The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) is an international process whose purpose is to develop a common vision and understanding of the information society and to draw up a strategic plan of action for realising this vision. The second phase of this two-part process will take place in Tunis, Tunisia from November 16-18 2005. Hosted by the Government of Tunisia, this follow-up to the first phase (held in Geneva in December 2003) is again organised by the United Nations system with the International Telecommunication Union taking the lead role.

The Panos Institute in London, an international media non-government organisation (NGO) and one of The Communication Initiative (The CI)'s partners, is planning many activities in preparation for WSIS 2005. Among them is the recently launched website "i-Witness: journalists shaping the information society". Offering resources, news, and debate, i-Witness is primarily designed for journalists and other media practitioners (particularly those in developing countries) but is also intended to be relevant for civil society organisations and others. This issue of The Drum Beat introduces i-Witness, highlighting the various resources and interactive features offered.

For a general summary of the WSIS event, and links to further information, click here. To access additional resources, enter "WSIS" in the search engine on The CI website.

Why another website on the Information Society?

Murali Shanmugavelan - murali.shanmugavelan@panos.org.uk - of Panos' Communication for Development Programme provides the following rationale for i-Witness:

"Media can play a significant role: raising awareness of the issues within government and civil society, engaging civil society in debate, interrogating policy and debating alternatives, promoting transparency in policy making and implementation, and building political commitment to inclusive communication policies. However, at present media do not generally have the capacity to play this role. Few journalists and editors are familiar enough with the issues to report and analyse them effectively and communication is not seen as a priority for coverage. (See for instance, the 2003 [United Nations Economic Commission for Africa] ECA/OSIWA [Open Society Initiative for West Africa] study "African Media and ICT4D: Documentary Evidence"). [Click here for a summary of this study and access to the full document].

In the run-up to WSIS 1, there was a striking lack of in-country discussion and engagement in Information Society policy issues and the Summit process. This was reflected in the low level of media coverage of the issues and of media engagement in Geneva. For example, there were just two journalists from Brazil, of whom one had been brought over by Panos; and just four journalists from India, of whom two were there courtesy of Panos and/or the Global Knowledge Partnership, a Malaysia-based coalition of NGOs."

According to Shanmugavelan, this situation is particularly problematic because journalists have a crucial role to play not only in reporting on the information society (sharing information) but also in actually shaping it (engaging in advocacy). He explains, "If the information society is all about exchange and flow of information, then the media is best placed to invoke this debate given that this is what their business is about. The media needs to question key aspects of the information society such as who controls information, who has rights to information and how profit influences the agenda."

I-WITNESS

Goals:

• expose journalists worldwide to "many controversial but often under-reported information society topics - from bridging the digital divide to controlling the internet."
• help journalists, particularly those in developing countries, "report on a subject that is having a growing economic and cultural impact, but one that many people in developing countries are in danger of being left out of completely."
• improve the quality of coverage on information society issues.
• ensure that journalists are not just reporters but are also participants in the discussions around the information society and WSIS.

Offerings:

1. Debate

An online bulletin board that provides a space for journalists around the world to share their views and experiences on reporting the information society. This lightly moderated forum is meant to be an opportunity for journalists to post useful tips and talk to each other about what can be a highly technical and difficult subject, reflecting on such topics as: "The information society: a reporter's nightmare?"

2. Experts

A database of experts, such as civil society representatives, media practitioners, academics, and policy advisors, in different parts of the information technology sector. Biographies are provided that include such details as the expert's home country, title, background, and areas of interest; in some cases, a photograph of the expert is included. In addition, contact details are provided so that journalists can communicate directly via email if they need information or a quote for their stories (the experts have agreed to be contacted).

3. Background

A "briefcase" of full-length, substantial documents related to information and communication technology (ICT) and communication/communications policy offered in the following specific topics/categories:

• Communication rights
• Financing ICTs
• Gender and the information society
• ICTs for development
• ICT policy
• Internet governance
• Media and the information society

These documents, which are available for free download and summarised in one- to two-sentence paragraphs, are designed to offer support information for journalists to use in researching and documenting their reporting.

4. Summit

Panos is commissioning between eight and ten 500- to 700-word opinion pieces from prominent people in journalism/media on specific issues such as ICT policies, communication rights, ICTs and gender, media and the WSIS, and open source software (OSS).

In addition, Panos London will take a team of developing-country journalists from India, Singapore, Tanzania, Brazil, Phillipines, Nigeria and Vietnam to WSIS in Tunisia, where they will file stories for their own national newspapers. During the Summit, they will blog their personal accounts as southern journalists on the i-Witness blog.

5. Toolkit

A series of six-page topic briefs, downloadable in PDF format and summarised in one- to two-sentence descriptions, that include key elements and information on various issues related to the information society (i.e., internet governance, VSATs (very small aperture terminals), and funding issues). Each brief "explains key concepts and international mechanisms, summarises the main debates and actors, provides at-a-glance facts and definitions, and offers ideas for stories and follow-up." The aim is to "cut through the jargon of the information society." Journalists may request receipt of future briefs via email or printed copy.

6. Links

Briefly annotated summaries of, and links to, other organisations and online resources that may be of interest to journalists covering WSIS 2005. These organisations and their websites offer, for instance, information and/or opportunities for interaction on ICT issues, the WSIS process, and various information society topics.

For further information on i-Witness and Panos' WSIS activities, contact:

Murali Shanmugavelan

Communication for Development Programme

Panos Institute

9, White Lion Street

London, N1 9PD

Tel: +44 (0)20 7239 7608 (direct)

Tel: +44 (0)20 7278 1111(board)

Fax: +44 (0)20 7278 0345

murali.shanmugavelan@panos.org.uk

murali.shanmugavelan@gmail.com

i-Witness website

Panos website

This issue was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.

The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.


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