Details

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) Japan Working Group, together with AMARC International and AMARC Asia-Pacific, is organising a radio forum for the duration of both the G8 Summit and the alternative G8 Summit in Hokkaido, Japan from 30 June to 10 July 2008. Based at the citizens media centre buildings in Sapporo, the radio forum will collect the audio coverage reports of the summit and parallel activities such as alternative G8 Summit, indigenous peoples summit, as well as demonstrations and workshops.

Details

The Thai cabinet recently approved a proposed broadcasting law that can weaken community radios. While the Independent Organisation for Broadcasting and Telecommunications Bill mandates the National Broadcasting and Telecommunications Commission (NBTC) to support community radio, it does not maintain the current 20 per cent frequency spectrum allocation for non-profit civil society groups.

Details

(Last of a three-part series)

It has been nearly a month since the United Nations (UN), on behalf of the international community, including civil society organisations forged an agreement with the Burmese junta. Three weeks since cyclone Nargis devastated communities in the Irrawaddy delta on May 3, 2008, the junta yielded to the global clamor to open the country and allow aid to reach survivors. But just days following the agreement brokered by the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the junta reneged from its commitment.

Details

10-12 August 2008
Johannesburg, South Africa

Gender Links (GL) in partnership with the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), will be holding the third Gender and Media (GEM) Summit from 10-12 August 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme of the summit is: “Whose news, whose views? Critical citizens, responsive media”. 

Details
The Internet as a platform for communications and economic activities is one area where governance is a contested concept. An outcome of the World Summit on the Information Society held in 2005 was the formation of a body to discuss the possible aspects of the Internet, abiding by this framework:

“Internet governance is the development and application by Governments, the private sector and civil society, in their respective roles, of shared principles, norms, rules, decision-making procedures, and programmes that shape the evolution and use of the Internet.”

Details
Egypt and Saudi Arabia has become a focus of criticism from some fellow Arab countries, media freedom organisations and independent Arab broadcasters. Criticism focuses on how these two countries are upholding a region-wide satellite broadcasting charter that seems intent to stifle freedom of speech in the region.