Regional Programs: Training
Child Rights .
Public Health (in particular HIV/AIDS) . Environment
. Gender and Social Justice . Archive
Regional Training Courses
25. Haiti, November 1996
Theme(s) Solid Waste Management : Problems and solutions for Caribbean
States
Length 4 days
Target Group
Reporters participating in the CERN network and Haitian reporters
and NGO representatives working on the issue of solid wastes management.
Objectives
Training and networking goals were integrated in the following specific
workshop objectives:
(1) To train reporters in communicating issues surrounding a key
environmental issue in island countries, the management of solid
wastes; and
(2) To provide a forum for the exchange and interchange of information
between Haitian journalists and those of the Wider Caribbean, so
as to: (a) create journalistic linkages between Haiti and the Caribbean,
(b) expose Haitian journalists to events in the region, (c) expose
Caribbean journalists to events in Haiti.
Context
The Caribbean Environmental Reporters Network (CERN) is a region-wide
association of journalists and communicators actively involved in
environmental reporting. It aims to host one regional gathering
a year on a topic of timely interest within the area of environmental
journalism. The members of CERN, as well as other interested journalists
are invited to participate in these courses. In this way, more and
more reporters are either being introduced to environmental journalism,
or are assisted in increasing their knowledge in specific areas.
The topic "Solid Waste Management: Problems and Solutions for Caribbean
States" was selected for the environmental journalism workshop of
1996.
Participants
25 participants: Dominica (1), Guyana (1), Haiti (21), Jamaica (1),
Trinidad and Tobago (1). Facilitators from Barbados, Haiti, St.
Lucia and Panos Washington. Female/ Male Ratio: 5/20.
Working Methodology and Activities
As is usual in Panos' courses for responsible reporting, media practitioners
were brought together with representatives of relevant NGOs, in
order to initiate joint information production on the theme. The
selection of the Haitian participants was implemented by Info-Services
and REPIE, while the Caribbean reporters were selected by CERN from
within its membership.
The workshop was designed as a short information seminar of 3
½ days, which would provide the participants with a rapid introduction
to environmental journalism (half a day), background information
on the issue of waste management in Haiti, as well as the wider
region (one day), and a field trip allowing for the gathering of
information for stories (one day). A total of one day was allocated
to introductions and opening statements, as well as the presentation
of reports, evaluation of the workshop and discussion of networking
and production opportunities beyond the event.
In order to gain more insight in the training and information
needs of the participants, a limited survey was carried out during
registration at the beginning of the workshop. Data were collected
regarding the specific problems which participants encounter in
their environmental journalism, their ideas for solutions, suggestions
for future activities, and themes on which one would like more information.
Documentation Used
The workshop was supported by a great volume of materials. Key materials
provided to the participants included a Panos Reader on environmental
journalism and waste management, a great number of relevant publications
compiled by REPIE, as well as several UN documents selected by CERN.
Further, Panos provided an additional selection of its publications
and the various speakers supported their introductions with fact
sheets and other information.
Results
The workshop resulted in the following:
Probably the first international and bilingual (English/Creole)
media workshop was carried out in Haiti.
- 20 Haitian and 5 Caribbean representatives from media and NGOs
were informed on solid wastes management in the region, and were
brought into contact with each other. However, due to the problems
of communication (infrastructure and language), active support
must be provided to nurture the growth of collaboration.
- Several story ideas were formulated and media productions were
initiated.
- A base of information was gathered for the design of future
activities: Table: Information derived from survey during registration.
Specific problems for environmental journalists: lack of means;
lack of "independent experts to provide information; lack of training;
understanding concepts; access to information; difficulties of translating
scientific and technical info to the public; sensibilization of
media managers; no investigative tradition; policy makers not interested
in environment; lots of problems, few solutions. Ideas for solutions:
develop relations with organizations in other countries; greater
use of networking between journalists and groups such as Panos and
CERN; awareness raising; continuing training; databases; Internet
access; regular bulletins from CERN and Panos.
Ideas for future activities:
regional conferences; deeper analysis of ecological problem in Haiti,
looking at private sector; production workshops; migration/flow
of human resources; environmental education techniques; networking
seminars; population; Marpol convention; radio series; media and
culture.
Themes on which one would like more info:
pollution; pesticides; logging; deforestation; mining; agricultural
development; indigenous peoples; role of governments; drought; water
management; poverty and environmental security; food security; biodiversity;
AIDS; ecotourism.
Evaluation by Participants
A written and plenary evaluation was carried out. An analysis is
presented below of the 22 evaluation forms which were received back.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
A number of ideas for establishing media collaboration between Haiti
and the island Caribbean were elaborated. These included:
- The production of a compilation of the media productions which
will be produced as a result of the workshop was welcomed very
much.
