Regional Programs: Training
Child Rights .
Public Health (in particular HIV/AIDS) . Environment
. Gender and Social Justice . Archive
Regional Training Courses
15.
El Salvador, June 1993
Theme(s) Mass media awareness for NGOs.
Length 3 days.
Target Group
Members of FUNPROCOOP and other local NGOs.
Objectives
To increase understanding of the functioning of media among NGOs and enhance NGO capacity to collaborate with media in the protection of the environment.
Context
Seminar was incorporated in the "Tierra Viva" program of FUNPROCOOP, a educational and communication programme to promote organic agriculture in El Salvador.
Participants
14 participants, representing FUNPROCOOP (7), 6 other NGOs (6), 1 radio journalist.
Female/ Male Ratio: N/A.
Working Methodology and Activities
Lecture-style presentations, panel discussions and small working groups (first day). Field trips with participants in 3 groups with as outcome press releases (second day). Writing press releases, critiquing and evaluations (third day).
Documentation Used
Samples of press releases.
Papers by: FUNPROCOOP ("Tierra Viva" program), CESTA, Pan para el Mundo, REPAC.
Results
Six months after course, Panos was informed that some participants used what they learned in the workshop, as part of the peace process.
Some participants skipped the second day (field trip) to attend to own work.
Evaluation by Participants
Many participants felt that objectives were only half met. Most presentations were superficial. Three days was too long for a seminar of this nature. At the same time however, more material should be treated: exploring other forms of writing besides press releases (eg for magazines and newsletters).
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
A future seminar could forgo the field trips and have participants come prepared with writing samples that could be critiqued and imrpoved upon during the course of the seminar.
Better three days from 8 am - noon.
More handouts needed, to take home.
15. El Salvador, 28-30 June 1993. FUNPROCOOP/Panos
National Seminar: "Media Communication Techniques for
NGOs".
The idea for this seminar was born in 1991 when the
Executive Director of the Salvadorean Foundation for
the Promotion of Cooperatives (FUNPROCOOP) visited Panos
in Washington. FUNPROCOOP's goal is to promote institutional
linkages for improved training and use of human and
material resources. Similarly, Panos promotes collaboration
between media and NGOs through training, networking
and material development. The initial idea was to organize
a seminar on media awareness for the members of FUNPROCOOP
as well as other NGOs.
Seven participants were FUNPROCOOP employees, the
majority were not based in the San Salvador office,
but rather throughout the country. Six other NGOs were
represented (by six individuals), drawn exclusively
from the development community, including faith-based
organizations. Most participants were public relations/outreach
officers. There was one working journalist representing
a popular radio station who participated as well.
Seminar presenters were members of REPAC El Salvador
and the Salvadorean Association of Environmental Communicators
(ASCE).
A central part of the seminar was field trips, conducted
on the second day. Participants were divided into three
groups and each group visited a different site. One
group visited a dump in the neighbouring town of Santa
Tecla, where days before a "garbage-slide" had entombed
scavengers, including a number of young children. Another
group visited FUNPROCOOP's Agricultural Training School.
The third visited a cooperative supported by FUNPROCOOP.
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