The IFJ organised a meeting on The Challenge of Public Broadcasting in Asia on 1-3 December in Colombo, Sri Lanka. The meeting was organised with the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Foundation and affiliates in Sri Lanka. The meeting launched the IFJ's Public Service Broadcasting for All campaign for Asia. The aim of the meeting was to focus attention on the state of public broadcasting in Asia and to initiate campaigns to promote public service values, editorial independence, quality, and democratic and accountable systems of administration and funding for broadcasters in Asia, with particular reference to journalists.

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SEE FINAL DECLARATION

MORE INFORMATION AND DOCUMENTS ON THE IFJ ASIA-PACIFIC WEBSITE</CENTER>

See also :
PSB in Korea Must be Protected from Partisan Interests
Declaration on the Media Situation in Sri Lanka


<CENTER>Monday, December 1, 2003</CENTER>

1.30pm Welcome and opening
Chris Warren, IFJ President & MEAA Australia

Public service journalism and broadcasting in the region
Presentation of the IFJ campaign in the region
Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary

Moderated discussion
Chair : Arnold Amber, TNG Canada

3.00pm Break

PSB in Korea: A campaign case study in transforming state broadcasting:
What role for the unions?
Seh-Yong Lee, Korean Federation of Press Unions
Young-han Kim, Secretary of KBS Union

4.20pm Public broadcasting and media in Sri Lanka:
Legal reform, state of funding and organization, editorial independence
Panel discussion chaired by Chris Warren

6.00pm Break

Global launch of IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize

7.00pm Official opening


<CENTER>Tuesday, December 2, 2003</CENTER>

9.00am
Reforming state broadcasting : changes in legal and structural framework in Asia
Peter Noorlander, Article XIX

10.00am
Civil society campaigns for broadcasting reform: Thailand case study
Ms Supinya Klangnarong, Secretarry general for the Campaign for popular media reform

11.00am Break

Keynote speech:
Quality and independence: core values underpinning public service broadcasting. The role for unions, civil society and audiences.
Quentin Dempster, Australian Broadcasting Corporation

12.30pm Lunch

1.30pm Panel session

Five minute reports from each country on the challenges for Asia
moderated by Aidan White, IFJ General Secretary

Focussing on:
· Editorial independence and quality
· Professional challenges and workers’ rights
· Ethical guidelines

3.00pm Break

A PSB campaign for Asia – Introduction of action plan

Arnold Amber, co-chair IFJ PSB Global Campaign
Marc Gruber, IFJ broadcasting and globalisation officer
Followed by discussion chaired by Christopher Warren, IFJ President


<CENTER>Wednesday, December 3, 2003</CENTER>

Working Groups (9-11.30am)

Restructuring public broadcasting: accountability and financing
Chair: Peter Noorlander, Article XIX

Public service values, private broadcasters and editorial independence
Chair: Eva Stabell, Member of IFJ Executive Committee

Jobs, professional challenges and workers rights
Chair: Seh-Yong Lee, Korean Federation of Press Unions

Working group reports and summary

11.30am Asia public service broadcast campaign and action plan
Discussion moderated by Christopher Warren, IFJ President

Lunch and close at 2.00pm

More information:
Ms. Jacqui Park, IFJ Australia Office, Sydney
Mr. Marc Gruber, Public Broadcasting Officer, Brussels