Message from Secretary-General AMIC
Date: Tuesday, January 13, 2009 2:57 PM
Dear AMIC Members,
Let me begin by wishing you a very Happy New Year 2009 filled with good health and happiness!
I am writing to you to provide you with a report of AMIC’s activities and development in 2008. I have always believed that as members, you have the right to be kept informed of AMIC’s progress and activities. As all of you know, 2008 was a very difficult year in view of the global financial crisis and AMIC has, like all other organizations, been affected by the financial turmoil as it is reliant on donor agency funding for its projects and activities.
In spite of these difficult times, I am pleased to inform you that AMIC has been very active on the research, publication and project fronts. Overall, we have completed 14 research projects in 2008 and prepared another 19 project and activities proposals (please find attached a detailed report of activities, research and publications). AMIC held its 17th AMIC Annual conference in Manila in July 2008 and we had 420 delegates from 22 countries at the conference. Given the financial situation in Manila, and generally around the world, we did not perform well financially for the conference but the conference was a resounding success in terms of the quality of the programme and content and we thank our partners in the Philippines for hosting the event.
Our publications programme was also extremely active this year with 6 titles released in 2008 and two books in the pipeline for 2009. We have also published 6 issues of our newsletter AMCB in 2008. In addition, we have strived hard to catch up with the delay in our publication of Media Asia. I must take this opportunity to apologize for the delay of the publication of Media Asia. Basically the reason for this delay is that we tried to significantly improve the quality of Media Asia by instituting an editorial advisory committee as well as increasing the standard/quality of the articles which were selected for publication. I know that this is not an excuse as this is part of the benefits of your membership but I assure you that by the end of 2009, we will regularize the publication of Media Asia. I am pleased to inform you moreover that 4 of the issues of Media Asia for 2008 are in the final stages of production (which means that they will be released one after another) and that we have already finalized the publication of 3 additional issues for 2009. I hope that you will bear with us while we regularize the publication.
Our next annual conference entitled «Media, Democracy and Governance: Emerging Paradigms in the Digital Age» will be held in New Delhi from the 13-16 July 2009. I am also pleased to inform you that the Radio Asia conference which was held in Singapore for the past few years will be moved to New Delhi and will be held from the 9-11th of July. I hope that all of you will be able to participate in these two major events. We will be organizing a series of pre-conference workshops as well as tours to the Taj Mahal and other places of interest during the conference.
Last but not least, I would like to thank all of you for your support through the years. As AMIC enters a difficult period, I urge all of you to renew your membership in these difficult times. I can assure you that we will do everything possible to ensure that membership is beneficial to you and to your institutions.
Wishing you once again a very Happy New Year, I hope all of you have anexcellent year ahead.
Amicably yours,
Indrajit Banerjee
Secretary-General
AMIC
Dr. Indrajit Banerjee
Secretary-General
Asian Media Information and Communication Centre (AMIC)
Jurong Point P.O. Box 360, SINGAPORE 916412
Tel: (65) 6792 7570 Fax: (65) 6792 7129
Email: indrajit@amic.org.sg
Web: http://www.amic.org.sg
Personal website: www.indrajitbanerjee.org
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