Many Voices, One World

Originally published in 1980 and now back in print, Many Voices, One World came out of hundreds of international studies and proposed reforms for global communication media to ensure a free flow of information. Prepared by the distinguished MacBride Commission-and frequently referred to as the MacBride Report-it criticized corporate control of media flows and suggested ways to make media production accessible in poorer countries. Beginning with the right of individuals and nations to communicate, this report tackled problems related to government controls, censorship, one-way flows of information, cultural dominance, and commercialization of the mass media. It called for more voices, more freedom of expression, and the protection of journalists' rights. Still widely taught and cited, the MacBride Report is a key work in the history of communication that continues to be relevant today.