Training for Journalists from Developing Countries (5 full days)

Keywords: Information, standards, journalists, media, protection, DPI

The aim of this training was to provide an opportunity for journalists from developing countries to gain experience in writing about international issues, and to facilitate the sharing of experience, best practices and networking between participants and their Geneva-based colleagues. Participants were taught how to access UN information and to increase their knowledge about the international standards that protect journalists, as well as the mechanisms available to make them effective. It also aimed at providing a better understanding of information networks.

Five sessions provided information on:

1. UN norms and mechanisms protecting journalists
2. How to ask Questions and How to give answers in radio and television interviews
3. Media and journalists in armed conflict or in crisis context
4. Freedom of information and journalists’ networks
5. Information and development

Several visits and meetings were organized with various media-related stakeholders, enabling the participants to obtain information, to share their experiences and to learn from each other.

• Visit and presentation by: Reuters, Tribune de Genève (newspaper), Télévision Suisse Romande, Radio Suisse Romande
• Visit to the UN Department of Public Information, DPI (Presentation of the DPI and the UN information resources for journalists. DPI Press briefing, visit to cyberspace)
• Meeting with UN accredited journalists (ACANU)
• Presentation and reception by the Swiss Press Club

All the participants made a one-day internship in various media: Le Temps (newspaper), Télévision Suisse Romande (national television) and Radio Suisse Romande (national radio). It gave them the opportunity to practice with local journalists and to learn from each other.

During the week of the 15^th to 19^th July participants wrote feature articles for the Online news covering different themes from the World Civil Society Forum.

The main problem they faced was translation. The trainers found it very difficult to alternate constantly between French and English, and this caused them to lose both time and energy.

One of the participants described his own feelings and impressions of the training:

it broke the ice towards the UN status as an unreachable tool to be used by journalists and civil society in general. The training offered a unique opportunity to meet other journalists and to hear about their working environment from all over the world. They realized they were not alone in their struggle for freedom of information, despite all the economical and social aspects forced on them by media owners. It proved journalism can be effective no matter (whether) one works for a big paper or not. It showed that is possible to communicate with the world through independent means.

Training coordinator for journalists from developing countries

Abdullatif Fakhfakh (Vérité Action / Mandat International)

Assistants

Carla Ruta, Victor Frimpong & Anne Trehern (Mandat International).

Presenters and trainers

• Antoine Maurice (Tribune de Genève)
• Christophe Chaudet (Télévision Suisse Romande)
• Edouard Markievicz, Edourad Girardet, Marion Canute (Media Action International)
• Elena Ponomareva (UNDPI)
• George Gordon-Lennox (Reporters without Borders)
• Guy Mettan (Geneva Press Club)
• Juan Pekmez (Infosud)
• Keith Hindell (UNA – UK, former BBC journalist)
• Ram Etwareea (Le Temps)
• Robert J. Evans, Karen Iley, Véronique Nanchen, Helen Williams (Reuters)
• Sylvie Lambelet (Radio Suisse Romande)
• Tomasz Sudel (ACANU)
• Véronique Taveau (UNHCHR)
• The participants were journalists from developing countries with 2-10 years work experience
• Fatoumata Oumarou Hama (Niger)
• Godefroid Bwiti Lumisa (Democratic Republic of Congo)
• Kamel Bouzeboudjen (Algeria)
• Ronnate Asirwatham (Sri Lanka)
• Saleem Al-Habash (Palestine)
• Souleymane Mhamane Cisse (Niger)
• Ali Shaukat (Pakistan)
• Amina Iro Moustapha (Niger)
• Charlemagne Zannou (Burkina Faso)
• Edwin Perez (Bolivia)
• Eliazar Mafuru (Tanzania)
• Franck Kinninvo (Benin)
• Franck Kodbaye (Chad)
• Marcelo Netto Rodrigues (Brazil)
• Mohamed Si Belkacem (Algeria)

You may contact the training coordinator: Abdullatif Fakhfakh, fakhfakh@hotmail.com