PMA attends UNESCO event on Indigenous Peoples and the Media

The Public Media Alliance joined dozens of Indigenous journalists and other media workers from around the world at UNESCO headquarters in Paris this week, participating in the Expert Meeting and Media Partnership Forum on Indigenous Peoples and the Media.   

Over two days, there was discussion about how Indigenous media operate, what services they provide for audiences, what environments they operate in, and how they collaborate with both each other and mainstream media in different regions. The findings from several UNESCO-studies were also presented: a literature review of research exploring Indigenous media; a global survey of Indigenous-led and mainstream media; and a media monitoring tool to analyse how Indigenous Peoples are currently being reported in the media.  

Read more: How public service media are reaching and reflecting Indigenous Peoples (Report)

There were also a series of workshops and discussions about what protections are needed and what rights should be enshrined. A list of recommendations was developed to bolster and advance the implementation of Article 16 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). These recommendations, once finalised, will  be distributed to member states, and then taken to next year’s UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues. 

Several PMA member organisations, including the ABC, CBC/Radio-Canada, and Swedish Radio were also there. The Public Media Alliance has been on the working group of this project. 

The goals of the meeting were to come up with recommendations for how to improve the representation of Indigenous peoples, the production of relevant content, and to foster better professional development. 

“The Public Media Alliance looks forward to working with UNESCO, our media colleagues and all participating stakeholders on the next steps”