NEWS MEDIA PLANS

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29799, 16 April 1962, Page 15

NEWS MEDIA PLANS

Assistance Programme (N.Z.P.A.-Reuter —Copyright) NEW YORK, April 13. Proposals for developing news media in the underdeveloped nations of Africa. Asia and Latin America at a cost of 3400 million dollars were endorsed yesterday by the United Nations Commission on Human Rights. The Commission unanimously decided to press the United Nations General Assembly to include an extensive programme for expansion of newspaper, news agency, radio qnd other information media, as recommended by the United Nations Educational. Scientific and Cultural Organisation, in the current United Nations decade of development

The U.N.E SC O plan was drawn up after three years of research into news media in under-developed areas, with the aid of world news agency executives, journalists and other experts in the field of news communications.

The resolution expressed concern that the survey revealed that 70 per cent, of the world'.- population lacked adequate information facilities and were “thus denied effective enjoyment of the right to information.”

It recommended that Governments of these countries include adequate provision for development of new r s media in their economic plans and invited United Nations specialised agencies and “other public and private agencies and institutions to assist the less-developed countries in developing and strengthening their national information media.”

U.N.E.S.C.O. proposes that about 70 per cent, of the cost of the development project should be borne by the young nations involved, as their economies develop, while the rest should be provided by direct capital investment, bilateral aid schemes, and contributions from international organisations.