Regional Programs: Training
Child Rights .
Public Health (in particular HIV/AIDS) . Environment
. Gender and Social Justice . Archive
Regional Training Courses
7. Barbados, November 1990
NGO/media networking and collaboration for environmental reporting.
Length 2 days.
Target Group
25 participants from local TV, radio and print media, and environmental
NGOs.
Objectives
To sensitize local media to the need for reporting environmental
issues and to utilize NGOs as sources of information.
To sensitize NGOs to media needs and develop their capacity to
effectively bring environmental issues to the attention of the media.
To develop closer links between media and NGOs.
To review the CCA's strategies for better communication of environmental
issues.
Context
CCA and Panos collaboration following the January 1990 seminar.
CAMWORK and CARIMAC became involved.
Participants
Representatives: 11 from NGOs, 8 from media (print and radio), 5
from government agencies. Female/ Male Ratio: 10/14
Working Methodology and Activities
There were 3 resource people (from Panos, CCA and CAMWORK). The
workshop combined lectures and panel discussion with case studies
and a field trip on local environmental issues. Equal time was provided
to NGOs and media to present their views as to why there isn't more
or better coverage of environmental issues. The field trip was utilized
to illustrate "newsworthiness". Subsequently, NGOs were
trained, in small group sessions, in the development of news releases
and radio features from their news items.
Activities: After introductory remarks and key-note address, the
various viewpoints of media and NGOs were developed through panel
discussions. The field trip (to Graeme Hall Swamp) was prepared
through an IUCN slide show on mangroves. After the field trip, a
mini-course was provided to NGOs by the media people.
The final sessions reviewed CCA's strategy document that is the
basis for its future work in education and communication on environmental
issues.
Documentation Used
Background paper on the rationale of the seminar, programme brochure,
speaker papers.
Results
Both participants and organizers agreed that the objectives were
met with resounding success. The level of active participation and
enthusiasm was high throughout the seminar and many people commented
on how much they learned about "the other side". The seminar got
good TV coverage, and there were a number of radio and print interviews
with the organizers and several participants.
Evaluation by Participants
Evaluation forms were distributed. Their analysis shows that the
participants gained new insights into NGO-media interactions and
the need for more environmental reporting.
Lessons Learned and Recommendations
Lack of active media participation is a problem in NGO/media seminars
since journalists can't always dedicate the time and editors don't
always see the value; therefore, journalists tend to attend only
certain sessions. In seminars strictly for journalists, there tends
to be a better participation.
One main point remains the development of "professional working
relations" between NGOs and media.
7. Christ Church, Barbados, 13-14 November 1990. CCA/Camwork/Panos/
CARIMAC Workshop "The Media, NGOs and the Environment".
"Thank you for opening the doors on how to access
the media for us" (statement by NGO representative).
"Panos is a very interesting institution, which
does some of the most useful work in the field of environmental
awareness today" (Yves Renard, CANARI).
This national seminar was another initiative in the
joint programme of CCA, CARIMAC and Panos. The Caribbean
Association of Media Workers (CAMWORK) was also a partner
in this workshop. CAMWORK, launched in Jamaica in 1986,
is a body representing professional journalists across
the region. It aims at fostering high standards of journalism
and protecting the best interest of media workers and
the media profession.
NGO representatives came very well prepared to present
case studies and their views. The Barbados Environmental
Association provided a history of a gully clean-up and
information on a radio competition symposium on the
environment. Representatives of the Bellairs Research
Institute highlighted campaigns to enforce a fishing
and sea egg ban, as well as research on pesticide pollution
in coastal species and ecosystems. Further, the Barbados
National Trust initiated discussion on the renewing
of Trafalgar Square and the East Coast development controversy.
Other examples were put forward by NGO representatives,
and, in general, they were not pleased with the quality
or quantity of media coverage. Media participants responded
with emphasizing their own constraints as to why they
cannot always cover every campaign or event. Conditions
of work often inhibit their ability to cover environmental
issues, even when journalists are willing to. An example
mentioned was the dress code that prohibits women from
wearing pants or shoes that would be adequate for going
to the field. The session ran overtime with the debate.
The representatives of the media focused on what makes
an issue newsworthy and how decisions are made in media
houses. The CAMWORK representative explained the cultural
and political sovereignty in media houses. The need
to formalize professional relationships between NGOs
and media, as well as techniques for reaching media
managers were highlighted by the representative of CBU.
Further, the Barbados Association of Journalists brought
forward examples of non-formal media and schools. The
ensuing debate generated ideas for sharing experiences
and information, and effective media access.
The field trip was led by the Ministry of Agriculture.
The Graeme Hall Swamp is being considered for development
and this is an issue of hot debate in Barbados, however,
based on little information. Upon returning to the Conference
room, there was a long discussion about how the press
could make a story out of the issue and how they could
keep it alive by looking at it from various angles,
despite the lack of any hard facts from officials.
The seminar ended with a practical media awareness
mini-course for NGOs (including the provision of a media
contact list) and the critiquing of CCA's strategy document.
Despite the somewhat accusatory tone of the NGO presentations,
everyone agreed that there had been open, honest debate
which indicated a basic respect for each other. All
participants were very eager to have the list of media
contacts and there were promises of "you'll be
hearing from me soon" as people departed the hall.
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