Contents

Foreword. 1

Action Plan. 1

Further Discussion. 3

Presidents Message. 3

Secretary Generals Message. 4

Treasurer’s Report. 4

Important Dates. 4

Attendees From WAPC. 5

Foreword

In light of our meeting held in Istanbul, TURKEY in July 2009, this meeting is a realization of one of our goals to come together face to face 1-2 times a year to improve the communication and productivity of the organization.

We met in this follow up meeting in the spirit of promoting the WAPC. Justice G. N. Ray convened the meeting and discussed our purposes; reminding us that freedom of expression must be hand in hand with high standards of journalism. We heard the country reports of the participating member countries. We then had a meeting with the local press, followed by a session devoted to developing the WAPC and increasing international awareness of our mission.

This declaration is a witness that the WAPC, founded in 1992, is fully functioning as a united effort by its member country councils.

Action Plan

We as the WAPC have decided to strengthen our organization in the following ways:

·         Better communication (within and outside organization)

-         A renewal of our commitment to meet face to face 1-2 times a year to increase familiarity and discuss current issues, areas of interest, and create mutual support.

-         To increase electronic communication (improve current web site; create mailing list, create database of contacts, increase mutual correspondence, VOIP correspondence).

-         To receive reports, factual data and other pertinent information from each council on a regular basis to be published on our website (which will be redesigned to meet a more interactive interest).

-         With the aim of increasing visibility, each member country will prepare a list of contacts (with the following headings: Country, City, Organization, type of Organization, Name, Surname, Name of Organization, Title Within Organization, Email, Direct Tel, Direct Fax, Organization Web Site) for the WAPC to send information regarding WAPC activities.

·         Additional financial resources

-         Creating alternative sources of financing without competing against current resources of the member local press councils.

-         Focusing on international sources rather than national sources which may be channeled to the respective local councils.

-         Increasing individual country member contribution to 500 USD (yet maintaining constitutional membership fee of 100 USD).

-         Formulate resource mobilization plans and strategies to be carried out by individual member councils.

·         Preparing a Business Plan/ Action Plan/ Financing Document

(Abigail, Kajubi, Chris will come together to put together a draft document within a month)

-         Determining how the funds of the WAPC will be channeled.

-         To be utilized as a document for funding promotion.

-         Intended to clarify the expectations of member councils from the WAPC in terms of funding.

-         Each member council will utilize this document for individual WAPC funding endeavors, with the intention of promoting a common organizational approach with a single voice; contacting institutions as a delegation (gaining the strength of numbers) rather than as a single country.

·         Increasing participation and membership

-         In order to reinforce the legitimacy of the WAPC, to convince organizations towards our established cause, to increase the reach and scope of the WAPC.

-         To create strategies to re-engage those press councils who used to be a member.

-         Revisit the constitution; with the aim of increasing memberships and determine what is in it for the potential member country.

-         Addressing the WAPC history of turbulence and passionate discussions as organizational learning; communicating that although all member PCs are not formed in identical structures; this situation does not deter the WAPC to communicate with them and take them as members towards the ultimate mission of worldwide media issues.

-         Each member country will strive for a period of 6 months to recruit one additional country, with the aim of increasing the number of member press councils to 25 by the meeting in Nepal in October 2010.

-         Somebody can take on Asia; Cyprus can take on a country in the Middle East, Turkey can take on the Balkans and Turkic countries. Africa can focus on African neighbors. Each member country will interact with other member countries in order to increase membership

·         Sharing best practices and solution of problems

-         Providing technical assistance and training sessions to improve skills, bringing together top people around the world to share knowledge and experience.

-         Arranging workshops with our members and the local media to share best practice and demonstrate high standards in journalism within dissimilar environments.

-         Preparing statements regarding best practice methods and example applications in order to provide media professionals a roadmap on how to address specific issues.

-         Witness real member press council meetings to promote increased awareness of practices and issues, and to promote discussions of best practice.

·         Develop the WAPC Web site

-         Enabling a platform where member countries can interact with each other and the world media.

-         Enabling interested parties to follow the combined efforts and valuable contribution of member countries as well as their development towards the WAPC mission.

Further Discussion

Further views unanimously discussed are as follows:

·         Increasing WAPC output

This is a main issue for grounding the WAPC. A collective effort of all member PCs will be required, they are to submit updates on country reports, statistics and important media events to the Secretary General. After being reviewed by and if necessary edited by the SG, they will be posted on the web site.

