Declaration for launching the media cooperative “Ivy”
Launching a new grand journey of hope
The confrontation on the Korean Peninsula is escalating to its most dangerous extreme since the Korean War. Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercises in accordance with “Operation Plan 5015” which assumes a preemptive attack toward North Korea and its following regime collapse are under operation in the biggest ever scale. In response, North Korea has proclaimed a containment offensive. A nuclear war could break out any time on the Korean Peninsula. Thus, the destiny of Korean people is at the crossroads of war and peace.
The daily livelihoods in Korean society are also hardly any better. The young generation who are supposed to be full of hope for future calls South Korea ‘hell’ and look for ways out. Young Koreans are dividing classes into ‘earthen spoon’ and ‘golden spoon.’ What happened to Korean society? What caused such a cruel society where a handful of people rule over the rest by force and not the rule of law but money reign over people? The majority of people have no expectation for politics any more. The media is hated even more than politics. People say there is no hope.
The media cooperative “Ivy” is launching among the gloomy situation. As the old saying goes, people can bravely move forward when there is a hope for a better future despite difficulties of today. This is why the media cooperative is organized. With the belief that “media should always advocate for hope,” we aim to create a new media which can provide a light of hope in our times plagued with rages and sighs.
Our new media will be built on the spirit of cooperative. Of course we are fully aware of the fact that a cooperative cannot be a silver bullet to heal everything, in particular, in a sterile world where even the basic ideas of social economy and shared economy are hardly rooted. Nevertheless, we will continue to do our best to observe the principle of “shared ownership and democratic operation” with the belief that it is an imperative principle of our times.
First, we will continue to strive for making “Ivy” the cooperative of the members, by the members, and for the members. The cooperative members will be the first beneficiaries and the most active participants in its every project including producing and distributing news, delivering education and publishing.
Second, we commit to be always with the people in the fields. As a media, “Min-Plus” will always be on the site where yesterday’s life is ingrained, today’s struggle is taking place, and tomorrow’s hope is shared. With the belief that any news which are not closely rooted in the field are nothing more than empty talk, “Min-Plus” promises to be there with the people including workers and farmers, whenever they are living, struggling, laughing, and crying.
Third, we will walk in solidarity with other media which are dedicated to writing straightly with reason despite all the difficulties and pressures. Today the law of the jungle is prevailing in the media ecosystem of Korea. The survival seems to be the sole raison d'etre for the majority of media. However, there are our brother media struggling for democracy, better livelihoods of the public, peace, reunification, autonomy and eco-friendly life. We will continue to build and enhance network and solidarity with these true media groups with the aim of truly representing the people’s needs and fulfilling our mandates as a public good through various ways including strategic alliance and joint planning for feature stories.
Fourth, we dedicate ourselves to enhancing international network through media and ultimately contributing to the realization of peace not only on the Korean Peninsula but also across the world. We will deliver our stories to other progressive media and political circles globally and introduce fair views of the third world to Korean readers by avoiding simply duplicating the West-oriented news. In addition, we will promote active personal exchanges of journalists.
The spring is coming. Spring sunshine softly strokes young tender branches leaning over a wall and the breeze on our face also deliver the smell of spring. No winter lasts forever. The spring coming to the world and mind will be much more beautiful and warmer.
As an ivy which drops all of its leaves and lies lowest in the winter but prepares spring earlier than anyone else and reaches out its hands over the wall as soon as spring comes, the media cooperative Ivy and its members will continue to do our best to become the first messenger of spring for bringing with a new spring of democracy and reunification and creating a world where people can live with dignity in peace and friendship.
March 9, 2016
In dreaming of a lasting peace and reunification on the Korean Peninsula,
Members of the media cooperative Ivy