The Telecom Authority of Trinidad and Tobago (TATT) is sponsoring a public seminar called “Balance on the airwaves: free speech and responsibility” on April 2-3, 2008 at the Grand Ballroom, Hilton Trinidad and Conference Centre.
There is no charge for attending this seminar, however interested persons are asked to register by 4:00pm Wednesday March 26th 2008. To register you are kindly asked to contact Mr Sean Samad, Communications, Public Relations Officer or Ms Ingrid Gittens, Administrative Coordinator at 675-8288 ext 310 and 332 respectively or at registration at tatt -dot- org -dot- tt.
According to the PDF on TATT’s website (18K) :
“This seminar will feature, interactive sessions, panel discussions and stimulating presentations by the following eight internationally respected experts on issues and areas of concern dealing with broadcasting, media and regulation policies and practices for media and broadcasting.
- Ms. Eve Salomon – author of UNESCO and CBA’s “Guidelines for Broadcasting Regulation” – The Broadcast Code – challenges faced and commonalities encountered (with a focus on the global aim to protect minors)
- Dr. Hopeton Dunn – Director, Telecommunications Policy and Management Programme, Mona Business School, UWI MONA – Globalisation, Convergence and the Digital Future: Policy Issues in Caribbean Broadcasting Regulation.
- Mr. Mark Lloyd – Senior Fellow, Center for American Progress, Adj. Professor, Georgetown University Public Policy Institute: The relationship between communication policies and a strong democratic society – why talk radio is important
- Dr. Suzy dos Santos – Professor, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro: “The role of media in social development and democracy: how Brazil faces global changes in TV regulation, distribution and production”
- Mr. Toby Mendel – Law/Asia Programmes Director, ARTICLE 19: International Guarantees of Freedom of Expression: Implications for Broadcast Regulation
- Ms. Sonia Gill – Asst. Executive Director, Broadcasting Commission, Jamaica: A Caribbean perspective: stakeholder consultation and the road to broadcast regulation in Jamaica
- Ms. Graciela Baroni Suleiman – Executive Coordinator NUPEF, RITS’ Centre for Research, Studies and Capacity Building in ICT for Human Development, Internet Governance and Rights: The impact of media on the construction of more peaceful societies
- Mr. Ronald I. Cohen – National Chair, Canadian Broadcast Standards Council: Making the link – the model of self-regulation, enforcement and collaboration between regulators and the broadcasting sector
Under the Telecommunications Act, TATT is mandated to develop a National Broadcasting Code which will apply “to the transmission of audio, video and text broadcasts via any medium, whether “free to air”, subscription based, or the Internet”
In April 2005, TATT’s announced a Draft National Broadcasting Code (PDF ; 157K) document and after three public consultations, announced that a Broadcast Code in 2006 will be in place although this did not happen.
