Water News Services

Information is power

It is often said that “information is power”. Like many such expressions, this one is more evidently true in the negative. Lack of information is disabling. Without current information (news) of what is happening in other places, water professionals are isolated and ineffective. Water news services therefore perform an important empowering role to complement other knowledge sharing mechanisms. They serve also to keep the wider media community abreast of developments and so help to raise the public profile of the water sector.

The joint IRC/WSSCC news publications Source Weekly (electronic) and Source Bulletin (print) and their French and Spanish sisters have become a primary source of water news for many professionals in the North and the South. Through the Water News Services Working Group efforts are being made by 94 members to help local initiatives as both news disseminators and news gatherers.

Expanding news networking

At WIS6, the IRC editors and the WSSCC reported enthusiasm for expanding news networking, including extension into other channels such as radio. A discussion group met during the Summit to consolidate experiences and look at the pros and cons of different communication channels.

A prime focus of attention was the News Service Resource Guide, developed by the Group as a tool to help anyone interested in starting or running a news service. The outcome of the various discussions has been reported to the Yahoo! Group and can be read at the Groups’ web site. Essentially, it shows an enthusiasm for more and more local initiatives, with knowledge and experience shared through the WNS Group, and with mutual support among Group members.
Anyone involved in, or considering a water news service is encouraged to sign up to the Yahoo! Group by completing a profile.

Spend time and resources on the synergy of information technology and water

Sam Pitroda, Director of WorldTel, shared an experience from the time when he was the head of information technology and the rural communication programme in the Rajiv Gandhi government in India in the mid 1980s. He blocked a request to import US$ 40m of drilling equipment, when he found out that there was no information about how many drilling rigs were available and where they were in the country. Today, the Internet is available in local languages. Unfortunately, said Mr. Pitroda, information is power that not many are willing to share, especially in the developing world.

Mr. Pitroda made his presentation through a video conference from his home in the USA.
He urged participants at the Water Information Summit, when arrived home, to spend time and resources on the synergy of information technology and water. Sam Pitroda also asked them to get this message across to their governments.