establishing independent community stations. Its goal is for media to serve as a platform for democracy, the promotion of human rights, and sustainable development. Community radio plays a crucial role in enabling public participation, strengthening cultural and linguistic diversity, and promoting gender. In addition, it supports freedom of expression throughout the world, giving voice to the poor and marginalized, and helping to build a more equitable information society. However, community radio stations struggle with the lack of government recognition and legal frameworks. In Latin America, for instance, community broadcasters have a precarious status and continuously face threats of closure. Longer-term stability requires legislative and regulatory reform to recognize their status and role. In other areas of the world such as Asia and the Middle East, community broadcasting is yet to emerge because it is prevented from becoming established. Only a small but growing number of countries have public policy, legislative and regulatory commitments to community broadcasting. ObsMedia is an initiative of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) funded by the Ford Foundation. The main purpose of this site is to help monitor alerts on freedom of expression affecting media worldwide, and to inform on regulations advances and setbacks in the recognition of community media. By providing updated information on the status of community radio and fostering information sharing, ObsMedia supports the development of community broadcasting as well as the action towards their recognition. The Ford Foundation also is supporting the initiative. For more information, contact [EMAIL PROTECTED] or visit <http://www.obsmedia.amarc.org> Espa�ol <http://alc.amarc.org/legislaciones/> <http://www.ijnet.org/FE_Article/ NewsArticle.asp?CId=302773&UILang=1&CIDLang=1> A shorter URL for the above link: <http://snipurl.com/f0c5> _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list [email protected] http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
