Radio Silence
A look at efforts to increase access to media in the developing world
Expatriate media training, an ivory auction and a more nuanced look at South Africa
A swing through Sudan, Namibia and South Africa...
In Sudan, the UN has taken a novel approach to media training courses. They are leading a program to bring expatriates back to their home countries to teach local journalists. In this instance, the Sudanese expatriates they brought back to Sudan for a 10-day training course included Mohammed Khaled from the BBC Arabic Radio Service.
I can't find much on the 'net about this program (Called the "Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriates" run by the UNDP). In fact, the only news story seems to be the one I linked to above and the most apparent UN match dates back to 2004. But it's a program worth learning more about if only for its concept which may bridge the gap between local journalists who have on-the-ground knowledge and understanding but may benefit from fresh ideas, and foreign journalists who bring in outside experience but risk struggling to match their knowledge with how to properly implement it in an unfamiliar environment.
In Namibia, journalists have been banned from an ivory auction being held under the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Extrapolating from the first round of the auction, the ivory sale could bring in upwards of $15 million. Observers quoted in the article say the auction seems to be run well and the ivory has been obtained legally but if so it's unfortunate that journalists (and observers) have been restricted from accessing the auction itself.
And finally, in South Africa. That country has been praised here and elsewhere for a strong and comparatively well-trained media that should be used to boost journalism in surrounding countries. But here is a column suggesting the big-picture image of South Africa as a stronghold of African journalism does not tell the whole story.
Rather, the writer says, the country's media and advertising industries are divided by racial lines and black South Africans are being left behind. He takes a very business-like approach in saying that breaking down these racial barriers is the key to strengthening the country's media and marketing industries.
"Right now, South Africa's media still has an excellent reputation in global terms. So does our advertising industry and so do our marketers. But this enormous momentum is running out of fuel and starting to run on the smell of an oil rag."
In Sudan, the UN has taken a novel approach to media training courses. They are leading a program to bring expatriates back to their home countries to teach local journalists. In this instance, the Sudanese expatriates they brought back to Sudan for a 10-day training course included Mohammed Khaled from the BBC Arabic Radio Service.
I can't find much on the 'net about this program (Called the "Transfer of Knowledge Through Expatriates" run by the UNDP). In fact, the only news story seems to be the one I linked to above and the most apparent UN match dates back to 2004. But it's a program worth learning more about if only for its concept which may bridge the gap between local journalists who have on-the-ground knowledge and understanding but may benefit from fresh ideas, and foreign journalists who bring in outside experience but risk struggling to match their knowledge with how to properly implement it in an unfamiliar environment.
In Namibia, journalists have been banned from an ivory auction being held under the United Nations Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. Extrapolating from the first round of the auction, the ivory sale could bring in upwards of $15 million. Observers quoted in the article say the auction seems to be run well and the ivory has been obtained legally but if so it's unfortunate that journalists (and observers) have been restricted from accessing the auction itself.
And finally, in South Africa. That country has been praised here and elsewhere for a strong and comparatively well-trained media that should be used to boost journalism in surrounding countries. But here is a column suggesting the big-picture image of South Africa as a stronghold of African journalism does not tell the whole story.
Rather, the writer says, the country's media and advertising industries are divided by racial lines and black South Africans are being left behind. He takes a very business-like approach in saying that breaking down these racial barriers is the key to strengthening the country's media and marketing industries.
"Right now, South Africa's media still has an excellent reputation in global terms. So does our advertising industry and so do our marketers. But this enormous momentum is running out of fuel and starting to run on the smell of an oil rag."
About
A former reporter/mentor at the Daily Monitor newspaper in Uganda, Christopher gained an on-the-ground look at the role the media plays in development efforts. Previously, Christopher wrote for the New York Times. He now covers Canada for the UK's Financial Times. Views stated here are his own.
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