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NEW DELHI: The ten pilot projects for establishment of community
radio stations in the most marginalized regions of India which
are to receive $ 60,000 are part of 74 media development projects
being funded in 59 countries from Unesco's International Programme
for the Development of Communication (Unesco-IPDC).
The 51st annual meeting which took place at Unesco Headquarters
from March 27 to 29 decided on an investment of a total of
$ 1,867,000 for the projects, which are expected to improve
media pluralism and strengthen the capacities of media professionals
in developing countries.
Thirty-one of the projects approved concern Africa, 18 focus
on Asia and the Pacific, 19 deal with Latin America and the
Caribbean, 5 concern the Arab States, while one will be implemented
in Armenia. They were selected from a total of 110 project proposals
examined by the Bureau this year. Eleven projects are to be
resubmitted next year as they require additional information.
The Bureau has agreed to receive new project proposals before
its next meeting on July 31. The project proposals should be
submitted to the Unesco Field Office concerned for screening
and finalization in line with the IPDC priorities.
A discussion on 'Defining Indicators of Media Development' was
held on the last day of the meeting as a follow-up to the IPDC
Council's decision to launch a broad consultation among media
experts and professionals on this topic.
Andrew Puddephatt, former executive director of Article 19,
presented a background paper he had prepared on behalf of Unesco
suggesting categories of indicators which could be retained
for measuring the level of media development in a given country.
The meeting was attended by IPDC Bureau members, media experts
and observers. |
