Global media freedom rapporteurs call for less regulation in the digital era, but more care for public service and community broadcasting

GENEVA/PRETORIA/VIENNA/WASHINGTON, 14 December 2007 - The media freedom rapporteurs of the United Nations, the OSCE, the Organization of American States (OAS) and the African Commission on Human and Peoples' Rights (ACHPR) issued joint guidelines on the new role and scope of government involvement in safeguarding diversity in the era of digital broadcast.

In a joint statement, which follows their 8 December meeting and which was developed under the auspices of ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign for Free Expression, and the Institute for Information Law (IViR), entitled "Diversity in Broadcast", they pointed out the natural potential for more diversity caused by the multiplication of channels available.

At the same time, they warned that some broadcasting types essential for democracy, such as public service and community media, may be endangered.

The four rapporteurs called for less regulation, in particular for less licensing, and thereby less governmental involvement. That reduction of intervention is made possible by the abundance of channels on different distribution networks which is in itself a guarantee for diversity.

On the other hand, they called for safeguarding pluralism, especially in news broadcast, and securing enough frequencies for economically weaker programmes, such as community or minority language broadcast.

As public service broadcasting will gain in importance as a reliable source for pluralistic information in the digital era, special attention must be given to its financing and independence.

At the same time pluralism can still be endangered by monopolies, they found. The signatories reiterated the ongoing duty of governments to apply vigorous anti-trust regulation and transparency of ownership in media.

The joint declaration is available at: International Mechanisms for Promoting Freedom of Expression

The four representatives annually issue a joint declaration which serves as a reference for their member states.

The signatories are:

- The UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Ambeyi Ligabo
- The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti
- The OAS Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Ignacio J. Alvarez
- The ACHPR Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression, Faith Pansy Tlakula.