Media Experts from 100 Countries to Gather in Athens 

The 2nd Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) held at Divani Caravel Hotel from 7th to 10th December 2008 was an exclusive event with more than 500 high-level media experts, journalists, editors, intellectuals and politicians from over 100 countries. The World Conference in Athens offered these people the opportunity to further their aspirations for a free, independent, viable and inclusive media, fundamentals for forming and strengthening democratic society and human development, and to promote the free global movement of information.

The 2nd Global Forum was part of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, a one year-long United Nations celebration that ended on 10 December 2008, the closing day of the Athens Conference.

Key speakers, such as Nobel-Prize winner Orhan Pamuk and Mary Robinson - member of The Elders, Former UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Former President of Ireland, and eminent representatives from the UN, UNESCO and the World Bank - joined senior media executives and key ambassadors from media development organizations in highlighting the importance of the media to human and economic development.

The conference began with the opening session by David Hoffman, Chairman of Internews Network and Chairman of Global Forum, presenting the subject of Media Development on Media Development 2008 - the View Ahead. There have been 13 sessions during the four days of conference, where more than 60 prominent international media experts, journalists, editors, intellectuals and politicians presented and discussed another five thematic themes: New Opportunities, New Markets; At the Cutting Edge of Media Development; Media, a Key Role in Human Development; Journalism 2020: Quality is Key; and Facing Global Challenges.

To meet the high standards of all organisational aspects, GFMD appointed C&C International as the Professional Conference Organiser of the Global Forum for Media Development.

C&C International guided and advised the Organising Committee in all administrative aspects of the Conference ensuring both a financially viable Conference as well a high profile event. To accomplish its goal, C&C International employed its expertise and talent through its established approach: flawless, reliable, trouble-free practice.

C&C International successfully met the challenges faced due to the sad occasion of "riot" phenomena which outburst in the centre of Athens on the eve of the Forum. Plans on the Opening Ceremony and social events had to change only a few hours before their scheduled time. Thanks to the readiness and efficiency of the project team, as well as to the contingency strategy followed in big projects, everything ran smoothly and successfully.

 Specially invited speakers:

• Chris Kramer: CNN International
• Richard Sambrook: Head of News, BBC
• Jo Weir: Reuters
• Dora Bakoyannis: Greek Foreign Minister
• Tom Curley: Chief Executive Officer, Associated Press
• Daniel Kaufmann: Director Global Programs and Governance, World Bank
• Peter Eigert: Director of Transparency International; 
• William Orme: Head of Media Section, UNDP; 
• Aidan White: General Secretary, International Federation of Journalists; 
• Ambeyi Ligabo: UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression; 
• Mogens Schmidt: Deputy Assistant Director General, UNESCO; 
• Bettina Peters: Director, GFMD.

About GFMD

The Global Forum for Media Development (GFMD) is a practitioner-led process designed to be long term and open to the community, which is involved in media development around the world. It comprises of a network of roughly 500 non-governmental media assistance organizations operating in approximately 100 countries worldwide, supporting the development of independent media at community, national and regional levels.

GFMD aims to make media assistance a sector in its own right, as media assistance is too often relegated to communicating development goals and the intention is to make media development an integral part of overall development strategies, just like education or health.
To read more about GFMD you may visit http://70.87.64.34/~intint/gfmd_info/