Webster (David James) papers, 1989-2001

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Summary

Title:
David James Webster papers
Dates:
1989-2001
Creators:
Webster, David, 1931-
Abstract:
Correspondence, reports, and memoranda, relating to post-communist era radio and television broadcasting in Eastern Europe.
Extent:
6 manuscript boxes (2.5 Linear Feet)
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], David James Webster papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Background

Scope and content:

The David James Webster papers consist of correspondence, reports, and memoranda relating to post-communist era radio and television broadcasting in Eastern Europe. Webster created the Trans-Atlantic Dialogue on European Broadcasting in 1988 to realize his goal of introducing democratic ways of broadcasting in former Soviet bloc countries by helping them enact new legislation and establish new infrastructure with regulatory bodies. The papers are focused on Webster's activities with this organization, though some records of the Trans-Atlantic Dialogue on Broadcasting and the Information Society are also included.

Conferences, programs, seminars, symposiums, projects, and official missions to different countries were the tools Webster used to accomplish the goals of Trans-Atlantic Dialogue. Of these tools, the hypothetical seminars, based on role-playing and free and unscripted discussion by participants of issues involved in the democratization of broadcasting, are well documented in the TRANS-ATLANTIC DIALOGUE ON EUROPEAN BROADCASTING OFFICE FILE.

Of all the projects undertaken by Webster through Tran-Atlantic Dialogue, the Democracy Audit Project is particularly well documented in the papers. Its objective was to monitor the level of freedom, independence, and openness of the media, and the status of human rights. It was carried out by setting up local institutions whose role was to act as watchdogs.

Most of the financial support for Trans-Atlantic Dialogue was provided by the Phare and Tacis Democracy Programme, which was started by the European Union in 1992 to promote democracy in the former Soviet bloc countries through economic and political reforms. In addition to material in the TRANS- ATLANTIC DIALOGUE ON EUROPEAN BROADCASTING OFFICE FILE, this organization's activities are documented in files printed from the COMPUTER DISK.

Webster also had close contact with the Soros Foundation, which initiated and supported openness in society through independent organizations established in particular countries, such as Albania, Belarus, Crimea, and Croatia. Webster's relationship with this organization is documented in the SOROS FOUNDATION FILE.

The FILE ON ORGANIZATIONS relates to the activities of various organizations promoting democracy and human rights, the situation in Macedonia, and the development of independent media.

The David Webster papers were acquired in 2003.

Biographical / historical:
Date Event
1931 January 11
Born, Taunton, England
?
Attended Taunton School and Ruskin College, Oxford
1953
Joined British Broadcasting Corporation in the World Services News Department
1958
Moved to British Broadcasting Corporation television
1967-1969
Editor, British Broadcasting Corporation television public program, Panorama
1970
Assistant Head of the Television Current Affairs Group
1971-1976
Representative of British Broadcasting Corporation in the United States
1974-1975
Chairman of the International Council of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
1977-1981
Member, Board of Management, British Broadcasting Corporation
Director of Public Affairs, British Broadcasting Corporation
1981-1985
Resident director, British Broadcasting Corporation in the United States while retaining his seat on the Management Board in England
1985-1987
Resident Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace
1986
Returned to England to become Controller, Information Services and concurrently, Acting Secretary of the British Broadcasting Corporation
1987-1992
Director, Annenberg International Disaster Communications Project
Senior Fellow, Annenberg Washington Program on Communication Policy Studies
1988-
Founder and Chairman, Trans-Atlantic Dialogue on European Broadcasting
2003 August 6
Died, Washington, D.C.
Acquisition information:
Acquired by the Hoover Institution Library Archives in 2004.
Physical location:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives
Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Aparna Mukherjee
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using ArchivesSpace on 2023-11-01 16:25:05.665819

Access and use

Restrictions:

The collection is open for research; materials must be requested in advance via our reservation system. If there are audiovisual or digital media material in the collection, they must be reformatted before providing access.

Terms of access:

For copyright status, please contact the Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], David James Webster papers, [Box no., Folder no. or title], Hoover Institution Library & Archives.

Location of this collection:
Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford University
Stanford, CA 94305-6003, US
Contact:
(650) 723-3563
hooverarchives@stanford.edu
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