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MacBride Report

The 1980 report, officially titled Many Voices, One World but more commonly known as the MacBride Report, was a significant undertaking by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). This comprehensive document emerged from the deliberations of the International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems, a body established to dissect the complex landscape of communication within modern societies. The report, named in honor of its chairman, the Irish Nobel laureate and tireless advocate for peace and human rights, Seán MacBride, was tasked with a formidable objective: to analyze the multifaceted communication challenges plaguing the world, with a particular focus on mass media and the dissemination of news. It was commissioned at a time when new technologies were beginning to reshape the communication paradigm, and the report aimed to propose a framework for a New World Information and Communication Order. This proposed order was envisioned as a means to dismantle the barriers hindering global peace and the advancement of human development through more equitable communication practices.

Despite garnering considerable international backing, the report found itself at the center of a storm of controversy. The United States and the United Kingdom vehemently denounced it, framing it as a direct assault on the fundamental principles of freedom of the press. Their opposition was so pronounced that it culminated in their withdrawal from UNESCO, the former in 1984 and the latter in 1985. Both nations would eventually rejoin the organization, with the UK returning in 1997 and the US in 2003, but the initial secession underscored the deep divisions the report exposed.

The MacBride Commission

The genesis of the International Commission for the Study of Communication Problems can be traced back to 1977, when it was formally established by Ahmadou-Mahtar M’Bow, the then Director-General of UNESCO. This ambitious commission boasted a global reach, with over 50 offices strategically positioned across the world. The decision was made to entrust the chairmanship to Seán MacBride, a figure whose reputation preceded him. The commission itself comprised representatives from 15 other nations, carefully selected for their significant involvement in national and international communication spheres. UNESCO's recruitment process targeted individuals who were not only active in media but also included prominent media activists, seasoned journalists, respected scholars, and influential media executives, ensuring a diverse and informed body of expertise.

The esteemed members of the MacBride Commission included:

Findings

The MacBride Report laid bare a series of critical issues plaguing global communication. Among the most prominent problems identified were the alarming concentration of media ownership, the pervasive commercialization of media content, and the starkly unequal access to information and communication resources across different nations and populations. The commission issued a powerful call for the democratization of communication processes, advocating for the strengthening of national media infrastructures to reduce the debilitating dependence on external information sources. It's fascinating to consider how the subsequent rise of Internet-based technologies, though not fully foreseen in their modern scope, would later serve as a conduit for furthering many of the MacBride Commission's visionary goals, enabling a more decentralized flow of information.

The report vividly described the existing communication landscape as a "one-way street" for information. A particularly sharp critique was leveled against the often-distorted image of developing countries that was cultivated in Western nations by major news agencies and mass media. These Western countries, enjoying a high degree of industrialization, were seen as dictating the narrative, often to the detriment of a balanced and nuanced portrayal of the Global South. The MacBride Report also expressed dismay over the growing tendency for the quality of "communicative content" to supersede rigorous academic inquiry, influencing the academy and shaping scientific discourse in ways that were deemed problematic.

The commission presented its preliminary findings in October 1978, during the 20th General Conference of UNESCO held in Paris. A pivotal session, dedicated to exploring how new technologies could address the identified communication problems, was hosted by India in New Delhi in March 1979. The culmination of their extensive work, the final report, was officially submitted to Director-General M’Bow in April 1980. Its adoption by consensus at the 21st General Conference of UNESCO in Belgrade marked a significant, albeit contentious, milestone. Following the submission of its report, the commission was dissolved, its mandate fulfilled.

Reaction by UN Member States

The controversy that swirled around the MacBride Report, coupled with what some perceived as a wavering commitment from UNESCO's leadership in the 1980s to fully embrace its recommendations, led to the report becoming difficult to obtain. It was, for a time, out of print. The climate of contention was such that a book detailing the history of the United States and its complex relationship with UNESCO even faced threats of legal action, compelling the inclusion of a disclaimer asserting that UNESCO had no involvement in its publication. Eventually, the MacBride Report was reissued by Rowman and Littlefield in the United States, and it has since become freely accessible online, ensuring its continued availability for study and debate.

As previously noted, the report initially enjoyed robust international support. However, the strong opposition from the United States and the United Kingdom, who viewed it as an infringement upon freedom of the press, cast a long shadow over its reception.

Impact in the Long Run

The 1970s and 1980s witnessed substantial shifts in media and communication landscapes, shifts that were undeniably influenced by the MacBride Report. The report’s findings spurred the development and implementation of policies aimed at the liberalization of the telecommunication market. This move challenged the entrenched monopoly powers and the considerable comparative advantage, or outright dominance, that established radio and television broadcasters, as well as newspaper companies, had long enjoyed. The push for liberalization signaled a move toward greater competition and potentially broader access, echoing the report's call for a more equitable communication order.

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