Mexico City stretches until forever on its plain 2000 metres about sea level. The final limosine ride to Mexico City airport at the end of the WEMF 4 conference seemed to sum up the job we had done. There is so many cars and people in Mexico City, so many historical obstructions, and so much congestion, that the journey takes a very, very long time. But by trying different routes, and never giving up, we eventually get to where we want to go. At WEMF4, delegates had tried to take at least a few steps forward to their destination – that world where ‘broadcasting is arranged to benefit all mankind’. They could claim a few metres.
The final session produced two main outputs.
One was ‘the WEMF4 declaration on the safety of journalists’ – which we will posted in full on this site shortly. The statement, presented to the meeting by Jean Reveillon, EBU Director General, tells of the increasing number of professional journalists murdered in the line of duty. It tells that eight out of ten of their killers are never brought to justice. The must be no different levels of justice, but society regards the murder of policemen as an ultra-serious offence, and usually stops at nothing to bring the guilty to justice. Do journalist, who risk their lives so we can hear the truth, deserve so much less?
The other output was a ‘Mexico Decaration’ which drew conclusions for each of the topics discussed; convergence, archive presevation, citizen journalism, the digital transition, media and the multlateral institutions, access services, and journalists safety. This will also be available on this site shortly.
Will there be another WEMF in two years? That’s for the Unions to discuss and decide, but there was at least an invitation to hold it in Central Africa from the AUB (African Union of Broadcasters). Maybe another few meters forward then?
Filed under: Uncategorized
