The Global Network for Education in Journalism and the Media has been officially launched. Heads of regional journalism schools and institutes met on 18 and 19 March 1999 at UNESCO to form the global network of journalism schools and institutions in association with UNESCO, and to prepare its statutes. The statutes, accepted in principle by the meeting, are being finalized for formal ratification. As its mission, "Globjournet seeks to expand and improve journalism and media practices worldwide through better professional education in this field and to do so by linking educational institutions, training centres, associations, networks and organizations that share the ideals of UNESCO in a Network that will catalyze their cooperation and share information." Taking full advantage of new communication technologies, the network will operate principally through electronic databases and interconnections linking the major institutions. The African Council for Communication Education based at the University of Nairobi, Kenya was nominated as the Network Coordinator. The Steering Council is composed of the following institutions: Frank Morgan, University of Newcastle, President of the Professional Education Committee of the International Association of Media and Communication Research (IAMCR), and holding the office of President; Ridha Najar, Director of the Centre Africain de Perfectionnement des Journalistes et Communicateurs, Tunis, holding the office of Vice-President; Kaarle Nordenstreng, University of Tampere, Finland, holding office as Vice-President; Luis Nuñez-Gomez, President of the Federación Latinoamericana de Facultades de Comunicación Social, holding office as Vice-President; Gil Santos, President of the Council of Asia Pacific Press Institutes and Director of the Philippine Press Institute, Manila, holding office as Vice-President; Peter Wanyande, ACCE, as Network Coordinator. The founding members, representing journalism training centres in most parts of the world form the first set of regional and sub-regional coordinators, with the possibility of expansion. Within the budget allocated through the International Programme for the Development of Communication (IPDC), the Network will implement a programme of activities including training, curricular design and assistance in equipping needy training centres. During the deliberations strong emphasis was laid on the need to be inclusive rather than exclusive, complementary to other networks rather than competitive. Aside from the founding members, the Network membership is open to all journalism schools and institutions that adhere to the basic ideals of freedom of expression and the principles laid down in the statutes. The establishment of GLOBJOURNET was decided by UNESCO's General Conference (27 C/Resolution 4.5)        Contact Carlos A. Arnaldo, UNESCO, Communication Division   27 C/Resolution 4.5 - Establishment of a network of schools of journalism associated with UNESCO The General Conference, Recalling the provisions of Article 1, paragraph 2(a), of the Constitution, by virtue of which UNESCO collaborates 'in the work of advancing the mutual knowledge and understanding of peoples, through all means of mass communication' and promotes 'the free flow of ideas by word and image', Recalling 25 C/Resolution 104, relating to UNESCO's new strategy for encouraging the free flow of information and promoting the wider and better balanced dissemination of information, without any obstacle to freedom of expression, Recalling also 26 C/Resolution 4.1, in which it invited the Director-General, in particular, 'to organize training activities, with emphasis on specialized areas inadequately covered by other institutions', Emphasizing the high standard of co-operation that has been established between UNESCO and information professionals since the approval of the new strategy, Emphasizing also the importance of a form of training for journalists that focuses on both the interdependence and the diversity of individuals and cultures and thus on solidarity, Considering that the systems of schools, universities and libraries associated with UNESCO, which play a catalytic role in achieving and disseminating the ideals of the Organization, provide an interesting model, Invites the Director-General to promote the establishment of a network of schools of journalism associated with UNESCO which agree to make explicit reference to the Organization's values of freedom and solidarity and whose founding members will be chosen by a committee of recognized professional organizations.