WACC Regional News

WACC director to receive Innoversity Creative Summit Award

Tue, 07 May 2013 16:14:53 +0100

De Silva is co-director of International Diaspora Film Festival. WACC Director Paul de Silva will be one of seven Canadians receiving Innoversity Creative Summit Awards on May 28 in Toronto, recognizing work that makes the media more inclusive and innovative and embraces the increasing cultural diversity of Canada. Lieutenant Governor of Ontario the Honourable David Onley will deliver the opening address at the ceremony, to be held at the Toronto Reference Library at 6:15 p.m. De Silva has performed several creative roles in Canadian TV, from writer, director, producer to executive producer and vice president, to academic researcher and has championed diversity and inclusion in every one of them, read the awards citation. He’s also performed many different voluntary roles at the Innoversity Creative Summit. The Presenting Sponsor for the two-day Creative Summit 2013 is Bell Media. Shaw Media is the Platinum Sponsor. “Diversity and inclusion are not just essential principles for any fair and just society, they are also an essential guide to managing a successful business and a rewarding life,” said Paul Lewis, President of Bell Media’s Discovery Channel, longstanding Chair of Innoversity’s Steering Committee and one of this year’s recipients of Innoversity’s Angel Awards. “I’m thrilled to accept this award that’s both...

WACC Europe supports campaign for media pluralism

Fri, 03 May 2013 16:34:40 +0100

European Commission urged to draft legislation to avoid concentration of ownership. WACC Europe (http://europe.waccglobal.org/) has joined a campaign to protect European media pluralism, initiated by about 100 civil society organisations, media, and professional bodies throughout Europe. The decision to support the European Initiative for Media Pluralism (http://www.mediainitiative.eu/) was taken at the meeting of the WACC Europe steering committee, meeting in Paris from 19 to 20 April. WACC Europe is one of the eight regions of the World Association for Christian Communication. The Media Pluralism campaign has launched a petition urging the European Commission to draft legislation both to avoid concentration of ownership in the media and advertising sectors, and to guarantee the independence of supervisory bodies from political power. The legislation should define the concept of conflict of interests to avoid media moguls occupying high political office. The petition also asks for clearer European monitoring systems on the independence of the media in member states. One million signatures are now needed in order to start a legislative process at EU level. The first signatory of the European Initiative for Media Pluralism was Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament.

Speaker at WACC debate critiques the concept of copyright

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 18:21:34 +0100

'God doesn’t collect royalties' says Botelho Josgrilberg at "Right to Communicate" event. The question of authors’ copyright should be taken up by the churches, said a participant in a debate organized by the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC). “I don’t understand copyright in the Christian world” because it doesn’t jibe with the spirit of freedom, said Fábio Botelho Josgrilberg, Provost for Postgraduate Studies and Research of the Methodist University of São Paulo (UMESP), Brazil. “We are contaminated by the concept of ownership” that reigns in the capitalist system, he added. He was speaking at a public debate on “The Right to Communicate in Latin America” organized by WACC Latin America. It took place on 5 April and was attended by 40 participants, 20 of them connected virtually. The UMESP professor reminded participants of those educational resources that facilitate the spread of knowledge through the use of open licenses. Authors’ copyright continues to exist, he said, but what is wanted is flexibility of usage, which should also serve the churches. When composing a hymn, in theological reflections, in the production of knowledge, if the believer believes that God empowers human beings, “we ought to pay royalties to God,” he argued. Together with university professor Márcio Oliveiro,...

Want to learn about starting or supporting a community radio station?

Tue, 16 Apr 2013 18:00:18 +0100

"Get on the Air!" webinar April 24 will cover the basics. Prometheus Radio Project (http://www.prometheusradio.org/), a Philadelphia-based nonprofit, announced that it will host a webinar on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. (EDT) that will outline the basics of starting or supporting a community radio station. This October, nonprofits, labor unions, and community groups will have a one-time chance to apply for free FM radio licenses in cities and towns across the U.S. "It's the biggest chance in decades for communities of color, women, and workers to own the airwaves," said Jeff Rousset, National Organizer at Prometheus, in the announcement. Prometheus said the webinar will answer these questions: -- How could community radio support your organization's work? -- What's involved in applying for a license? -- How do other people-powered radio stations make a difference? "We'll share the history and impact of low power FM radio, nuts and bolts of the FCC application process, success stories, and free tools to help you get started. There will be time for questions and answers," Rousset said. "In a time of increased media consolidation that drowns out diverse voices, the community radio initiative presents a tremendous opportunity to highlight local issues in cities and towns across the...

WACC North America meeting set for April 7-9

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 12:10:32 +0100

Executive Committee to discuss membership outreach, strategic plan. The WACC North America Executive Committee is holding its annual face-to-face meeting following the Religion Communicators Council (http://www.religioncommunicators.org/convention) (RCC) convention in Indianapolis, April 7 -9, announced WACC North America president Sheila George. The committee will be discussing critical issues such as membership outreach and checking in on progress on activities to help further WACC's strategic plan. It will report back following the meeting in an update on plans for the WACC North America region. WACC gender and media specialist Dr. Sarah Macharia offered advice to writers and editors on how to avoid common pitfalls in international reporting at a workshopl at the RCC gathering. Her workshop, Expanding Global Voices, was offered on April 4 at the joint convention of RCC and Associated Church Press. For more information, click here (component/content/article/3220:wacc-workshop-explores-concept-of-critical-media-practice.html).