Dear OurMedia members,
Many of you will have heard from the IAMCR list that Ole Prehn passed away last night, after suffering a cerebral haemorrhage some days ago. He was an important scholar in community media studies and a tireless worker in his capacity as Secretary General of the International Association for Media and Communication Research. He was also a friend of many on this list. 

I have copied Annabelle Srebreny's email below for those of you that are not on the IAMCR list so that you may contribute to the website memorial if you wish. Annabelle's email highlights Ole's talents as an administrator. Let's take time to also reflect on his work as a community media researcher and how he has helped us all through his ideas and generous intellect.

Ellie. 


Dear Friends and Colleagues:

I am very sorry to have some shocking and sad news to share with you.

Our dear Secretary-General Ole Prehn had a major cerebral haemorrhage
some days ago. He was operated on, remained in a coma in hospital but
tragically he died last night.

Ole has been a tireless supporter of IAMCR and was voted in once again
as secretary-general just this summer.  In October, on behalf of the
Executive Board of IAMCR, he and John Downing visited our colleagues in
Mexico City to see the 2009 conference venue and to discuss conference
details. He then spent some time in his beloved house in Spain and only
returned to Denmark a few weeks ago.

I know that you will all be deeply saddened by this news. I have sent
our condolences to his wife Jytte Smedegaard and to his colleagues at
Aalborg University.  Anyone who wishes to send personal condolences may
contact me for the address. I have requested details of the funeral
arrangements.

I had already set in motion the search for a temporary Secretary
General. The Executive Board of IAMCR wishes to co-opt Hopeton Dunn in
Jamaica to undertake this role temporarily until the Mexico conference.
We are grateful to him for undertaking this sudden additional role on
behalf of IAMCR.

Ole was a light-touch administrator, guiding the association with a good
memory and good humour.  He was committed to the humanistic ideals of
university life, to progressive values and applied scholarship. He told
a good joke, enjoyed a good time and delighted in the cosmopolitanism of
IAMCR. The association will miss his dedication and support and we will
miss a generous and gentle colleague.

We will plan a commemorative session at the Mexico conference and will
set aside a space on the website to gather memories and stories about
Ole. Please see the website for further details.

With deep sadness,

Annabelle Sreberny
President, IAMCR