IAMCR - International Association for Media and Communication Research

• Media & Communication Production & Consumption
• Media, Communication, Participation and Community
• Media & Communication Policy & Law
• Media & Communication Education & Journalism
• Cross-Cutting Themes in Media and Communication

These themes are now being used to organise pages at our new website which was launched the week before the conference. I highlighted the work of the WSIS Task Force and its members who had been very active contributors to the Summit in Tunis and who are continuing to be active in WSIS follow-up activities including the new Internet Governance Forum.  

On the organisational front, I noted that in the past year, we had commissioned a new website and membership database, agreed its budgets, introduced a new fee structure and journal offer and undertaken various other activities and decisions – all of this had been agreed online very effectively.  I also noted that once the new membership database is up and running it will be possible to contact the whole of the IAMCR membership more frequently and to build up a content-rich website.  In the coming two years of my term, I hope to be able to give much more emphasis to national and regional membership recruitment and to provide a package of materials that members need in order to encourage people to join.  I also intend to support the work of the new IAMCR Task Force on Media and Communications Policy that has been created to build on the work of the WSIS Task Force.  

I concluded by observing that there is always much more to do! But I suggested that compared to 12 months ago, IAMCR is now more robust organisationally.  We have a fresh way of presenting ourselves through the website and we are well-placed to play an increasing role as the only truly international media and communications association. I look forward to leading us forward with my colleagues on the Executive Board and on the International Council to fulfil the mission of IAMCR.  The Cairo conference enabled the Arab world to become more actively involved in media and communication research and I hope we can build on this successful foundation to enable IAMCR to provide a forum for critical debate and discussion online and offline.

I also presented the Treasurer’s report in the absence of Cesar Bolano whose flight from Brazil was cancelled by the carrier at the last moment.  I reported that membership income has returned to the level that was the norm when the Treasurer’s office was located in Canada in 2004. We now have a strong base to build on.  Our new fee structure for 2006 clearly distinguishes between high and low income countries and provides incentives for low income countries to join as institutional members.  We also have a new journal offer with three Sage Publications titles to choose from which was negotiated by Vice President Annabelle Sreberny.  We made funds available this year to support the travel by scholars from low income countries and to support travel of some invited plenary speakers.  In the future an effort will be made to devise an investment strategy four our income to build up a reserve.  

Vice-President Divina Frau-Meigs presented an update on the many liaison activities that she has preformed on our behalf with international organisations and civil society representatives. She stressed the need for more effort in this area.  Vice President Annabelle Screberny provided an update on efforts to strengthen our publications profile through edited collections, and a variety of other outputs.  Their reports will be captured more fully in the minutes.

The minutes of the General Assembly will be published in due course providing greater detail on the meeting and of the Executive Board and International Council.  

During the General Assembly a motion was passed concerning visa problems experienced by some Iranians and Nigerians.  IAMCR will be taking the matter up with the Egyptian authorities.