With the participation of the seven Councilors summoned to accompany the implementation in Mexico of the Media Development Indicators developed by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the advisory body was formally installed on Thursday 8 of April.
Through a virtual conference, Frédéric Vacheron, UNESCO Representative in Mexico, took the swearing in of the Council integrated by Gabriel Sosa Plata, Director of Radio Educación; Silvia Pérez Chavarría, from the Federal Telecommunications Institute; Jorge Bravo, President of the Mexican Association for the Right to Information (AMEDI); Sara Lidia Mendiola, of the Association Propuesta Cívica; Lucia Lagunes, director of CIMAC (Communication and Information for Women); Jade Ramírez, Coordinator of Networks and Freedom of Expression of the Network Periodistas de a Pie, and Alejandro García, President of the National Council for the Teaching and Research of Communication Sciences, which brings together 65 universities and institutes in the country.
The Representative of UNESCO in Mexico highlighted that the Council brings together specialists in public policy, in the management and operation of the media, in the work and challenges facing journalists, in infrastructure and training of communicators, in the right to information, in the regulatory framework of the media, as well as in electronic and digital content and in networks of reporters.
"Undoubtedly, their participation in the implementation of the Media Development Indicators will contribute to assure this evaluation complies with academic rigor, with a gender perspective and with the plurality that reflects the diverse points of view and realities of communication in Mexico," Vacheron said.
Canela explained that the levels of disinformation around the current pandemic have led the World Health Organization to emphasize that this would be the first "infodemic" that we are experiencing. For this reason, he said that one of the priorities of the United Nations system is the fight against disinformation as a key element for effective anti-pandemic policies and activities.
In his participation, Councilor Gabriel Sosa Plata suggested resorting to media monitoring to complete the information that will be gathered through statistical instruments, a proposal that was seconded by Councilors Jorge Bravo and Lucía Lagunes, who offered the collaboration of CIMAC, through the Global Media Monitoring Project and the collaboration of CONEICC, through the Network of Media Observatories (ROM-CONEICC).
Meanwhile, Councilor Sara Mendiola, of Propuesta Cívica A.C., asked to consider the discussion that is taking place in the Congress regarding the legislative package on freedom of expression norms, which is currently being revised.
Councilor Jade Ramírez brought up the possibility of working with the indicators that best project the current reality of the crisis, which will be possible in proportion with the extent they correspond to structural issues indicated in the MDIs.
The Council for the implementation of the MDIs may propose changes and adjustments to the methodology to apply them, as well as suggest emphasis on certain aspects according to the special situation of the country. However, the guidelines of the MDIs established by UNESCO, by consensus of the 193 member countries, must be fulfill.
The work plan for the implementation of the Media Development Indicators has been drawn up to be developed in 12 months, however, some key processes, such as conducting a face-to-face survey with journalists, civil society organizations and media owners, could be postponed depending on the sanitary provisions for the COVID19 pandemic.
The results of this study will be evaluated and validated by experts from the UNESCO Communication and Information Sector, in Paris, and by the Intergovernmental Council of the UNESCO International Program for the Development of Communication (IPDC).