In a rapidly globalising world, increasingly dominated by large media conglomerates driven by a corporate agenda, the voice of the poor and marginalized is at risk of going unheard. Yet, no process of development can be sustainable without bringing voices and views from the villages and the streets together with those from the boardrooms and the summits. Ever since its inception, over 40 years ago, IPS has strived to act as an information bridge between the local and the global, and between the expert and the layperson. We combine the credibility of a professional news agency and strong penetration of traditional media markets, with a clear focus on the South, and strong relationships with civil society and the international community.