Back home and reflecting on INPUT and El Salvador

Goodbye to Francois!

 INPUT President Judy Tam

Moderators Eren McGinnis (U.S.) and Stefano Semeria (Switzerland)

INPUT 2013 in El Salvador ended with a highlights session called "Desperately Seeking Identity" that had a focus on  racism and women. Then the moderators, with blue umbrellas, extended an invitation to next year's conference in Helsinki. They also thanked INPUT President Judy Tam, whose behind-the-scenes work contributed greatly to the success of the conference. And Jouko Salokorpi of Finland gave longtime INPUT manager Francois Smit a big farewell hug. We all wish him well in his future adventures - he will be missed!

It was an exceptional year to hold the INPUT conference in El Salvador, at a time when the country's public radio and television are quickly moving away from being the state-sanctioned media and becoming a true service for the people. I was able to stay an extra couple of days and travel a bit to get a sense of the history and culture of the country, and I was struck by the lasting resonance of the terrible civil war that devastated El Salvador from 1980 - 1992. I think a true public media will help the country heal.