Regional Programs: Training
Child Rights .
Public Health (in particular HIV/AIDS) . Environment
. Gender and Social Justice . Archive
Regional Training Courses
12.
Jamaica, July 1991 (NGO course)
Theme(s) Terrestrial environmental issues: soil erosion; deforestation; pesticides and pesticides management; and waste disposal.
Media access by environmentalists and scientists.
Length 1 week.
Target Group
Representatives of NGOs and academia.
Objectives
To teach environmentalists how to effectively access the media.
To improve writing skills when addressing a wider audience.
To sensitize to the necessity of giving in-depth coverage of scientific research in order to foster public debate on critical environmental issues.
Context
Continuation of the CARIMAC/Panos project on environmental issues and responsible reporting.
This course compliments last year's marine issues focus with a concentration on land-based issues.
Participants
7 environmentalists and scientists.
Female/ Male Ratio: 2/5.
Working Methodology and Activities
Format similar to 1990 NGO course. The group had 2 1/2 days of instruction and practice in writing press releases and short feature stories, followed by two days of critique and review with the journalists and a final day for evaluation and follow-up discussions.
The two courses merged in the final 2 1/2 days to review all the media products and to share work and course experiences.
Documentation Used
Papers and resource material on terrestrial environmental issues. Extensive set of critique and evaluation forms: for feature articles; personality profiles; environmental articles; environmental radio programmes; environmental TV programmes.
Results
Feature articles were produced, based on interviews among the participants.
Evaluation by Participants
Interaction with other environmentalists was very useful (different functions, common goals). Techniques learned gives confidence in writing. Became aware of importance of choosing an audience and using simple language. Learned to concentrate on facts, not emotional pleas. Greater respect for journalists.
There was not enough interaction between the two courses and, as experts, the participants were not consulted by the journalists.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Teamworking between journalists and environmentalists should continue (there were some short-term recommendations).
Follow up activities for environmentalists with more media techniques, fine-tuning skills, etc.
To develop a real cadre of Caribbean environmental journalists, such courses should be seen as the beginning of a process of permanent education, a long term matter.
More course material should be provided.
12. Kingston, Jamaica, 21-27 July 1991. CARIMAC/Panos
Course for NGOs "Media Techniques for Reaching the Public".
The journalists course started with a discussion of
the role of the reporter in educating the public about
environmental issues. This session was structured around
a series of questions raised in the 1990 workshop: the
WHY of environmental reporting, including such concerns
as commitment, neutrality and education versus information.
The session generated some rather lively discussion.
The next day and a half was spent listening to a series
of experts present the workshop themes. The reporters
were given supplemental materials and time for personal
interviews during this time.
The following two days were spent on field trips.
First, the University of the West Indies' sewage treatment
plant was visited to look at waste water management.
The second outing was to a coffee plantation in the
Blue Mountains where the reporters observed deforestation,
pesticide use and soil erosion. The third and fourth
trips visited national parks: one to see hurricane damage
and reforestation efforts, the other to see the encroachment
of slash and burn agriculture, commercial logging and
severe erosion.
After these field trips, journalists were provided
with transportation for five days to conduct interviews,
filming, photos, etc. Then two days were allocated for
editing their materials and producing a media products.
Although many participants complained about time constraints
and tight deadlines, everyone completed his/her products
on time.
The first day for critique and review was disrupted
completely by a visit to Jamaica by Nelson and Winnie
Mandela. Because of all the celebrations and activities
surrounding their visit, essentially a day of work was
lost, which was made up in longer days later in the
course. The environmentalists joined the journalists
at this point, and the groups were mixed in such a way
that no one had to critique own work.
The environmentalists course started with an initial
discussion on communication between environmental experts
and journalists, led by a Jamaican journalist with 40
years experience. This was complemented by a videotaped
discussion on the cultural perspectives of environmental
reporting, garnered from sessions in the 1990 courses.
Participants were given instruction on the basics
of news writing, and they practiced writing news releases.
On the second day, the work was reviewed and training
was provided on producing short feauture articles based
on interviews. The third day was spent finishing the
feature stories, which were copied for the critique
sessions with the journalist course.
The final day of both courses entailed the last of
the review sessions and a long evaluation discussion.
Certificates were handed out.
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