Media Workshop November 30 - December 2, 2008

Background

The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research ( CGIAR) and the Reuters Foundation will conducted a three-day training workshop in Portuguese for journalists from Mozambique and Angola to strengthen their news reporting skills. The media workshop took place in Maputo, where the CGIAR held its Annual General Meeting from December 1 - 5, 2008, according participating journalists a unique opportunity to interact with top agricultural researchers from all over the world.

Course Summary

This course was designed to encourage journalists to write with more confidence on a range of issues surrounding Agriculture in Africa. This was done through a mixture of expert briefings, discussions, practical writing exercises and outside visits. The course participants had the opportunity to cover a high-level ministerial roundtable discussion scheduled during the CGIAR Annual General Meeting.

Target Audience

Participants were primarily journalists from the Portuguese-speaking countries of Mozambique and Angola who write on, or are interested in developing a career in reporting on agriculture-for-development. We invite journalists with about three years' full-time working experience in the media.

Course Objectives

The focus of the course was on developing techniques for reporting agricultural-for-development issues accurately, responsibly and attractively, and on raising awareness of some of the latest developments. Journalists were encouraged to treat briefings and visits as news-gathering opportunities and report on them for their publications in real time or later as features. The course was a unique opportunity to share experience among a diverse group of journalists - participants were asked to come prepared to brief the group on the agriculture and food situation in their own countries and answer questions. We stressed:

• Sourcing and news resources
• Accurate, informed and sensitive writing
• Basic guidelines for development reporting
• Interviewing techniques

Course Duration:

The course lasted three days; November 30 to December 2nd, 2008.

Venue: Maputo , Mozambique

page last updated on December 15, 2008