I s s u e 14
- J U N E, 2 0 0 0
Getting it Right
from the Beginning
Support to 5 More
Community Radios
Sustainability
Support to 4 Radios on Air
Women's Community Radio
Network
Women Joining Forces
Within Radio
First Community Radio Contract Signed
The Art of Community
Programming
Getting it Right from the Beginning:
Feeding the Media with Suitable Professional
The Media Development Project has as its core mission to assist in
the strengthening of the human and technical capacities of the media
of Mozambique. As described in much detail in earlier issues of this
monthly newsletter, we are working to do this through development
and strengthening of twelve community radio stations (see page 2 for
details) and through building up three experimental communication
centres for the independent print press. And we do it through
support to establishment of more and stronger transmitters for Radio
Mozambique and through a range of training courses for journalists
and editors.
A last - but definitely not least important - component of our
project is to assess the journalism and communication training
capacity of the country. The immediate objective of this exercise is
to assist the Journalism Training and Education institutions in
identification of the qualifications and professional profile needed
by the Media of Mozambique on one hand, and on the other to assess
to which extend these qualifications are generated by the
universities and schools presently educating journalists and media
workers. The above analysis and subsequent recommendations will be
presented in a National Seminar organised by UNESCO once the report
is finalised.
The study will be carried out in July this year by an experienced
Nigerian Professor in Mass Communication, Mr. Matthew Mogekwu,
presently based at the University of Swaziland, in collaboration
with the Mozambican Communication Specialist, Mr. Eduardo Namburete,
presently head of the Press Office at University Eduardo Mondlane in
Maputo.
To support 'Independence of Media' a favourable legal environment is
required, which we do have in Mozambique. Furthermore access to
adequate equipment and other technical and material means is needed.
This project and other partners are working to meet this need.
Finally, to ensure 'Independence of the Media' we need strong,
capable and well educated professionals. It is our intention and
hope that the work presented above will contribute effectively
towards a further strengthening of this end.
Support
to 5 More Community Radios
May 10-11 the UNESCO Media Project hosted a workshop, where the
second wave of support to establishment and strengthening of
Community Radio Stations was launched.
Based in a scrutiny of the 18 applications received, five civic
organisations were select-ed by an independent board to qualify for
full support to establish a community radio station.
The launching workshop introduced the quali-fying groups to basic
concepts on and experi-ence with creation of 'Community Radio', the
legal framework as well as the documentation needed by UNESCO within
the coming three months: Proof of legal registration, Strategic
Action Plans & Externally Audited Accounts. Once this step has been
passed successfully, stations will be developed in: Metangula,
Milange, Dondo, Matola and Bagamoyo. It is expected that these five
stations will be on the air during first half of next year.
Sustainability
Support to 4 Radios on Air
As part of the above-mentioned second wave, institutional Support
has on the same condi-tions furthermore been granted to strengthen
the community participation through training at Radio Nova Paz in
Quelimane and Radio Encontro in Nampula, to basic furniture and
office equipment for the radio studio of the Maputo based Women's
Radio to start soon and to equipment at the 'Radio Escola Femini-na'
in Nacala. Finally support will be granted to the development
through training and pro-duction of a youth profile on Radio Moamba,
focusing on women's issues and HIV/AIDS.
Women's
Community Radio Network
Among the 18 civic organizations applying for 'Wave II' support from
UNESCO was no less than four women-oriented groups based in and
around Maputo.
The independent selection board decided to grant full support to the
General Cooperative Union (UGC), which is an organization of 230
cooperatives of which 96 % are women.
UNESCO therefore invited the other three women's organizations (Forum
Mulher, ASSOMUDE and 'Women in the Media') for a meeting on May 9 to
look at options for collaboration.
It was proposed to create a nation-wide Women's Community Radio Network,
which would among others organize ex-change of programmes on issues
of importance in women's lives like Schooling of Girls, Violence in
the family, and poverty.
Individual women or women's groups within Community Radio Stations all
over the country have already indicated their interest in being part
of this network. UNESCO initially coordinates the work, which will
shortly be taken over by the above mentioned groups.
Women
Joining Forces Within Radio
The 'Women in the Media' organization based in Maputo, has received
a 3 year OXFAM-America grant to start a women's community radio
station in Maputo.
Based upon the above mentioned meeting the three groups decided to join
forces and to cooperate closely in the realization of the ambitious
and important project. Detailed collaboration modes are presently
being discussed within the three organizations.
First
Community Radio Contract Signed
UNESCO has signed the first community radio contract with GESOM in
Chimoio for a full radio station within its 'Wave I', which also
includes community radio groups in Homoine and Cuamba.
The contract covers equipment for an on-air studio and a pre-production
studio as well as training of the Chimoio communities and Running
Costs for the first 15 months.
The
Art of Community Programming
What does it take to develop a clear community profile on your radio
and adequate programmes? This was discussed by the three 'Wave I'
Stations in a 2-week training course taking place in Beira May
22-June 2 resulting in concrete, local plans.
Media
Development Project
c/o UNESCO, P.O.Box 1397 Maputo, Mozambique
Tel. +
258.1. 498752/ 490840 Fax +258.1.498717
E-mail: unesco@mediamoz.com
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