The OMEC (Mediterranean Observatory of Communication) is an interdisciplinary working group of researchers, media professionals and international cooperation that works to favor the development of the Mediterranean countries.
The Observatory is a non-profit initiative that was created in 2004 by a group of information professionals linked to the University and also to international cooperation. Specifically, the project arises within the framework of the research group LAPREC of the Department of Journalism and Communication Sciences of the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB).
The fundamental objective of the Observatory is to promote dialogue, human development and the exercise of human rights. To this end, the OMEC has the support of organizations, institutions and individuals from Algeria, Egypt, Spain, France, Israel, Italy, Lebanon, Morocco, Syria, Tunisia, Turkey, whose main objective is to contribute to the construction of a dialogant Mediterranean space and focused on the development of human rights.
Goals:
1. Promote networking and partnership relations between the different actors that make up the communication ecosystem Mediterranean – journalists, media, information and cultural industry, universities and professional organizations – to carry out exchanges, research, campaigns and projects and other joint activities, such as identifying experiences and specific case studies and analyze their applicability to the Mediterranean area.
2. Increasing access to knowledge and cultural diversity in the field of communication, information society and human development, promoting the production and translation of academic products, news, fiction and other Mediterranean languages on a physical medium and addresses on the network to reduce the digital divide and contribute to the circulation and appropriation of the Mediterranean cultural production among its inhabitants.
3. Promote the mainstreaming of communication for development and social change in the relevant powers in the regional programs and projects of development cooperation, with particular emphasis on participatory processes and local trainers through interdisciplinary research, policy proposals public and specialized training.
4. Implement a system of indicators, data collection and regular reporting to enable monitoring, evaluation and development of proposals for intervention in the areas of communication rights and cyberspace, public policy, communication, social responsibility media, transition to information society and digital divide at the regional Mediterranean.
5. Influence public policies that create barriers to access, participation and ownership of the most vulnerable groups, incorporating a gender perspective in all its operations.
Main work lines:
1. Construction of a Resource Centre: Creating a virtual portal that provides information about the various agents of the Mediterranean ecosystem of communication, information and links in five main areas:
a. Communication in the Mediterranean;
b. Communication for international cooperation;
c. Communication for human rights and democratic governance;
d. Communication for peace and conflict resolution;
e. Gender and Communication in the Mediterranean;
2. Networking: Conformation of the network of training centers and research in communication, union organizations and media professionals from the Mediterranean, with aims to:
a. Keep the portal update.
b. Organize seminars-workshops on the role of the media, training centers and media professionals in the Mediterranean construction.
c. Develop joint studies and research resources.
3. System of indicators “Media and human rights based development”: Set up a system of indicators, data collection and preparation of periodic reports for monitoring, evaluation and preparation of proposals for intervention in issues such as freedom of expression, public policy, communications, social responsibility of the media, transition to information society and digital divide in Mediterranean regions.
4. Dissemination of knowledge: translation and distribution of reference documents and research reports and conferences on specific aspects of the Mediterranean ecosystem of communication, communication for development and social change, rights to information and communication in cyberspace within the Observatory´s network and partnerships.
5. Training: professional, through conferences, seminars, conferences and workshops and academic, particularly through the Master Erasmus Mundus Crossing the Mediterranean: towards Investment and Integration (MIM) taught by: Autonomous University of Barcelona (Spain), University Ca ‘Foscari of Venice (Italy) and University Paul Valéry of Montpellier (France).
You can find more information about the OMEC on its website and blog.