Monaco, November 10th, 2007: Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury is the founder and editor of the "Weekly Blitz", a Bangladeshi newspaper, which editorial line confronts religious hatred and openly urges Islam to embrace peaceful co-existence with other religions. Mr. Choudhury has been one of the utmost advocates of peaceful dialogue with the Christian and Jewish worlds, not hesitating to put his own life into jeopardy for the sake of the cause he chose to stand for.
After a full day of intense technology and business related debates, HSH Prince Albert II reminded the 300 media leaders, that the media could not be regarded as just any industry because "freedom of expression and its corollary freedom of the press, is one of the most fundamental human rights".
Furthermore, H.S.H. Prince Albert II stressed the need for the media community to reward those who have succeeded in using the media for the greatest benefice of Mankind, such as Mr. Choudhury.
Mr. Choudhury's nomination was the result of a one-year selection and reflection conducted by the Prize Jury headed by Peace Nobel prize winner
Elie Wiesel and composed of some of the most commendable individuals in the field of journalism:
Marvin Kalb, Lecturer in Public Policy and Senior Fellow, at the Shorenstein Center,
Gwen Lister, South African-born Namibian journalist, editor of the "The Namibian", and winner of International Women's Media Foundation "Courage in Journalism Award" in 2004,
Joyce Barnathan, President & CEO of International Center for Journalists,
Monique Atlan, a most prominent figure of French TV journalism,
Franz-Olivier Giesbert, Editor Newsweekly Le Point and one of France most wellknow journalists,
Roger-Pol Droit, author-researcher at the French National Center for Scientific Research/philosopher and
John Rossant , former editor BusinessWeek Europe, Vice President Communications & Public Affairs, Publicis Groupe.
About The Monaco Media Forum
Chaired by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, the Monaco Media Forum is co-chaired by
Barry Diller, J
ames Murdoch, Maurice Levy, Emilio Azcarraga Jean, Jacques Attali, and
Silvio Scaglia. This event is a unique, invitation-only platform spanning interlocking realms of media, finance and advertising through local, regional and global perspectives, with particular emphasis on Europe and the Middle East. Featuring the most important names in media, communications and technology, the forum is an essential tool not only for seeing the future, but building it.
www.monacomediaforum.org
