The Initiatives of Change Centre for Governance, in collaboration with the International Communications Forum, organised a day-long conference on Media and Governance at the India International Centre, New Delhi on 17 February, 2007. 

Opened by Prabhat Kumar, a former State Governor, he said that the media can play a decisive role in creating public awareness, moulding public opinion and finding plausible solutions. Bernard Margueritte, President of the ICF, emphasised that the mission of the media was to be a pillar of democracy and to bring people together and to move from information to interformation and from understanding to mutual understanding. 

A working session dealt with the subject ‘Media- Problem Makers or Problem Solvers?’, with Sanjoy Hzarika, Vice President of the ICF, in the chair. Participating In this session were Magnus Linklater of the London TIMES; H,K. Dua, Edltor-in-Chief of THE TRIBUNE; and Siddharth Vardhrajan. Deputy Editor of THE HINDU. Mr. Linklater raised the issue of ethics and the role of Editors. 

Mr. Harivansh, Chief Editor of the Hindi regional daily, PRABRAT KHABAR, said that the media should be accountable and should be questioned when it publishes wrong information and when it connives with big business, with the common man becoming the victim. Lady Linklater from the British House of Lords explained how the House functioned and how it looks at governance and holds the Government to account. 

The Conference took place In the beautiful auditorium of the Centre, which was filled with leading personalities from the media, bureaucracy and the civil society, who remained throughout and took an active part In the question and answer periods at the end of each session.