wfn.org | WACC - Media Action 291

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

 In this Issue: WACC participates at the International Federation of
Journalists Conference on Gender and Ethics held in Brussels.

> Also in this issue:

WACC calls for volunteers for its upcoming Global Media Monitoring day.

WACC calls for action to solve environmental problems.

WACC supported Telecentre connects rural communities in Fiji.

Revitalizing a media reform movement in Canada.

> **News**

Ending gender discrimination is key to ethical reporting, declares
journalists meeting in Brussels

> By Lavinia Mohr, Director of Programmes, WACC

â??There is a new and fresh consciousness of gender equality and
womenâ??s rights within journalism and the International Federation of
Journalistsâ?? the General Secretary of the International Federation
of Journalists, Aidan White, told representatives of about sixty
journalists unions from forty-five countries around the world. They
gathered in Brussels to attend a two-day conference on Gender and
Ethics: Gender Equality in the Newsroom, 30 -31 May 2009. The event
was part of the International Federation of Journalistsâ?? Ethical
Journalism Initiative launched in 2008. Read more...
<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1813:ending-gender-disc rimination-is-key-to-ethical-reporting-declares-journalists-meeting-in-bruss els.html

> WACC continues to address global concerns

WACC continues to call for action against issues of global concern
in its special statements released on UNâ??s international days. In
its latest statement to commemorate World Environment Day, 5 June
2009, WACC calls for action rather than words to solve environmental
problems. â??Global greenhouse emissions need to be dramatically
reduced, while at the same time raising the quality of life for the
majority of the worldâ??s peopleâ??, says WACC in the statement.  See
full statement...

<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1796:statement-on-world -environment-day-2009.html

Recently, WACC released another statement calling on religious
leaders and communicators to emphasize the need for urgent and radical
action on climate change. WACC has also launched a new page on climate
justice <http://www.waccglobal.org/en/activities/climate-justice.html

> on its website.

To see other statements, visit WACC's online press room
<http://waccglobal.org/en/press.html

Revitalizing a media reform movement in Canada

> By Philip Lee, Deputy Director Programs, WACC

WACC Global and WACC North America lent their support to the
Campaign for Democratic Media (CDM) when it hosted a workshop on 26
May to review the findings of research funded by the Social Science
Research Council (SSRC). The aim of the research was to determine the
'building blocks' necessary to an emergent, politically progressive
coalition aimed at democratizing public communication in Canada. Read
more...
<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1776:revitalizing-a-med ia-reform-movement-in-canada.html

> **Programme updates**

> GMMP is only 5 months away!

By Chloe Shantz-Hilkes, Project Assistant for the GMMP, WACC

Global media monitoring day for GMMP 2009/2010 is only 5 months
away! This November volunteer media monitors all over the world will
once again monitor news in their local newspapers, television and
radio stations for selected indicators of gender in news content and
practice. In preparation for the GMMP 2009/2010, weâ??ve made a number
of exciting additions to our website. Please visit
http://www.whomakesthenews.org/

and take a look! We are continually updating the list of regional
and national coordinators for the project, but are still missing
coordinators for a number of countries and would be extremely grateful
for any volunteers or suggestions. Read more...
<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1805:gmmp-is-only-5-mon ths-away.html?Itemid=161

WACC supported Telecentre connects rural communities

By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC

A Telecenter supported by WACC is enabling communities in remote
villages of Wailoku and Waisasavu, in the highlands of Naitasiri,
Fiji, to access information that responds to their needs. The
communities can now access computers, Internet, and other ICTs that
help them gather information and discuss pertinent issues such as land
boundaries and unemployment. The Telecentre is run by the Ecumenical
Centre for Research, Education and Advocacy (ECREA), Fiji. Read
more...

<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1814:wacc-supported-tel ecentre-connects-rural-communities.html?Itemid=162

> **Announcements**

> WACC appoints new assistant

By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC

The government of Canada has once again funded WACC to support a new
assistant for its Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP). Chloe
Shantz-Hilkes joined WACC 27 May 2009 for a 3-month period. â??I am
delighted to be supporting the Media and Gender Justice team while
they gear up for the fourth GMMP! My work on this project is proving
to be a wonderful compliment to my studies and to my hope of one day
applying my degree in journalism to work in the field of human
development.â??

Chloe is studying broadcast journalism at Ryerson University with a
minor in politics and a particular focus on women and development. She
speaks English and French.

> For information about the GMMP, visit:
> http://www.whomakesthenews.org/

Last year the government funded another student to support WACCâ??s
Congress 2008. WACC wishes to thank the government for its continued
support.

WACC Asia calls on churches to observe "Asia Communication Sunday"

WACC Asia Regional Executive Committee is calling on all churches in
the region to observe "Asia Communication Sunday" on June 21.

