World Association for Christian Communication
Encyclopedia
The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is an international NGO registered as a charity in both Canada and the United Kingdom. It is a worldwide network of ecumenical
Christian communicators whose global office is based in Toronto. It is a membership organization bringing together some 1,500 institutions and individuals in more than 100 countries.
WACC’s vision is a world in which communication is recognised by all as a human right and as the basis for peace and social justice.
Organisations and individuals become members of the global Association, organized for practical purposes in to eight Regional Associations (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and Pacific).
, shared the same concerns and they eventually joined forces to establish the ‘old’ WACC in 1968. Rapid developments in mass media worldwide and a concern to integrate the work of the Agency for Christian Literature Development of the World Council of Churches
led to a merger in 1975 that created the present WACC. In 1986 WACC adopted its Christian Principles of Communication as a statement of core values based on Liberation Theology's
option for the poor.
Over the last 25 years WACC has been instrumental in developing the concept of Communication Rights
and their relationship to participatory development communication
.
Ecumenism
Ecumenism or oecumenism mainly refers to initiatives aimed at greater Christian unity or cooperation. It is used predominantly by and with reference to Christian denominations and Christian Churches separated by doctrine, history, and practice...
Christian communicators whose global office is based in Toronto. It is a membership organization bringing together some 1,500 institutions and individuals in more than 100 countries.
WACC’s vision is a world in which communication is recognised by all as a human right and as the basis for peace and social justice.
Organisations and individuals become members of the global Association, organized for practical purposes in to eight Regional Associations (Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Latin America, Middle East, North America and Pacific).
History
The origins of WACC date back to 1950 when Christian communicators from Europe and North America began seeking guidelines for the future of religious broadcasting. Several organisations, including the World Council of ChurchesWorld Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
, shared the same concerns and they eventually joined forces to establish the ‘old’ WACC in 1968. Rapid developments in mass media worldwide and a concern to integrate the work of the Agency for Christian Literature Development of the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
led to a merger in 1975 that created the present WACC. In 1986 WACC adopted its Christian Principles of Communication as a statement of core values based on Liberation Theology's
Liberation theology
Liberation theology is a Christian movement in political theology which interprets the teachings of Jesus Christ in terms of a liberation from unjust economic, political, or social conditions...
option for the poor.
Activities
WACC’s wide-ranging activities include support for communication projects mainly, but not exclusively, in the global south; the promotion of analysis, reflection and action on important topics related to its areas of concern; support for networking within and beyond its membership; and publication and sharing of information. WACC’s project support has traditionally been largely of a responsive nature. WACC's largest single activity is the Global Media Monitoring Project a worldwide longitudinal study (1995, 2000, 2005) on the representation of women in the world’s media.Over the last 25 years WACC has been instrumental in developing the concept of Communication Rights
Communication Rights
-Rationale:Communication is recognised as an essential human need and, therefore, as a basic human right. Without it, no individual or community can exist, or prosper. Communication enables meanings to be exchanged, propels people to act and makes them who and what they are.Communication...
and their relationship to participatory development communication
Participatory development communication
Participatory development communication refers to the use of mass media and traditional, inter-personal means of communication that empowers communities to visualise aspirations and discover solutions to their development problems and issues....
.
External links
- WACC Global home page
- Who Makes the News - The home of the Global Media Monitoring Project
- Centre for Communication Rights