Irish Nobel Laureate Sean MacBride (1901-1988) came out with "Many Voices One World" which is the most balanced document on global communication.
The Commission report stressed that it concerned not only developing countries, but the whole of humanity, because unless the necessary changes were made in all parts of the world, it would not be possible to attain freedom, reciprocity or independence in the exchange of information worldwide.
The Commission confirmed the persistence of imbalances in news and information flows between countries and of marked inequalities in the distribution of communication resources. The Commission were agreed as to the necessity for change and that the current situation was “unacceptable to all“, but its members were unable to agree on a definition of the concept of a ‘new world information and communication order’ (NWICO), nor were they able to specify the link with a new international economic order, as they had been asked to do.
Above all, the Commission sought solutions whereby third world countries would develop and strengthen their independence, self-determination and cultural identity. They also explored ways to improve international news reporting and the conditions under which journalists operate. Several central proposals focused on the democratization of communication, i.e. issues relating to access and participation, and “the right to communicate” –actually a cluster of rights: “the right to be informed, the right to inform, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public communication” at all levels, international, national,local and individual, was strongly emphasized.
According to the Commission, "There is general recognition of the fact that journalists have responsibilities not only vis-a-vis- their own convictions but also towards the public.
The four kinds of responsibility may be defined as:
a) Contractual responsibility in relation to the media and their internal organisation.
b) A social responsibility entailing obligations towards public opinion and society as a whole.
c) Responsibility or liability deriving from the obligation to comply with the law.
d) Responsibility towards the International community, relating to respect of universal values.
The Commission also said that for the journalist, freedom and responsibility are indivisible. Freedom without responsibility invites distortion and other abuses.
The Commission report stressed that it concerned not only developing countries, but the whole of humanity, because unless the necessary changes were made in all parts of the world, it would not be possible to attain freedom, reciprocity or independence in the exchange of information worldwide.
The Commission confirmed the persistence of imbalances in news and information flows between countries and of marked inequalities in the distribution of communication resources. The Commission were agreed as to the necessity for change and that the current situation was “unacceptable to all“, but its members were unable to agree on a definition of the concept of a ‘new world information and communication order’ (NWICO), nor were they able to specify the link with a new international economic order, as they had been asked to do.
Above all, the Commission sought solutions whereby third world countries would develop and strengthen their independence, self-determination and cultural identity. They also explored ways to improve international news reporting and the conditions under which journalists operate. Several central proposals focused on the democratization of communication, i.e. issues relating to access and participation, and “the right to communicate” –actually a cluster of rights: “the right to be informed, the right to inform, the right to privacy, the right to participate in public communication” at all levels, international, national,local and individual, was strongly emphasized.
According to the Commission, "There is general recognition of the fact that journalists have responsibilities not only vis-a-vis- their own convictions but also towards the public.
The four kinds of responsibility may be defined as:
a) Contractual responsibility in relation to the media and their internal organisation.
b) A social responsibility entailing obligations towards public opinion and society as a whole.
c) Responsibility or liability deriving from the obligation to comply with the law.
d) Responsibility towards the International community, relating to respect of universal values.
The Commission also said that for the journalist, freedom and responsibility are indivisible. Freedom without responsibility invites distortion and other abuses.
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