The theme of the Communication Sunday is "Communication is Peace:
Taking sides to build viable Communities". Communicators in the region
will share their experiences, stories, photos and videos expressing
their work of communicating peace. For more information, visit the
WACC Asia website <http://www.waccasia.org/

Registration for Religion Communication Congress is open

Registration for the global Religion Communication Congress 2010 is
now open. The once-a-decade multi-faith forum of all levels of
communicators of religion will be held in Chicago, April 7-10, 2010.

The event brings together over 1,200 communications professionals to
expand their experience and broaden their perspective on embracing
change. WACC will conduct two workshops on Gender, Media and Social
Change: A case study of the Global Media Monitoring Project (GMMP)
<http://www.rccongress2010.net/speakers/sarahmacharia.shtml#leadership

and Communication Rights and the Millennium Development Goals
<http://www.rccongress2010.net/speakers/philiplee.shtml#leadership

at the Congress. WACC will also collaborate with WACC North America
in presenting an information booth, a dinner and other initiatives at
RCC 2010

For more information, visit the RCC 2010 website
<http://www.rccongress2010.net/

> **Pictorial news**

Participants working on the declaration of the conference on Gender
and Ethics: Gender Equality in the Newsroom held in Brussels, 30 -31
May 2009. The declaration recognised that â??it is essential to hold
strong to principles of ethical reporting to fight gender stereotypes,
to combat aggressive behaviour, harassment, inequality in promotion,
training and pay, and to stand up for dignity in our work as
journalists and media professionalsâ??. Lavinia Mohr, WACCâ??s
Director of Programmes participated at the conference. Read more?
<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1813:ending-gender-disc rimination-is-key-to-ethical-reporting-declares-journalists-meeting-in-bruss els.html

WACC officers met in Toronto, May 7-10. The officers were elected at
the Board meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa, October last year.
They include; Mr. Dennis Smith from Guatemala -President, Mrs Praxedis
Bouwman from the Netherlands - Vice-President, Mrs Amany Latif Ebied
from Egypt - Secretary, Rev Young-Cheol Cheon from Korea ­ Treasurer
and the WACC General Secretary ­ the Rev. Randy Naylor from Canada.
The Officers participated in the judging of the WACC annual photo
competition for the first time. For more information about the
competition, click here ?
<http://www.waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1721:wacc-photo-competi tion-winners-announced-.html

Former WACC staff, Julienne Munyaneza (left) and Dr. Daniela Frank,
Executive Director of CAMECO (Catholic Media Council) during
CAMECOâ??s 40th Anniversary celebrations held in Aachen, Germany, May
6. WACCâ??s General Secretary, Randy Naylor attended the celebrations.
Read more?
<http://waccglobal.org/component/content/article/1731:wacc-congratulates-cam eco-.html

> **Letters to the Editor**

Yogyakarta, Indonesia: Call for urgent and radical action on climate
change

Thank you very much for the statement about your call for urgent and
radical action on climate change.

In 2007/8 we developed an environment programme called Yogyakarta
Green and Clean here in Yogyakarta Special Province of Indonesia. The
programme was jointly developed with multi stakeholders including the
government, private sector and media. We create awareness and educate
the local communities about global warming and how to prevent it. I am
interested in more information about this subject and about the
international Climate Conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, 6-18 December
2009.

> Bernadetta Widiandayani

> Yogyakarta,Indonesia

> May 24, 2009 11:42 AM

> --------------

Entebbe, Uganda: WACC Statement on World Press Freedom Day

Thank you very much for the WACC Statement on World Press Freedom
Day. This statement affirms WACC's commitment to a world of Peace.

> Every Blessing

Margaret Tuhumwire, on behalf of EWA (Entebbe Women Association)

> Entebbe, Uganda

> May 03, 2009

> ***

> Thank you for this advocacy piece!

> Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng

Executive Director, Isis-Women's International Cross Cultural
Exchange (Isis-WICCE)

> Kampala, Uganda

> May 01, 2009

> --------------

> USA: Tributes to WACC Honorary member

Thank you for sending the information about Bertie Manuel. He is one
of the founders of the present WACC and so important to establish it
in the worldwide community. He was so helpful to the members and
denominations in North America who were involved in communication
ministries. Bertie was one of the greatest pioneers of WACC.

> David Briddell

> USA

> ***

I was sorry to read about Berties' death in Chennai. He and I did a
number of communication workshops in the Asia region in the 1980s, in
addition to serving on the WACC Central Committee together. As I sit
and think back I can remember him stepping apart from the group and
listening to the cricket scores on his small shortwave radio. When I
co-led the workshop in Madras (Chennai), his daughter took me on
several tours, ranging from museums to watching the fishermen come in
at the beach with their day's catch. The most colorful was a visit to
a sari shop where she shopped for saris to wear to weddings of
friends. George Conklin

> USA

For more about tributes to Bertie, click here?
<http://asia.waccglobal.org/lang-en/news/71-wacc-honorary-member-dies.html

**Please send comments and letters to MT@waccglobal.org
<mailto:MT@waccglobal.org
**