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Internews Board Member Testifies in Congress on Independent Media

Photo: MTR Pat Mitchell, president and chief executive officer of the Museum of Television & Radio and Internews Board Member.

(March 31, 2006) Internews Network board member Pat Mitchell submitted testimony to the US Congress today on the key role of independent media in promoting democracy and economic development. Her testimony also outlined the importance of harnessing the media to respond to HIV/AIDS in Africa and elsewhere, and increasing access to information and communication technologies, particularly in the Middle East.

"Information is the oxygen of a civil society," she said in remarks submitted to the House Subcommittee on Foreign Operations. "It is the means by which citizens are empowered to participate effectively in their communities. Media are a vital tool for strengthening democracy through the development of independent voices and points of view.”

Mitchell was appointed president and CEO of the Museum of Television & Radio in New York this month. Previous to that, she was president and chief executive officer at the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), the first woman and first producer and journalist to hold the position.

In her testimony on HIV/AIDS, Mitchell emphasized that local media play a vital role in the fight against the disease, explaining, “Media can shape beliefs, alter attitudes towards people living with HIV/AIDS and set the agenda for government policy. Local media can play a role in ensuring public understanding of an epidemic and in sustaining prevention efforts.”

Mitchell also noted the important role that independent media play in democratization and development in the Middle East. In particular, development of an open and accessible Internet can help meet citizens' needs for greater accountability from governments and can provide an alternative way to disseminate news that is less likely to be subject to government censorship.

Mitchell submitted testimony on behalf of Internews Network to the Subcommittee on Foreign Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs, part of the Committee on Appropriations for the US House of Representatives.

Internews is an international non-profit organization that works to improve access to information for people around the world by fostering independent media and promoting open communications policies. For more information, see www.internews.org.

Read the testimony.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Annette Makino, Senior Vice-President for Communications and Corporate Affairs