264, Oct 2005

The Chinese government has recently withdrawn its longstanding subsidy from 2,000 newspapers and 9,000 magazines, as well as banning mandatory subscriptions that many publications depended on. All of a sudden the media in China has to stand on its own feet. Ownership of state media has been transferred into the hands of private companies and foreign investors and the government is loosening its grip on the media. Digital media are major contributors to change, and the government is realistic about how much control it can exert on it. Professor Yu Guoming of the School of Journalism and Communication, at Renmin University of China, talks frankly about the progress of the media reform in China, and the impact of the reforms on government, journalists and the people.

Sean Hawkey

Since 1949 when the Communists came to power in China, Chinese media have been controlled by the Party. With over 2,000 newspapers, and 9,000 magazines, all owned and controlled by the Party, there has been little room for dissent and the government was able to control exactly what people were reading.

Sean Hawkey, Beijing

The Mongolian Cow Sour Yoghurt Super Girl Contest, more commonly known as "Super Girl", has taken China by storm, whipping up phenomenal interest by allowing the public to vote for contestants using text messaging in the same style as Western shows like "Pop Idol".

Significant and far-reaching changes were made by WACC’s Central Committee at a meeting held 1-6 October 2005 near the East Sussex town of Brighton.

By Musimbi Kanyoro
WACC Central Committee, October 1 – 7, 2005

From Cairo to London/ Brighton

It is my joy and privilege to welcome you to this Central Committee. I especially recognize all who are new and ask all those who were last year in Cairo to help orient and make our sisters and brother feel at home in this meeting. I hope that we shall all use our time here to renew our old friendships and make new friends even as we journey together to make WACC accountable as an organization that is “taking sides”.

We are meeting in Pilgrim Hall, which is probably most appropriate given the decisions that you are asked to make this week. The journey begins somewhere in the past. The challenges we face began some time ago. For people of faith pilgrimage is a common metaphor, one that serves as well as we carry out the responsibilities entrusted to our care and exercise the authority entrusted to our wisdom. Whatever happens, this is the journey and we are ones placed on the path.

Beverly Chain was 'one of those women' that fought tirelessly for gender awareness in WACC. Her leadership within WACC was based on years of experience in communication and a firm belief that WACC would only model its values fully when WACC fully supported women in communication. Our governing documents that guide our work today were written when Beverly was on Central Committee and reflect that tenacious determination. What else would you expect from someone whose biblical vision is drawn from Micah 6:8: '... what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?'

It would be unusual to visit a well-established communication house in Africa, Asia or Latin America that would not at some point in its development have come under the influence of Berti Manuel. A WACC employee from 1973 through 1992, Bertie came to the organisation via the Agency for Christian Literature Development (ACLD) -- the successor agency of the Christian Literature Fund.