- Regular contact and continuing collaboration between the participants
needs to be stimulated. The organizers have an important task
here to mobilize the network, and create opportunities.
- Create opportunities for attachments to media houses: Caribbean
journalists to come to Haiti and Haitian journalists to work in
the other Caribbean countries.
- Series of media features and a regional radio series with Haitian
input can play an important role.
25. Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 12-15 November 1996.
CERN/Info-Services/Panos/ REPIE/CARIMAC Regional
Environmental Journalism Workshop "Solid Waste Management:
Problems and Solutions for Caribbean States".
The workshop was found very usefull by all but
two of the participants, who rated it usefull. When
asked what made people participate, all informed
that they had hoped to acquire more knowledge of
solid waste management or the environment in general.
Additionally, a number of participants described
that they came to gain more skills in communicating
such issues to their audiences and improve their
reporting. A few added that they were very interested
in the building of a network of fellow journalists
throughout the Caribbean.
17 participants found that their expectations
were fulfilled. Some of these mentioned that a good
understanding of the complexities of the issue had
been gained and they would like to continue learning
on this and other subjects. Others mentioned that
the workshop could have been better with more time.
2 replied that the seminar had been too general
and not specific enough on the theme, while 2 others
found that the seminar should have been more general,
since solid wastes is not the only environmental
issue. The fact that several languages were simultaneously
interpreted was found very interesting, but also
quite tiring by a number of the participants.
Regarding the allocation of time to the various
components of the workshop, 14 found that the period
for presentations had been just long enough, and
4 found it too short, 1 too long. The time allocated
to the excursion was found sufficient by 14, while
6 found it too short and nobody too long. Opportunities
for discussion and evaluation was found sufficient
by 9, insufficient by 11 and 1 found it too long.
In conclusion, the workshop was found somewhat too
short, with the elements discussion and evaluation
suffering the most and several people suggesting
more time for excursions. Some mentioned that there
was insufficient time to get to know the other participants.
According to the responses, specific programme items
that would have benefitted from more time, include
the development of story ideas (could have been
an entire day), and more systematic rounds of questions
and discussion to see if the presentations had been
fully understood. Many participants felt that they
had insufficient opportunity to pose questions to
the presenters.
The presentation of the theme was found good and
understandable by all but one of the respondents
(16). The presentations were found good by 12 and
very good by 8, while one rated them as fair. Most
people said that they were constantly learning during
these excellent presentations. Several mentioned
that the presentations had been very interactive
and supported well by visuals. Regarding these visuals,
one person found that illustrations should always
have been in both languages. It was mentioned that
the slides were very difficult to see.
The quantity of documents and material that was
distributed was found just right by 12 participants,
insufficient by 6 and too much by 1. All participants
thought these would be useful for their work after
the workshop, because good information on the environment
is hard to get and having reliable sources is most
important. It was mentioned that it would have helped
to distribute the reading materials a few days before
the workshop.
The roundtable was found useful by 17 participants,
while 1 found it not useful. Its interactivity and
sharing of knowledge and ideas was appreciated,
which brought forward several additional perspectives.
Working groups were missed, for example to develop
story ideas. There was also not enough practical
support, tips and information on techniques for
covering the topic in the various media (print,
radio and TV).
The field trip drew very high marks: it was rated
excellent by 13 participants, good by 4 and fair
by 2. It assisted the participants to assess first-hand
a number of waste management practices and carry
out some interviews. Several of local as well as
foreign participants commented how eye-opening it
had been. However, a suggestion was made that composting
should also have been included, since there are
successfull solutions in this field in Haiti.
On the use of the acquired knowledge, all participants
thought that they could put it to use in their work.
It was mentioned that the need for research had
become much clearer. Some mentioned that the seminar
had made them review their personal behaviour regarding
solid waste management.
Regarding follow-up, many mentioned the need for
technical support on "being an environmental journalist".
Introduction to additional themes was found key,
possibly initially through briefing papers. Another
suggestion was that the network that is now coming
up, should be expanded to include more representatives
of more media, especially from the provinces. The
participants from within Haiti could try to continue
with field trips.
Exchange of information through CERN, Panos and
Info-Services should also be pursued. The cost of
communication at the regional level seems prohibitive,
but hopefully these organizations can find solutions
to that problem. Some people mentioned that a newsletter
for Caribbean environmental journalists could possibly
work well.
Other suggestions for future seminars include:
fewer hours per day; more non-Haitian participants;
more representatives of community radios; more consize
management of materials and time; better food; include
the weekend in the workshop; and include more NGO
representatives.
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