I s s u e 15
- J U L Y, 2 0 0 0
Reaching More
Corners of the Country
Wave II Moving Forward
Getting the CC Together
Journalism
Communication Education Review
Preparing Phase II
 Reaching
More Corners of the Country
A strong and capable Public Service Broadcaster broadcasting working
in the most important national languages is the most important
medium - also - in country like Mozambique. For the UNESCO Media
Development Project, with our priority project objectives of
ensuring decentralization in order to facilitate a broad-based
participation in the central democratic processes, we are therefore
very pleased to be able to turn project plans for support to Radio
Mozambique into reality.
In our Project Document the Immediate Objective 10.2 reads as
follows: "Tree Repeaters for Radio Moçambique provided and
installed".
As our project started active implementation long after the
preparation of the initial project document, the mentioned repeaters
had in the meantime been provided through other channels. The
tri-partite structure above the project therefore proposed to have
an independent study carried out to identify the new priority needs,
in order for the project to be able to assist Radio Mozambique in
its efforts to reach as large parts of the population as possible -
effectively.
On the basis of this national assessment, the priority development needs
identified were in Gaza province. Gaza is one of the most vulnerable
areas of the country - as amply demonstrated through the recent
floods, as well as in terms of food security in general - and
therefore in special need of relevant, local programming. At the
same time, however, it is situated so close to the national capital
that when prioritizing for the vast national territory of
Mozambique, Gaza has up until now for 'local programmes' been
serviced by Radio Mozambique's Maputo-based 'Inter Provincial
Service'. This should be seen in light of the fact that the other
eight provinces have their own Provincial Delegation producing up to
21 hours of local Public Service Radio.
UNESCO therefore decided to follow the recommendations of the
consultant, which means that during the coming 9-12 month period we
will collaborate with Radio Mozambique in establishing in the
Xai-Xai area (capital of Gaza province) an AM transmitter. Radio
Mozambique will through its own efforts at the same time establish
the other needed components for a fully-fledged provincial
delegation for Gaza. At the same time an FM transmitter will ensure
that the national radio channel in Portuguese can be heard by many
more people in Gaza.
WAVE
II MOVING FORWARD
A total of 20 volunteers of the wave II community Radio (CR) stations
from Niassa, Zambézia, Sofala and Maputo provinces will attend a two
weeks course on “How to start and Manage a Community Radio” in
Maputo, from 10 to 21 July.
The course is organized by the Media Project in collaboration with NSJ’s
Tailor-made Training and Consultation Services and will focus on the
concepts of community participation and mechanisms to create a
sustainable CR.
The participants represent five non-governmental organizations with
in-depth community roots that submitted Community Radio applications
to the Media Project and were selected by the Independent Selection
Board.
The five community oriented organizations are: Amanhecer-Coop
(Metangula), PSZ (Milange), ASSERCO (Dondo), UGC (Bagamoyo) and LEMO
(Matola), and each of them will be sending four participant to
course.
The Media Project earlier organized a similar course in Maputo, from 7 to
18 February 200, for participants coming from among other, Institute
for Social Communication, and the communities that UNESCO is working
with.
GETTING
THE CC TOGETHER
The Media Project organized two days workshop with the Communication
Centre (CC) groups in Beira on 3-4 June 2000
Following the conclusions and recommendations of the worshop, the three
groups finalized the Strategic Action Plans and submitted these to
the Media Project for comments and finalization.
The next step is to sign the Activity Financing Contracts with the
legally established Associations and later on provide the CC with
more equipment, such as powerful computers with Internet access,
laser printers, photocopiers and other.
JOURNALISM
/COMMUNICATION EDUCATION IN REVIEW
A study on reforming and upgrading journalism and communication education
and training is being carried out by the Media Project during July.
In terms of the Project’s Immediate Objective 6, the study shall come up
with recommendations to “meet training needs and requirements of
independent and pluralistic media in the country”.
The study, being headed by an experienced communication specialist,
includes meeting with the national media to identify core
qualification needs of the sector today, as well as consultations
with institutions responsible for long-term training programmes.
PREPARING
PHASE II
The Media Project organized during the first weeks of July a series
of consultative meeting with different stakeholders in preparation
of the draft project document for phase II.
The meeting were organized as follow-up to the Consultative Meeting of
March 30, during and other main stakeholders a first draft project
proposals for phase II of the Media Project.
Involved in the meetings were planners, media managers and editors, who
discussed among other topics, the better ways of the proposed phase
II of this Project to tackle issues like: youth, women,
paper-support and one new subject: HIV/Aids.
The present Project is expected to end in June2001.
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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