The transition to democracy and the information society implies universal access to independent, impartial and relevant information. All citizens are entitled to receive such information in their own language, their own culture, enabling them to have a factual view of the world in which they live, from a local, regional, national as well as international perspective.

A leading part is played in this regard by electronic media (radio, television, new digital services). Radio, in rural areas, television, in urban centres, are by far the principal source of information and culture of men and women around the world. They are the most easily accessible, including to illiterates, and the most integrated in the daily life of the majority. According to Professor Karol Jakubowicz, Warsaw, broadcasting is the most universal and effective way of involving everyone in shared frameworks..

Many consider commercial broadcasting and the internet as the solution to this weakness, but it will not suffice.

Commercial broadcasters play an important part in bringing about pluralism of information, but their dependence on financial powers, often on political powers as well, their frequent absorption by multinational groups, do not ensure their autonomy, nor their attention to the specific needs and expectations of the society in which they operate. Minority representation nor universal access are among their primary objectives.
Internet, where it not censored, provides an infinite variety of information, but it is far from being available to all : the digital divide will not be overcome overnight and the educational level necessary to derive real benefits from the web will remain the privilege of a minority.

… to public service broadcasting

Only public service broadcasters, with a legal status and an explicit remit, protected by an regulation authority independent from government, political parties and financial powers, can guarantee society that it will get the services it really needs : representation of minorities, promotion of national and regional cultures, and at the same time of cultural pluralism, fostering of dialogue between opposing interest groups, conflict prevention, post-conflict reconciliation, impartial, independent and relevant information delivered to every segment of the population, irrespective of age, sex, revenue, religion, political creed, language, culture, nationality and place of habitation, etc.

Turning every state radio and television into a broadcasting public service is a world prerequisite to social development, democracy and the information society.

Media and Society Foundation

The Swiss Media and Society Foundation is presently drawing up the list of services every society is entitled to get from its electronic media and establishing international standards, adaptable to local conditions, defining broadcasting's contribution to social development.

It will rate accordingly on an international scale the level reached by the actual broadcasting organisation of every country and offer governments and broadcasters a certification process enabling them, under the control and with the assistance of a neutral international organisation, to deliver their society the required services.

The Media and Society Foundation is presently supported by the Development Agency of the Swiss government and by the Swiss broadcasting regulation authority.

See the website www.media-society.org.

The WRTVC is piloted by a strategic group including Micheline Vaillancourt, director of regional TV and corporate affairs, CBC French TV, Montreal, Ana Maria Miralles, Universitad Ponitificia Bolivariana, Medellin, Vladimir Gaï, Division of Communication Development, UNESCO, Paris, Abdelkader Marzouki, general secretary of CIRTEF (Conseil international des radios et television d'expression française), Brussels, Javad Mottaghi, director of AIBD (Asia Pacific Institute of Broadcasting Development), Kuala Lumpur, John F. Musukuma, general secretary of SABA (Southern African Broadcasting Association), Windhoeck, Pierre Wiehn, CSA (Conseil Supérieur de l'Audiovisuel), Paris, and Guillaume Chenevière, Chairman of WRTVC, Geneva.