THE media landscape in Guyana is expected to undergo a paradigm shift in advocacy and gate-keeping when the Independent Media Association of Guyana IMAG comes on stream. The new body is set for launching at 18:30 hours tomorrow at the Duke Lodge in Kingston.
IMAG, the brain child of a group of professional media practitioners from across the media spectrum, has set as part of its core mandate:
(a) collaborating with media workers in promoting professional and ethical standards, safeguarding and promoting the rights and privileges of the media in all Guyana
(b) respecting and promoting freedom of information, media freedom, and the independence of the media in Guyana
(c) protecting and advancing the interest of media workers at the national, regional and international levels, through the exchange of information, training, and other interventions that may be deemed necessary from time to time, and
(d) promoting greater understanding of media issues through research, seminars and conferences, and promoting co-operation and collaboration among local, regional and international organisations with similar interest in media.

IMAG will be open to any Guyanese media practitioner, including journalists, photographers, videographers, technicians, administrative support staff, IT media officers, and new media practitioners, public relations practitioners and media marketers, and other media workers operating in and out of Guyana, whose bona fides can be established to the satisfaction of the executive of the IMAG.

The Interim Steering Committee, which is coordinating the launch, will open a register for expression of interest in membership at the launch ceremony and will move swiftly towards elections of the first executive shortly.