Independent World Television (IWT)

Initiated by a team of journalists, the strategy behind Independent World Television is to combine the participation and organising power of the internet, with the popular appeal and broad reach of television. Online marketing in the initial stages will aim to support the fundraising campaign, and once broadacsting begins will be used to help drive audiences to the programming on television. At the same time, the television broadcasts will encourage viewers to participate through the website.

The IWT team intends that the first programme launch will be IWTnews Nightly, a primetime one-hour news and current affairs show that will aim to "break the monopoly on information." According to the project website, IWTnews Nightly will report investigated and verifiable facts - wherever they lead and without compromise. Investigations will be conducted by journalists hired for their experience, political acumen and understanding of history and "informed by a commitment to social justice and respecting diversity of opinion, IWTnews will focus on news other media ignore or suppress, and on individuals and groups that are transforming the world."

Citizen journalism will aim to bring insight from people around the world. Citizen reporters will be able to upload video to the IWT media centre, where a professional editorial board will vets the work. The best will appear online and on television.

Prior to launching IWTnews Nightly, the following activities are planned to encourage public participation in the process:

• Launch of the IWTnews Production Unit, producing original documentaries, news stories and sample programming that gives an initial idea of what IWT will cover.
• Expansion of the website to deliver richer content, and build more participation into the vision, plan and programming.
• Growing of the movement, empowering supporters to participate through meet-ups, local committees and house parties.

It is planned that IWT will be broadcast via satellite, on digital cable, through public broadcasters & public access stations, and webcast.

Media Freedom, Technology

According to the project website, "serious news and diversity of opinion - on which democracy depends - are disappearing from television. Across the globe, news media ownership is concentrated in the hands of a few conglomerates whose economic needs dictate news coverage. They promote superficial "infotainment" and one-sided reporting over tough investigation, context and holding authority accountable. Public broadcasters face shrinking budgets and growing political and commercial pressures." IWT proposes tha the solution to this is a news and current affairs network that defends the public interest and the highest standards of journalism.