Indonesia: Training on media diversity
From 17-19 September, 2019, UNESCO will invite Indonesian media professionals to attend a training on media diversity and the diversity of cultural expressions, in support of the UNESCO 2005 Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions.
The UNESCO convention is a global legal instrument that provides guidance and framework for cultural governance, and urges governments to introduce policies that stimulate creative economy and encourage artistic and cultural careers. The 2005 Convention emphasizes the interlinked nature between diverse expressions and media diversity. As producers, distributors and mediators of cultural expressions, media deliver diverse voices of the society through respect for free expressions, impartial and diversified content, editorial independence, and equitable media ownership. Cultural policies, when developed with inputs from media stakeholders, should accelerate new ideas and expressions to animate the society through public service broadcasting and public service media. In short, ensuring media diversity through policies is crucial for the systematic promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions.
The participants will go through a new training module developed by the UNESCO Convention. The link between media diversity and diversity of cultural expressions will be highlighted throughout the workshop. The attendees, representing not only media professionals but also the Ministries and Broadcasting Commission, will benefit from open and honest discussions about how to stimulate uniquely Indonesian expressions of arts and culture through media channels and policies. The three-day training will encourage media professionals to feel empowered to advocate for the promotion of media diversity. It will also prepare government officials to fill out media-related questions in the quadrennial periodic report, a mandatory report on good practices, progress and challenges in cultural governance submitted by the Parties to the 2005 Convention.
The project is part of UNESCO’s project “Reshaping Cultural Policies for the Promotion of Fundamental Freedoms and the Diversity of Cultural Expressions,” which assists emerging creative industries in developing countries through innovative cultural policies, funded by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida).
