Media Should Voice What Is Not Voiced

The opening speeches for the forum were delivered by IPS Communications Foundation Executive Board Chairwoman Nadire Mater and Inter Press Service European regional Director Ramesh Jaura.

Mater said in her speech "an independent media environment is a must and inevitable to make apparent what is invisible and to voice what is not being voiced".

Saying that with the International Independent Media Forum "another communication is possible" Juara noted, "preparing news is not just about reporting on what is happening. What is important is reporting on what is behind what is happening".

Ramonet, Halleck, Aharonian and Andoni could not attend

Mater started her speech with information on those who could not attend the forum. She said those scheduled to fly in from the Southeast region of Turkey had been delayed due to poor weather conditions while Le Monde Diplomatique's Ignacio Ramonet, DeepDish's DeeDee Halleck, Telesur's Aram Aharonian and freelance journalist Lamis Andoni could not attend the forum for various reasons.

"BIA^² was the project of those disturbed by the media "

Mater said journalists had to stand against developments in the media over the past years and be disturbed over what was going on. She said the reason for establishing a "Countrywide Network for Monitoring and Covering for Media Freedom and Independent Journalism"-BİA² project was set up a decade ago was this disturbance.

"Ten years ago we said something should be done and we planned a number of projects" Mater explained. "BIA^² not only became a project that was realized but is, in my view, one that will last forever".

Mater said that ten years ago under the framework of these projects they used to gather together with three people only while in a meeting and workshop limited to 30 people last year in Canakkale the turnout had been 70. "Even though at the beginning there was a loss of hope, today at this forum that we have dreamt about, we have a large participation from all over Turkey.. and from all over the world".

Independent media a must to show what is not seen

Stressing that independent media environments were inevitable to show what is not seen and voice what has not been voiced, Mater thanked those who extended support to the BIA² project and the forum.

"Alongside the European Union media, democracy and human rights funds, there are a large number of people who have contributed to us with their labor and sometimes with their small budgets. We thank all of them" she said.

Those who have supported the Istanbul International Independent Media Forum are:

EU Human Rights and Democracy Program, Chrest Foundation, Fredrich Ebert Stiftung Association, Istanbul Consulate of Sweden, Sisli Municipality, Metis Publising, United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF) Turkey.

Mater said "Today and tomorrow we will go on an important journey together. We will together decide what will happen after this".

Jaura: Journalists should combine global and local realities

Telling the audience that he was responsible for the European affairs of the IPS, Jaura said "as Europe continues with the debates on when to include Turkey, as the IPS within Europe we have created strong ties with our colleagues in Turkey".

Jaura said the IPS Communications Foundation had created an extensive press network and that this development showed how lively a country Turkey was.

Noting that it was important that the Istanbul Bilgi University was hosting the forum, Jaura said "the universities are charged with making young people informed individuals with opinions. Otherwise no one could have handled this duty alone".

Juara said it was not possible to distinguish between national and global realities in the awareness raised among the people by the media and added it was important for professional journalists to see global and national realities as a whole, particularly in view of the global threat,

"Another communication is possible"

Saying that with the International Independent Media Forum "another communication is possible", Juara added "if we recall that the IPS news agency was se up in 1964, we can see that another communication is possible indeed".

Juara noted that news reporting was not just reporting on what was happening, but was about reporting on what was behind what was happening. (EZO/EO/II/TK)