Regional Programs: Training

22. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 8-12 August 1995. REPIE/Panos National Training Seminar for the Improvement of Environmental Journalism and the Strengthening of Basic Journalism Techniques.

The idea for the course came up in May 1995 and was in first instance elaborated by the Network for Professional Teaching and Environmental Action (REPIE). A six-weeks event was set up, with two weeks of 5 hour days (course work and a field trip), and four follow-up weekends (mainly field trips and production). It was intended that Panos would lead the course during the second week and provide two people: a Caribbean journalist, experienced in environment and development issues, and a Panos facilitator.

The Panos Institute decided to provide a team of five people in order to test a dynamic interactive course structure. The team represented various parts of the Caribbean, which helped a lot to stimulate questions and debate. In addition to thinking academically about issues, participants were better able to grasp the practical realities of the Caribbean region.

John Maxwell of Jamaica, an independent journalist in radio and print and lecturer at CARIMAC, provided most of training in basic skills and techniques, as well as in environmental journalism. Jean Michel Caroit, Caribbean correspondent for Le Monde and RFI, France, acted as an essential link, not only because of his vast experience in covering Haitian events, but also because of his understanding of the culture of the people. He focused on the importance of finding and using sources of information and enhancing the credibility of local news reports. Terry Ally of the Caribbean Environmental Reporters Network (CERN), brought in practical experience on methodologies of environmental reporting and illustrated the benefits of networking among journalists on environmental issues. Marjan de Bruin of CARIMAC kept a close eye on the group dynamics during the training course, and gave continued guidance to the other panelists. Jan Voordouw of the Panos Institute co-ordinated the running of the entire training exercise, and brought into focus the wider perspective of the Caribbean environment.

These resource persons came with a preliminary programme fixed, concentrating on providing Caribbean examples and case studies. However, once the course started it was quickly realised that some back-tracking was needed especially on basic tenents of journalism. It was therefore necessary to adapt to the immediate needs of the journalists and lay a foundation in basic journalism before starting to introduce environmental journalism.

The major learning need of the course participants was to organise the wealth of information available and write succinct and attractive leads. This is indispensible for turning information into news and creatively capturing the attention of the audience. The second learning need was an introduction to environment - understanding the linkages, balance and the impacts that development can have on the human population and its environment. For this, participants were put in 7 groups of 5-6 people, to design an Agenda 21 - programme for their communities. This exercise aimed at creating all the angles for an environmental story.

In most sessions there was a brief introduction giving the outline of the subject, followed by small group discussion, brainstorming and practical exercises. Experiences of the small groups were reported to the plenary. This gave invaluable information on the areas in which training ought to be focused.

Participants benefitted from a different style of teaching than they are used to. The productions of the participants were used as the basis of discussion. Many, being more used to straightforward teaching, had sometimes the tendency to personalize the contributions of their peers. However, during the course of the week, such contributions were more and more accepted as mere examples. Participants became more aware that, in general, there is not only one solution, but a whole set of possibilities for making attractive productions. This was also based on the sometimes diverging opinions and "own styles" of the Panos team members.

It became very clear that, before specialty areas of journalism are taught, such as environmental, economic or political journalism, courses in basic journalism need to be provided. There is a great need to understand how to gather news, to learn techniques of interviewing, sourcing and verifying the accuracy and reliability of information. Media practitioners need to improve their writing and production skills and their developing the "best" story. They want to learn more research skills, and techniques for turning information into headline news, among other things.

The course also showed that journalists should be taught basic environmental, ecological and sustainable development principles, and be exposed to the variety of these issues in Haiti and the Wider Caribbean. After having gained the basic understanding, journalists will be better able to learn how to handle environment and development information.

The course further demonstrated the enormous hunger for subject material which should be made available in Creole and in French. This material has to be produced locally, as well as international material should be made available, adapted from experiences elsewhere in the region.