The WACC online discussion “From Words to Action: Statements on Communication for a Better Future” on 3 April will give members and partners the opportunity to consider how statements on communication could be used to drive social change.

Everyone from civil society networks to intergovernmental forums and even political bodies have used documents such as statements, manifestos, declarations, and pledges to outline ethics and action to advance social justice, says WACC General Secretary Philip Lee.

The 4/2022 issue of WACC’s quarterly journal Media Development highlighted many such statements on communication from the past two decades.

“Are these just lofty documents or roadmaps for real change? Can they help civil society work together for more impact? What can we do to more effectively translate words into actions for positive change?”

Such are the questions that WACC wants to explore with its members and partners to guide contributions of the movement for communication rights to the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) +20 in 2025, Lee says.

“WSIS+20 will be a global event at which actions should speak louder than words. Whatever statement emerges, the inclusion of previously marginalized voices in policymaking around genuinely sustainable development is crucial,” he stressed.

The virtual conversation circle features

• Suman Basnet, regional director of the Asia-Pacific chapter of the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC)
• Stephen Brown, editor of the World Council of Churches Ecumenical Review, president of WACC Europe and treasurer of WACC Global
• Myriam Horngren, social change strategist focusing on communications and advocacy
• Zoe Titus, director of Namibia Media Trust and chairperson of the Global Forum for Media Development

Lee, editor of Media Development, will moderate the discussion.

Register to join the conversation on 3 April at 1–2pm (Central European Time).