THE SARAJEVO COMMITMENT
At the beginning of
the 21st Century men and women of the media register their commitment to
integrity and public service.
This document was
launched at a World Media Assembly, SARAJEVO 2000, and signed by
participants on 30 September 2000.
We, men and women of
the media – professionals at all levels, from publishers and
producers to cub reporters and students of journalism; from the print and
digital media, television and radio, book publishing, cinema and theatre,
advertising and public relations, music and the performing and creative
arts – met here in the bruised, historic and beautiful city of
Sarajevo, pay our homage and respect to the millions of humanity whom we
inform, entertain and educate.
We look back on a
century of brilliance and bloodshed, of amazing technological advance and
distressing human misery, of mobility and isolation and of healing and
hatred. A century in which two world wars emanated from the so-called
advanced and civilised continent of Europe.
A century in which we split the atom, but left families, communities and
nations divided. A century which ended with some 30 unresolved major
conflict situations.
We accept that we in
the media, whilst talent and technology enabled us to reach the lives of
almost every last person in the world, were not able to create the climate
in which problems were solved, conflicting groups and interests reconciled,
and peace and justice established.
Now that we confront a
new century, many of us, hoping that we interpret the views and feelings of
the vast majority of our colleagues, would like to establish a commitment,
an undertaking, a pledge, to all those who will live and love and work in
these coming hundred years.
We shall inform you to
the best of our ability, with clarity and honesty, with independence of
mind, of what is truly happening in the world at the level of the
individual, the family, the community, the nation and the region. We shall
present the facts and explain the facts, and some of us will aim with
modesty to interpret them. As we succeed in doing this, we believe that
you, the people, will be enabled to make the right decisions, to elect and
appoint the best leaders and to build a fair, just and compassionate
society.
We seek a world in
which everyone cares enough and everyone shares enough so that everyone
will have enough; a world in which the work and wealth of the world are
available to all at the exploitation of none.
We shall provide the
art and entertainment which will inspire, arouse and give hope and a sense
of direction to all humanity.
We shall be working to raise up and not to drag down. We shall challenge our
politicians to work for the next generation and not the next election,
encourage our governments to make agreements which are effective in
people’s hearts as well as on paper; and stimulate our business,
industrial and labour leaders to meet the material needs of humankind with
fairness and equity.
We shall work to
educate, through all the means of communication, generations who will be
able to confront the challenges of their age with competence and vision.
We shall combine
freedom with responsibility, talent with humility, privilege with service,
comfort with sacrifice and concern with courage. We realise that change in
society begins with change in ourselves.
We undertake to apply
and demonstrate in our own lives the values that we hope for, and often
demand, in others. We shall confront hypocrisy, oppression, exploitation
and evil, firstly by our own clarity and straightness and then through the
means by which we reach our audiences. We are unlikely to be perfect, but
we shall aim to be truthful and free of guile, selfish ambition, perverted behavior and deception.
We shall not cease to
strive until every gun is silent, every injustice righted and every human
being enabled to live a life of satisfaction and purpose.
To all these intentions
and obligations, we commit ourselves at this time of beginning. May the
higher aspirations within us all, be they spiritual, moral or humanistic,
enable us to fulfil this commitment.
Sign
the Commitment
If you
would like to associate yourself with this Commitment please complete the
form below, and send it by post, fax, or email to:
International
Communications Forum
24 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1RD, United
Kingdom.
Fax: (00 44) 207 798 6001
e-mail: icforum@yahoo.co.uk
I am pleased to
sign the Sarajevo Commitment
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English
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La
Charte de Sarajevo
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Proclama
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Sarajevo
Et Tilsagn Fra Medierne
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O Compromisso de Sarajevo
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in Russian (PDF format)
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Press
Release
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