What are the aims and objectives of the McBride Commission of the UNESCO? What is India’s position on these?
1. The McBride Commission
The McBride Commission, chaired by Sean MacBride, was set up by UNESCO in 1977 to examine global communication problems.
2. Its 1980 report ‘Many Voices
Its 1980 report ‘Many Voices, One World’ highlighted imbalances in information flows between developed and developing nations.
3. Aims included reducing media concentration
Aims included reducing media concentration, democratising communication and removing obstacles to information flow.
4. It proposed a New World Information
It proposed a New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO) to correct Western dominance of news agencies.
5. It urged strengthening independent media in
It urged strengthening independent media in developing countries and safeguarding journalists and media plurality.
6. India supported NWICO
India supported NWICO, aligning with the Non-Aligned Movement’s demand for balanced, decolonised information flows.
7. Western nations
Western nations, led by the USA and UK, saw NWICO as state control of media and left UNESCO in 1984.
8. India balanced this by upholding domestic
India balanced this by upholding domestic press freedom while backing equitable international communication norms.
9. The report shaped later debates on
The report shaped later debates on media diversity and the internet; its NWICO goals remain only partly realised.
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