EPD joins press freedom alliance
The EPD has joined with four fellow Dutch organisations to cooperate on
a common innovative plan called 'Press Freedom 2.0', which aims to
strengthen the freedom of the press around
the world. The plan was presented earlier this week to the Dutch
Minister of Development Aid, Mr
Koenders. The other members cooperating organizations are World Press
Photo (WPP), European
Journalism Centre (EJC), Mensen met
een Missie (MM) and the secretariat of Free Voice.
The added value of the cooperation lies within the wide range of
strategic opportunities: local journalists together with local civil society
and the local political community can make an argument for the right of access
to independent and unbiased information. This freedom of press alliance would particularly
like to give a strong voice to minorities, women and children. The five
development organizations have world wide networks that can now be linked for an
even bigger and more complementary network. On the local level this will
guarantees the best way of strengthening of information services. This will
contribute to more democracy and a fairer redistribution of wealth.
During the last couple of months, the freedom of press alliance has
worked, together with tens of partners in the ‘south', on the subsidy request
of 34 million Euros. During four partner consultations (Latin America, Africa,
the Middle East and Asia) a request strategy has been developed to be able to
increase the support for multiform and qualitative news within 13 developing
countries.
Expertise on the most effective way of intervention and enhancing press freedom
lies with the local media and civil society. Because these ‘southern' colleagues
largely decide the content of the alliance, the request is called ‘Press
Freedom 2.0' (taken from the name ‘web 2.0', which refers to the interactive
internet, where users decide about the content themselves).
The grant application is submitted
within the framework of the new Co-financing System (MFS II) which runs from
2011 until 2015 and is meant for Dutch Foundations who are structurally
engaging themselves in sustainable development against poverty.
Further details can be found at the Freevoice website.