A partnership initiative
In a Powerpoint presentation - followed bu a Q & A session, a new initiative, the Young People's Media Network for Europe and Central Asia, is presented to the participants.
The last decade has witnessed sweeping transformations across the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States. Arguably, among the most wide-reaching and significant changes in this region have been those that have occurred in the media. After ten years, many questions have arisen about the nature of these changes, including how the media have helped to transform these societies or, conversely, how people in these societies have contributed to changes in the media. These questions apply particularly to young people, those aged 10-24, the first generation to come into adulthood since the fall of the Berlin Wall.
In 2000, UNICEF's Regional Office for Central and Eastern Europe, the Commonwealth of Independent States and the Baltic States (CEE/CIS & the Baltics) commissioned InterMedia (www.intermedia.org) to prepare a report on the major trends and issues concerning young people and media in the 27 countries that make up the region.
The InterMedia study showed that young media enthusiasts in the region would be very interested in communicating through various media channels with other young people in their own country, in neighboring countries and/or in Western countries. Against this background, UNICEF's European Headquarters invite interested organizations, media and donors - and young people themselves - to join in a new initiative, provisionally called the Young People's Media Network (YPMN). This is a project designed for, with, and by the young developers and users of media in transition countries as well as Western Europe to help provide them with much-needed tools and opportunities. The broad aim of this initiative is to ensure that these young journalists and media enthusiasts are supported and recognized as they strive to become professional and credible conveyers of information and entertainment, and influential shapers of opinion and values in their countries.
This initiative is envisaged as a "bottom-up" endeavor that truly reflects the needs and interests of those young people who will be active participants in the network. The heart of the network, of course, will be its members: grassroots youth media projects in Western as well as Eastern Europe and Central Asia. There are hundreds of such projects in existence already and they will benefit enormously from the YPMN peer exchanges, training and internship opportunities, equipment donations, media fairs and awards program.
In late 2002, the network will be formally launched. UNICEF and the Task Force organizations will hire a coordinator who will be based with one of the participating organization, most likely in Central Europe. A number of young volunteers will contribute to the establishment of the YPMN and will serve as regional focal points. The YPMN Secretariat will be supervised by a Steering Committee coordinated by UNICEF and made up by a small group of other Core Partners. An Advisory Board will provide advice and oversight from a larger number of organizations, institutions and companies supporting the YPMN financially and/or through provision of services or equipment.
Just as there are hundreds of young people's media projects underway throughout the region - mostly working in isolation from one another - there are also many NGOs, media organizations and regional or international agencies supporting media efforts by young people in the transition countries. But they, too, tend to work separately, supporting smallscale projects and country-specific intitiatives.
The Young People's Media Network is envisioned as an opportunity to add value to these disparate programs and projects through regional linkages and exchange. UNICEF (www.unicef.org) is eager to join with established media, regional NGOs, intergovernmental organizations, foundations and aid agencies to form the network, with and for the young people who will be tomorrow's journalists, media professionals and opinion-makers.
Chris SCHUEPP (DE) -- UNICEF