·         Establishing a permanent secretariat

This might be necessary when there is an increase in the number of member PCs. But initially new member recruitment should be the focus.

·         Exploring becoming a UN NGO

Turkey was the first press council in the world to become a UN NGO. Following our member councils lead, we will determine the requisites for becoming a member of the UN NGO, evaluate pros and cons and if unanimously decided, begin the application process.

·         Improving formal documentation of the WAPC

In order to create a structured organizational memory (documentation and pictures); documenting the tasks and duties of the WAPC President, Vice President, Secretary General; documenting the Member Press Councils, and producing formal documentation for formal representation would be the initial goals. Each member council is required to work with the Secretary General towards this goal.

·         Advocacy  within the WAPC network

As advocates of free media, publicize WAPC decisions and statements in the media of all member countries.

All these issues will be pursued and communicated by the Secretary General on a regular basis. The outcome of these endeavors will be reported at the following meeting to be held in Nepal in October, 2010.

Presidents Message

A summary of the Presidents message is below

Part of our task is to go to those countries in the world where, in fact, freedom of press issues are facing challenges. Our basic task is to raise our voice to the world to address freedom of communication. Our goal is to better the world of journalism, rather than take on only those members which have fully developed.

With the freedom of the media comes a high standard of ethics. While history is important, we want to look to the future and create a welcome environment for uniting the press councils of the world. Anyone who shares our goals towards free and independent media and high ethical standards in journalism is welcome to join our association.

We have made a commitment towards expanding our membership, including reconnecting the members of the past.

Secretary Generals Message

A summary of the Secretary Generals message is below

As they say, there is good news and bad news! The good news is that a number of us have managed to come together from across the globe to further our mutual goals for media freedom and high standards of journalism. The bad news is that the world is a long way from guaranteeing the promises inherent in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.

Challenges to freedom of communication and access to information exist in virtually all parts of the world. The members of the WAPC find themselves contending with a variety of issues on almost a daily basis.

The WAPC faces serious challenges. Chief among these is the problem of communication. While the internet provides almost instant interaction, we need to find a discipline to make better use of its capabilities. The future of the WAPC is in our hands. The idea of an organization representing press and media councils has taken root, and even if the soil is not always fertile, it has continued to grow.

Treasurer’s Report

A summary of the Treasurers report is below

As of 25 March 2010, the WAPC has 2,964 USD.

Since the last meeting in July 2009; below transactions have occurred:

- Annual Fees: Press Council of Nepal (2008 and 2009), Media Council of Tanzania (2008 and 2009), The Voluntary Media Council of Zimbabwe (2008 and 2009), The Press Council of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (2008 and 2009).

- Donations:  Media Council of Tanzania 300 USD 2008 and 2009 annual fees.

We have not made any payments since the last meeting of WAPC in July 2009 in Istanbul.

Important Dates

1.      23-27 October 2010 NEPAL

2.      March 2011 INDIA

3.      2^nd half of 2011 AFRICA

Each country meeting to be arranged so that a real life press council meeting takes place in order for country members to experience actual meetings to gain better insight on country specific issues and various best practice applications.

A special thanks to the Press Council of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, who has hosted this meeting and made these valuable contributions possible.

Attendees From WAPC

1-      Hon. Justice G.N. Ray                                                   ______________________________

WAPC President

Chairman, Press Council India

2-      Kajubi Mukajanga                                                          ______________________________

WAPC Vice President

Chairman, Media Council of Tanzania

3-      Oktay Ekşi                                                                         ______________________________

WAPC Treasurer

Chairman, Turkish Press Council

4-      Christopher Conybeare                                                              ______________________________

WAPC Secretary General

President, Media Council Hawaii

5-      Baldwin Chiyamwaka                                                  ______________________________

Malawi

6-      Rumbidzia Abigail Gamanya                                     ______________________________

Zimbabwe

7-      İsmet Kotak                                                                      ______________________________

Chairman, TRNC

8-      Moinuddin Quadery Showkat                                  ______________________________

Bangladesh

9-      Kishor Shrestha;                                                             ______________________________

Nepal

These signatures indicate that these WAPC members which have attended the WAPC Executive Council Meeting (26-28 March 2010, TRNC) have seen this 5 page document and submitted their comments for review to the Secretary General Christopher Conybeare.