As outlined at the Second World Conference of Science Journalists in Budapest (1999), the WFSJ would be a global,umbrella organization representing the many existing international, regional, and national groups and using the combined clout of these often disparate and sometimes competing groups to seek funds for training young journalists, for promoting open and free communication of science information, and for protecting the rights (and safety) of science journalists everywhere.
The Original Proposal
An ad hoc group of international science journalists has proposed to establish a world federation of science journalists (WFSJ) that would serve as an umbrella organisation for international, regional, and national science journalism associations, as well as for individuals.
It is hoped that the WFSJ might implement the goals of the Budapest Declaration of 1999 and foster a new culture of science journalism intended to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
Further, it is proposed that the WFSJ will:
- have its seat at the European Science Foundation (ESF) in Strasbourg (France);
- maintain a website and other means of global communication for disseminating information about present problems, current opportunities, and future trends in science journalism;
- facilitate training, networking, and education for young science journalists in the developing world;
- promote the expansion and improvement of science communication in the mass media worldwide;
- organize regular exchanges between its member organisations, including site visits; and,
- coordinate periodic convenings of world conferences of science journalists.
The ad hoc committee will contact the world science journalism community and, on the basis of the response, develop a constitution, define a governing structure, and explore possible sources of funding. It is intended to found the WFSJ officially on the occasion of the 3rd World Conference of Science Journalists, tentatively planned for 2002 in Brazil.”
Signed,
Alun Anderson, UK
James Cornell, USA
Jim Detjen, USA
Lisbeth Fog, Colombia
Wolfgang Goede, Germany
Werner Hadorn, Switzerland
Philippe Gauthier, Canada
Kenji Makino, Japan
Darryl D’Monte, India
Istvan Palugyai, Hungary
Paul Raeburn, USA
Mariko Takahashi, Japan