(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is a 23 May 2000 AMARC press release: FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION GROUPS CONDEMN INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDâS PRESS POLICY ON COMMUNITY MEDIA Freedom of Expression groups meeting in New York today condemned IMF press policy on community media as counter to the freedom of opinion and expression. The statement, signed by twenty-seven […]
(AMARC/IFEX) – The following is a 23 May 2000 AMARC press release:
FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION GROUPS CONDEMN INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUNDâS PRESS POLICY ON COMMUNITY MEDIA
Freedom of Expression groups meeting in New York today condemned IMF press policy on community media as counter to the freedom of opinion and expression. The statement, signed by twenty-seven Freedom of Expressions organizations worldwide, was released following the Annual Meeting of IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, in New York, 20-23 May 2000.
The IMF press policy to deny credentials to public access TV, community radio, student and academic publications was issued by IMF staff officials prior to the IMF and World Bank meetings in Washington in April 2000. WORT-FM, the Boulder Weekly, KAOS radio of Olympia, Washington, CorporateWatch Web site, and other independent media outlets were all denied access to the meetings.
Elizabeth Robinson, International Board member of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC) said: “This IMF categorical exclusion is particularly reprehensible since the IMF/World Bank meetings were being held in the United States capital, a country whose founders championed a free press. In an age of increasing corporate control of media, community media are more important than ever to protecting that freedom.”
The National Federation of Community Broadcasters (NFCB) representing over 150 community radio stations in the US has also called on the IMF “to open its doors and allow access to community media at all its future meetings and events.” They are pursuing legal avenues for challenging the policy.
Notes to editors:
Below is the text of the statement and the signatory organisations.
IMF PRESS POLICY ON COMMUNITY MEDIA – RESOLUTION
The below listed freedom of expression organisations, taking part in the Annual Meeting of IFEX, the International Freedom of Expression Exchange, in New York, 20-23 May 2000 resolve to:
– condemn the IMF press policy of withholding press accreditation from community media organisations wishing to cover IMF meetings
– call on the IMF to encourage freedom of expression and opinion by adopting principles of openness and transparency in its own dealings with the media
– request the IMF revoke the policy of excluding community media and allow access to future meetings and events by community media organisations
Signatories:
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
International Federation of Journalists
International Press Institute, IPI
Committee to Protect Journalists
Freedom House
International PEN
Article 19
Index on Censorship
Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)
West African Journalists Association
Center for Media Freedom & Responsibility, Philippines
International Federation of Journalists, Algiers Center
Sindicato de Periodistas del Paraguay
Journalists Trade Union of Azerbaijan
Institute for the Studies on the Free Flow of Information (ISAI), Indonesia
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Centro Nacional de Comunicacion Social (CENCOS)
Norwegian Forum for Freedom of Expression (NFFE)
Free Expression Ghana
Independent Journalism Centre (IJC), Nigeria
FORJA, Chile
Freedom of Expression Institute, South Africa
Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists, Jordan
Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)
The Alliance of Independent Journalists, Indonesia
International Federation of Library Associations IFLA/FAIFE
Glasnost Defence Foundation, Russia
