Tokyo manifesto

By
Tuesday, 20 November, 2001

Below is the proposal to the participants of the International Conference of Science & Technology Journalists (ICSTJ) in Tokyo, Japan, on the 26 October, 2001.

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 web site 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;
Organise regular exchanges between its member organisations, including site visits; and,
Co-ordinate 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.

Members of the committee are: