[eccr] Communication Rights in Europe

>From: "Claudia Padovani" <(claupad /at/ libero.it)>
>
>Dear ECCR members,
>As you may know a European Forum on Communication Rights will take place 
>on October 14 within which a session is organized to focus on problematic 
>issues in EU policies and their implications for communication rights. 
>Moreover, a group of people from the CRIS campaign (Communication right in 
>the information society) has been working on a research project to assess 
>the situation of communication rights in EU policies. Such an experience 
>has demonstrated the need for developing or strengthening forms of 
>networking among European groups, associations and scholars who have an 
>interest on these issues. Thus we are taking the opportunity of the 
>gatherings in London to present the project, some of the findings and 
>share ideas on further developments.
>I hereby attach a note presenting the two events that will take place in 
>London on the 14 and 15 of October (see attach for details on places and 
>time schedule).

[attachment included in posting - NC]

>
>We really do hope that this first occasions for meeting as European actors 
>with the aim of developing common plans and initiatives will be fruitful. 
>We would be glad to share this experience with you and invite you warmly 
>to join us. We also invite you to get in touch with the organizers 
>(myself, Sean OSiochru and Iginio Gagliardone, in cc) to confirm your 
>presence and/or your interest.
>Looking forward to meet you in London
>Best wishes
>Claudia Padovani
>University of Padova, CRIS campaign, IAMCR


+++

Communication Rights in Europe:
Critical Visions and Strategies for Action

European Social Forum (ESF)
European Forum for Communication Rights (EFCR)
London 14th-15th of October 2004


The EFCR and the ESF offer an excellent opportunity to highlight the 
importance of communication as a fundamental human and social right as well 
as address the constraints in this regard within a European context. The 
Communication Rights in the Information Society Campaign (CRIS) and a 
number of people active within the communication rights movement would like 
to use this opportunity to discuss, network, as well as develop strategies 
for action about communication rights in the EU. Two events have been 
planned that, while being interconnected, have different aims. On the 14th 
of October 2004 a session within the European Forum of Communication Rights 
(EFCR) will present critical reflections on the key communication issues in 
a European context, to map out what communication rights entail in terms of 
potentialities and constraints. This will be followed-up by an intensive 
workshop aiming at developing networking for advocacy on communication 
rights in Europe on the 15th of October 2004. Different experiences, 
competences and visions will be exchanged leading to a better articulation 
of civil society actions and common strategies.


14th of September 2004
Venue: The Camden Centre (Judd Street)
European Forum on Communication Rights
10h45 - 11h45: Session 1

Framework on Communication Rights:
Defining the Key-Issues in the European Context

Presenters are invited to focus on the main key-issues that we are faced 
with in Europe today with regard to the respective themes;

Ø       EU Information society Policy
Ø       Privacy
Ø       Concentration

Presenters are also invited to be brief and concise in putting forward 
their arguments, as the time for presentations will be limited to 15 
minutes. This will give each presenter an equal amount of time as the 
session only lasts for one hour. Presenters are expected to give a critical 
overview of what has been done on the respective issues at the European 
level, the European perspective with regard to global initiatives in theses 
areas, and the constraints that exists. Presenters are also asked to 
conclude by formulating recommendations on how to make civil society 
actions more effective within a policy context.

There will be an opportunity to discuss and reflect on these issues more in 
depth during the workshop, which will be held on the following day (15th of 
October).


Chair & Introduction: Sean O'Siochru, CRIS Campaign and GGP coordinator (10')


Issues (15' each):      Invited Speakers:
EU IS-policy:   Robin Mansell - LSE (UK)
Privacy:        Stefano Rodotà - Italian Privacy Commission (I)
Concentration:  Caroline. Pauwels - Free University of Brussels (B)

Concluding remarks: Claudia Padovani - University of Padova (5')



London, 15th October 2004
Venue: to be confirmed (please check: www.cris-italia.info for updates)
Workshop on Networking Communication Rights in the EU
Morning

Building on the European Forum for Communication Rights (14 October 2004) 
the main goal of the proposed Workshop is to give a platform for 
organizations involved in media and communication issues to meet, exchange 
views and develop possible cooperation.

Speakers and participants will come from academia as well as NGOs and civil 
society organizations in general. Scholars should help in mastering our 
understanding of contemporary critical communication issues in the European 
context and the role of civil society therein, while civil society 
organizations will bring their grassroots experience and creativity in 
setting the scene for European networking and advocacy on these issues.

The structure for the half day workshop would be the following:

Chair: Jason Nardi (APC-Italia)

§       0.5 hour - Introduction to Workshop and the Global Governance 
Project (GGP), its rationale, the framework, the work conducted by the 
European team, first results and ideas for the future (Sean O'Siochru & 
Iginio Gagliardone)
§       1 hour - Presentations on communication issues. Invited speakers 
will discuss issues starting from commenting on the GGP European team work, 
and identify challenges and possible strategies for civil society, 
(proposed names (tbd): Cees Hamelink, Steve Ward, Robin Mansell, Laurence 
Lessig, Stefano Rodotà, Armand Matterlart, Annabelle Sreberny, E. 
Remondino, F. Heyndrickx (president ECCR), Bart Cammaerts&)
§       1 hour - Short interventions by civil society organization, groups, 
coalitions, networks who can present their experience in working and 
networking around communication and rights at the European level, taking 
into consideration the framework offered by the GGP and the proposals set 
out by the European team for future cooperation (5 to 10 minutes each - 
proposed organizations: IFJ, Statewatch, IPJustice, Privacy International, 
More Colours in the Media, Multiple Voices, Media watch, WSIS-EU caucus, 
Heinrich Boell Foundation, Julia Hoffman&)
§       1,5 hour- Debate on how to proceed, future meetings, priorities to 
be discussed, methods, resources, cf. Ideas for working together 
(facilitated by Claudia Padovani & Bart Cammaerts)

Ideas for working together

The following are some of the ideas that we have developed for future 
actions, starting form the GGP experience. They will be briefly mentioned 
in London to promote discussion.

§       Further develop framework application in terms of: the 
international dimension, national dimension, selection and mastering of key 
issues in the European context, tool-kit production
§       Possibility to develop a complete new European version of the 
Project: framework revision, identification of resources, actions and 
methods, final goals, tool-kit development, etc.
§       Mapping European social mobilization on communication issues 
(conduct a survey, build a directory, apply network analysis to this reality)
§       Exploring strategies for fostering EU-civil society relation on 
communication and information policies
§       Connection to local authorities and other relevant actors
§       Developing communication means or connect existing channels (lists, 
websites)
§       A European calendar of events relating to communication rights
§       Topics to be developed/considered in the future: communication and 
labour contexts/condition; challenges brought by the enlargement process, 
Europe and financing of digital divide&




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Carpentier Nico (Phd)
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Katholieke Universiteit Brussel - Catholic University of Brussels
Vrijheidslaan 17 - B-1081 Brussel - Belgium
T: ++ 32 (0)2-412.42.78
F: ++ 32 (0)2/412.42.00
Office: 4/0/18
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Vrije Universiteit Brussel - Free University of Brussels
Centre for Media Sociology (CeMeSO)
Pleinlaan 2 - B-1050 Brussels - Belgium
T: ++ 32 (0)2-629.18.30
F: ++ 32 (0)2-629.28.61
Office: 5B.454
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European Consortium for Communication Research
Web: http://www.eccr.info
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E-mail: (Nico.Carpentier /at/ kubrussel.ac.be)
Web: http://homepages.vub.ac.be/~ncarpent/
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