This document summarises the main points that the Media Organisations represented in Geneva would like to see in the Final Declaration of this PrepCom-2.

- The guiding principle of WSIS on Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media should be Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. It should be quoted in full and identified as such. Article 19 needs to be implemented, for the traditional media as well as for media using new information technologies, such as Internet and Direct Satellite Broadcasting. Security and other considerations should not be allowed to compromise Freedom of Expression and Freedom of the Media.

- The media have a vital role in producing, gathering and distributing quality content within an Information Society in which all citizens are included and can participate. Especially for the developing countries, traditional radio and television will continue as the most effective ways to deliver high-quality information.

- The media is central to any conception of an information society. It is hard to imagine that the WSIS could fail to acknowledge that strongly in its final Declaration and Plan of Action.

These messages should be developed along the following lines:

1. Communications technology is not an end in itself; it is a vehicle for the provision and exchange of information and content.
2. Freedom of expression, freedom and pluralism of the media, and cultural diversity should be respected and promoted.
3. Media concentration, in all areas including those in the ICTs, should be subject to general anti-monopoly scrutiny and laws.
4. The electronic media have a vital role to play in the Information Society.
5. All forms of media can make crucial contributions to social cohesion and development in the digital era.
6. Information should be accessible and affordable to everyone.
7. Information access laws should ensure that all people have access to basic information and communication services.
8. Uniform legal protection of communications privacy is needed to avoid governmental or other interference and official monitoring of Internet traffic and personal communications.
9. Editorial independence of media professionals and creators must be protected.
10. Public service values in the Information Society should be encouraged, including genuine public service broadcasting. State-controlled media should be transformed into editorially independent public service organizations.
11. Information and media development programmes are needed to promote local content services in all regions of the world, as well as access to basic communications technology.
12. Equitable and pluralistic allocation of broadcasting frequencies should be on the basis of transparent legal frameworks.
13. Legally established independent and non-profit media operated by local communities can make an important contribution, especially by serving traditionally disadvantaged groups, such as youth, women, indigenous peoples, children and minority groups.
14. Online media workers should have the same contractual rights and protections as other media workers.
    
    Endorsed by:

Article 19
Conseil de l’Audiovisuel de Catalunya
European Broadcasting Union
European Consortium for Communication Research
Federation Suisse des Journalistes
Inter American Press Association
International Association of Broadcasting
International Association of Media and Communication Research
International Federation of Journalists
Media Action International
Media Institute of Southern Africa
Oxford University Program in Comparative Media Law & Policy
Pacific Islands News Association
Radio Icangelo, Zambia
Reporters sans Frontieres
Reseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l’Homme
Union Catholique Internationale de la Presse
University of Aarhus, Denmark Department of Media and Information Sciences
World Association of Newspapers
World Press Freedom Committee
World Radio and Television Council