4th World Water Forum Media Policy

international | environment | opinion/analysis Friday February 10, 2006 19:11 by waterboy

World Water Forum has an anti alternative media policy - What have they got to hide?

The Organisers of the 4th World Water Forum, to be held in Mexico City from the 16th to the 20th of March 2006, have put together a press policy which appears to be aimed at excluding the alternative media.
This might seem odd, given their statement:

"The World Water Forum is an initiative of the World Water Council that has the aim of raising the awareness on water issues all over the world

also,


The guiding principles are:
a) The Forum will privilege the value of local knowledge and experience as a key factor in the success of water policy-making.
b) The Forum should produce concrete and policy oriented outputs aimed at supporting local action on a worldwide scale.
c) Water problems are complex and cross-cutting and thus the Forum will seek to enable dialogue between policy sectors and stakeholders.


Local knowledge and experience? Local action? Dialogue between policy sectors and stakeholders?
It would seem the 4th WWF should be facilitating the participation of alternative media, not denying it.

In addition to the usual, the press policy states:

"Independent TV networks are required to submit a letter of accreditation of the media intending to broadcast its programs."
"The Web publication must be part of a registered media outlet with a physical, specific, and verifiable address and telephone number."
"Every application will be examined separately and decisions made by the Press Accreditation Office will be final."


They have also set up a separate contact for NGOs. It seems clear how they want the event to be presented.