OYW: Changing Power of Media

“Medium is the message” - Marshall McLuhan

The media can act as one of the biggest bridge in diplomatic tact, yet lost in the cyclone of bureaucracy, power and autonomy, the message can be skewed and disempowered those who have no voice. The portrayal of Africa is one example to how the media can distort an image of an entire continent, and how we use the media is a hot topic for our generation.

Leading the media panel were OYW counsellors, activist Oscar Morales, Director of BBC Global News Richard Sambrook, CEO of EMI Music Elio Leoni-Sceti, and founder of AirAsia Tony Fernandes.

Introduced by Oscar Morales, Sunita Basnet (Nepal introduced gender into the discussion. Media has great advantages in empowering women, either through representing women’s views on air or female journalists making the news. Unfortunately in Nepal and other parts of the world, the quota of female journalists is low especially without the added protection in conflict areas where the rate of gender-based violence is unequivocal. Gifty Pearl Abenaab (Ghana) reminded that many still do not have access to media and do not have the ability to use the internet despite the widespread of its demand. Francesca Capuozza (Italy) said that media is “an extension to the human senses,” allowing individuals in a democratic society to express preferences without any conditions. Therefore the assessment of the media on a sociological and psychologically level is vital in pinpointing how media truly affects freedom. from

Christopher Eigelan (Australia) challenged that media hinders truth and personal freedom. Media is, by large, controlled by giant corporations who effectively influence public thinking and gives certain individuals extraordinary power to amplify their own viewpoints. However, citizens for the first time have the power to report their stories through the touch of a button. We now have the tools to expose issues that are usually controlled and can challenge the status quo. Michael Teoh (Malaysia) emphasised that this is the age of collaboration where “action proves everything in the world.” Thanks to the internet, citizens are no longer blinded by filtered information and instead have the power to use media as a platform to listen, share, learn and exchange valuable information. Radha Vij (USA) as a professional media exemplified the blur between real news and sensationalised entertainment. US media has failed to counter false government claims of Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction and failed to expose multinational business strategy to increased development problems. To move forward, media institutions must be strengthened.

With the chance to speak on the floor panel, I suggested that we should all become our own journalists, by taking with us cameras, podcasts, microphones to countries we visit, and interview those who have no media access. These stories can then be distributed in our own society and passed onto NGOs who have access to a wider audience.

A video-cam chat with The Fugees, Wyclef Jean exemplified just how easy it is to connect people anywhere in the world. Wyclef reported the devastation caused by the earthquake in his country, while speaking with OYW delegate Haitian delegate, James Alcime, who was in Haiti when the earthquake struck. As a way of sending our message, OYW delegates had the opportunity to broadcast their views on a live radio debate on the BBC "World Have Your Say: Review"Ros Atkins. The debate was based on corporation and profit, and I had many chances to speak, arguing that profits are invested into nuclear, military and arms trade – this led to an interesting debate to whether corporations are evil or not. presented by

Draft Resolution (to be amended): In the belief that freedom of speech promotes a successful society, we call upon the media to use its influence and power to help protect truth and personal freedom.