about "G8 Media Network"

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What is the G8 Media Network?

The G8 Media Network is a network of independent journalists and grass-root media organizations in Japan. It was established to report on the voices and activities relating to the 2008 G8 Summit to be held in Lake Toya in Hokkaido Japan. Since last July, we are working with NGOs and grass-root groups in order to report on the global issues discussed in the G8, such as poverty, economic developments, environment, human rights and peace initiatives domestically and internationally.

As of March 2008, following organizations are participants of our Network:

Objectives

Japan is hosting 2008 G8 Summit in July where leaders are expected to discuss global issues in economy, environment and politics. This is an opportunity that Japan has every 8 years.

The issues discussed at the G8 meetings are a great concern of many NGOs and activists in Japan and all over the world. Many of them are working together, putting their differences aside, to make their voices heard for better solutions of their causes and for well-being of global communities, not just for the G8 countries. Mainstream media traditionally have not covered many of these issues in a way that will represent various points of views, and whether or not they will do so this time around remains to be seen.

The G8 Media Network will provide assistance in reporting variety of voices and movements on these issues to the world audience.

Activities

  1. We set up media centers in Sapporo and in the neighborhood of the Lake Toya to accommodate the needs of individuals and groups who agree with the purpose of our G8 Media Network Center.
  2. We facilitate information exchanges among those who have G8-related stories to report. Also we give access and technical assistance to those who need the equipments to distribute their stories.
  3. We develop and organize a collective means to ensure open and multilingual access to alternative information in various formats.
  4. We distribute our own information and reports on diverse voices and grass-roots/individual movements in various formats, including text, video, radio, and the Internet.

Steering

  1. Decision Making: When perceived necessary, the G8 Media Network holds meetings to make decisions, based on a consensus of participants, on specific issues.
  2. Office: The network has a minimum level of office function to manage practical business, such as to carry out decisions made at the aforementioned meetings as well as to conduct of public relations and financial management.
  3. Finance: In principle, participants are responsible for the cost of their own activities. As for the expenses required for executing the objectives of the G8 Media Network, we raise money through donation, sponsorship and other means. We have created a voluntary fundraising-function which is called “G8 Media Network” within our administrative office.

Work Units

The G8 Media Network is consisted of several working units which are responsible for conducting different fields of activities. Participants in the G8 Media Network can join in one or more of these units or, if they cannot find suitable ones, create new ones and invite others to join them or may call for help from existing units to move ahead with their purpose.

Join

We invite anybody, individuals or organizations, regardless of their positions, objectives and affiliations to join the G8 Media Network. Although our common goal is to offer alternative information which mainstream media may not cover, we welcome everyone from both the mainstream and alternative media.

Send your email to the G8 Media Network Office （[1]info@g8medianetwork.org）to subscribe to our mailing lists to share information related to our activities as well as to put out your information on the G8 Media Network web site. Those who are curious about our network can ask our office for information or go directly to individuals and groups that are in our network.

Donation!

Setting up and running media centers are quite expensive. Your financial help will be greatly appreciated. Postal Money Transfer:　0180-6-726314Account Name　G8メディアネットワーク

ContactGeneral: office [2]info@g8medianetwork.org

Press: [3]press@g8medianetwork.org Shiraishi/Ueda(NPO OurPlanet-TV) TEL 03-3296-2720 FAX 03-3296-2730