MediaGlobal
Encyclopedia
MediaGlobal is a nonprofit news agency based at the United Nations
in New York. MediaGlobal was launched in January 2006 to create awareness in the global media of issues impacting the global South.
launched the Global Media Compact, of which the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) is a signatory.
At the launch of MediaGlobal, the United Nations envoy for Least Developed Countries
(LDCs) Anwarul Karim Chowdhury
said:
, as defined by the United Nations
Human Development Index
. Specific efforts that media companies are encouraged to undertake include:
- Alleviation of poverty, disease and hunger in poor and vulnerable countries as a vital corporate priority by media organizations;
- Feature stories on development issues in poor countries and devote adequate space for articles, editorial and advertising;
- Focus on issues of poverty, disease and hunger in poor countries and provide current coverage;
- Report stories without bias or prejudice about these poor and vulnerable countries and deal with the constraints of these countries in a fair manner;
- Train reporters and correspondents to increase their knowledge of development issues and encourage them to report on human-interest stories;
- Support the development of films, documentaries, web sites and multi-media programmes related to poverty, disease and hunger initiatives;
- Newspapers, newswire agencies, broadcasters and networks make contents of development issues available to other media outlets without a rights fee.
The Global Media Compact will be a “network” of newspapers contributing to informed perceptions of these vulnerable countries to the rest of the world. MediaGlobal will work towards increasing the level of media participation and bring in media leaders to work towards this initiative.
The Compact is not a regulatory initiative. It relies on editors and broadcasters to recognize the constraints of poor people in vulnerable countries and give coverage in their respective media — print or electronic.
, Global Health
, Food Security
, Climate Change
, and South-South Cooperation
. MediaGlobal also publishes the weekly newsletter This Week in Development on global development news, and the monthly publication South-South Voices.
Human Development Index
Least Developed Countries
South-South Cooperation
Global South
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
in New York. MediaGlobal was launched in January 2006 to create awareness in the global media of issues impacting the global South.
History
MediaGlobal was founded in 2006 by Executive Director Nosh Nalavala in response to an urgent need to increase awareness of the challenges facing the world’s poorest countries. In October 2006, MediaGlobal and the United NationsUnited Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
launched the Global Media Compact, of which the United Nations Development Programme
United Nations Development Programme
The United Nations Development Programme is the United Nations' global development network. It advocates for change and connects countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. UNDP operates in 177 countries, working with nations on their own solutions to...
(UNDP) is a signatory.
At the launch of MediaGlobal, the United Nations envoy for Least Developed Countries
Least Developed Countries
Least developed country is the name given to a country which, according to the United Nations, exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world...
(LDCs) Anwarul Karim Chowdhury
Anwarul Karim Chowdhury
Anwarul Karim Chowdhury is a Bangladeshi diplomat most noted for his work on development in the poorest nations, global peace and championing the rights of women and children. In a speech he gave in 2005, Mr...
said:
"It is unfortunate that the voice of the LDCs continues to get marginalized There is, indeed, a need for increased focus on the everyday challenges facing millions of impoverished people in the LDCs. Their needs ought to be placed at the forefront of the global development agenda."
Global Media Compact Seven Point Programme
In 2006, the Under-Secretary-General asked that major media companies commit themselves to expand public knowledge and understanding about the suffering of the Least Developed CountriesLeast Developed Countries
Least developed country is the name given to a country which, according to the United Nations, exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world...
, as defined by the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Human Development Index
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...
. Specific efforts that media companies are encouraged to undertake include:
- Alleviation of poverty, disease and hunger in poor and vulnerable countries as a vital corporate priority by media organizations;
- Feature stories on development issues in poor countries and devote adequate space for articles, editorial and advertising;
- Focus on issues of poverty, disease and hunger in poor countries and provide current coverage;
- Report stories without bias or prejudice about these poor and vulnerable countries and deal with the constraints of these countries in a fair manner;
- Train reporters and correspondents to increase their knowledge of development issues and encourage them to report on human-interest stories;
- Support the development of films, documentaries, web sites and multi-media programmes related to poverty, disease and hunger initiatives;
- Newspapers, newswire agencies, broadcasters and networks make contents of development issues available to other media outlets without a rights fee.
The Global Media Compact will be a “network” of newspapers contributing to informed perceptions of these vulnerable countries to the rest of the world. MediaGlobal will work towards increasing the level of media participation and bring in media leaders to work towards this initiative.
The Compact is not a regulatory initiative. It relies on editors and broadcasters to recognize the constraints of poor people in vulnerable countries and give coverage in their respective media — print or electronic.
Work of MediaGlobal
MediaGlobal publishes interview-based articles on its site http://mediaglobal.org. Its work generally falls within the categories: Economic DevelopmentEconomic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, Global Health
Global health
Global health is the health of populations in a global context and transcends the perspectives and concerns of individual nations. Health problems that transcend national borders or have a global political and economic impact, are often emphasized...
, Food Security
Food security
Food security refers to the availability of food and one's access to it. A household is considered food-secure when its occupants do not live in hunger or fear of starvation. According to the World Resources Institute, global per capita food production has been increasing substantially for the past...
, Climate Change
Climate change
Climate change is a significant and lasting change in the statistical distribution of weather patterns over periods ranging from decades to millions of years. It may be a change in average weather conditions or the distribution of events around that average...
, and South-South Cooperation
South-South Cooperation
South-South Cooperation is a term historically used by policymakers and academics to describe the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge between developing countries, also known as countries of the global South.- History :...
. MediaGlobal also publishes the weekly newsletter This Week in Development on global development news, and the monthly publication South-South Voices.
See also
UNDPHuman Development Index
Human Development Index
The Human Development Index is a composite statistic used to rank countries by level of "human development" and separate "very high human development", "high human development", "medium human development", and "low human development" countries...
Least Developed Countries
Least Developed Countries
Least developed country is the name given to a country which, according to the United Nations, exhibits the lowest indicators of socioeconomic development, with the lowest Human Development Index ratings of all countries in the world...
South-South Cooperation
South-South Cooperation
South-South Cooperation is a term historically used by policymakers and academics to describe the exchange of resources, technology, and knowledge between developing countries, also known as countries of the global South.- History :...
Global South