Radio and television leaders from five continents will meet in Geneva, December 9-11, 2003. Their goal is to highlight the essential role of media in building tomorrow’s world. Public and private broadcasters are joining forces to find the best way to meet the challenge of the Information Society.

Swiss authorities, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), and SRG SSR idée suisse, the Swiss national broadcaster, formed an Association of the "World Electronic Media Forum" (WEMF), under the aegis of the United Nations Department of Public Information (UNDPI).

Kofi Annan, UN secretary general, and Pascal Couchepin, Swiss president and President of the first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), will speak during the WEMF opening session on December 9. Five heads of major radio and TV companies, each representing one of the main regions of the world, will follow.

A joint declaration adopted by the main broadcasting organizations around the world will be officially given to Kofi Annan and Pascal Couchepin so that they can pass it on to the heads of State and government attending the WSIS.

With a 9-language Internet site ( www.wemfmedia.org [2] ) and the latest technology – from webstreaming to High Definition TV, satellite and videoconferencing – the debates in Geneva will include listeners and viewers from around the world.

Interactive sessions will highlight three themes :

- World violence, media violence

- Media freedom in the Information Society

- Media influence of the world agenda

Several important political personalities have already shown interest in a dialogue with media heads at the forum.

Ten workshops will cover such subjects as: Radio-TV and the new media, e-training for journalists, cultural diversity, public service and commercial broadcasting, quality certification in broadcasting, broadcasting and health…

The Forum will result in a radio-TV action plan for the information society.

For more informations and registrations procedures:

Telephone +41 (0)22 717 20 23; e-mail : [email protected] [3]; website : www.wemfmedia.org [2]