i-Witness Website for Journalists

According to Murali Shanmugavelan of Panos' Communication for Development Programme, "[m]edia can play a significant role: raising awareness of the issues within government and civil society, engaging civil society in debate, interrogating policy and debating alternatives, promoting transparency in policy making and implementation, and building political commitment to inclusive communication policies. However, at present media do not generally have the capacity to play this role. Few journalists and editors are familiar enough with the issues to report and analyse them effectively and communication is not seen as a priority for coverage. In the run-up to WSIS 1, there was a striking lack of in-country discussion and engagement in Information Society policy issues and the Summit process."

i-Witness Goals:

• expose journalists worldwide to "many controversial but often under-reported information society topics - from bridging the digital divide to controlling the internet."
• help journalists, particularly those in developing countries, "report on a subject that is having a growing economic and cultural impact, but one that many people in developing countries are in danger of being left out of completely."
• improve the quality of coverage on information society issues.
• ensure that journalists are not just reporters but are also participants in the discussions around the information society and WSIS.

http://www.panos.org.uk/iwitness/

Source: Drum Beat