17,784 “The future of media development” is a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC)

Dear colleagues

As scholars, teachers and researchers in media development, you and your networks may be interested to follow an upcoming event that marks 40 years of work by a UN initiative to support the news media in developing countries.

“The future of media development” is a celebration of the 40th Anniversary of UNESCO’s International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), founded in 1980. It will be streamed live (in English and French) on Tuesday 24 November, 9.30-12 CET.

Following, on Wednesday and Thursday, is the intergovernmental council of the IPDC, which will debate :

· the latest report on safety of journalists by UNESCO’s Director General,

· the first global report on access to information, and

· the Paris declaration on freedom of journalism education.

UNESCO warmly invites you to join Tuesday’s celebration of four decades of experience in media development, and a look at the challenges ahead.

The IPDC’s unique role has been continuously reaffirmed in the UN resolution, “Information in the service of humanity”, adopted on annual basis by the General Assembly (the latest on 13 December 2019).

Over its existence, the Programme has mobilized some US$ 120 million for over 2000 media projects in more than 140 developing countries and countries in transition. 

Thanks to the IPDC, there are internationally agreed indicators to assess media and internet development. The Programme is also the cradle of the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists and the Issue of Impunity – amongst many other achievements. 

The 40^th anniversary event on Tuesday features:

· insights from former Ghanaian president H.E. John Kufour and Nobel prizewinner Joseph Stiglitz,

· a panel of global experts assessing policies for media assistance in the face of the COVID-19 crisis.

· a film on the history of IPDC, and

· partnerships to be announced between UNESCO and the World News Publishers Association (WAN-IFRA) as well as with the Forum on Information and Democracy.

Do join us for a vibrant online occasion on 24 November. More details at https://en.unesco.org/programme/ipdc/40years

Please save the date and do kindly share this information amongst your networks.

Yours sincerely

Guy Berger (IPDC Secretary)