Exploring fundamentals and ideals, Analysing initiatives and models, Proposing solutions and alternativesAddis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15 - 20 November 2009
For Registration: Please write to <
helo@ucip.ch>
IntroductionInternational Refresher Programme is one of the most popular programmes of continued formation among journalists, publishers and professors of communication. Such programmes worldwide have been attracting hundreds of journalists in all parts of the world and have been organised since 1991 on various continents and the demand for organising them are on the increase. The originality and exceptional nature of the event have always brought more journalists than expected.
The idea of the Refresher Programme is to give up-to-date, first-hand information to all who cherish responsible communication and work towards international development. It will provide a thorough and scientific analysis of recent history and current affairs so that journalists can rely on in-depth information to improve their work.
Refresher Programmes worldwide over past two decades have provided essential training for journalists. The increasing demand for such events around the globe and the relevance of the programmes has inspired many to join us.
Background
As the event has been conceived and realised in many parts of the world, Africa has been given a priority and several Pan African Refresher Programmes have been organised with great success and there is a great demand to organise more of them on African continent.
The event we prepare for October 2009 in Ethiopia has several significances. It will be the first time we will organise such an event in Ethiopia that hosts the African Union. It will be an occasion to give this event a direct co-operation with the African Union so that journalists and media experts can get a deeper knowledge of realities.
In spite of international and continental initiatives for the last several decades, African nations are still to stand on their own feet.
Many journalists believe that external pressure is still the worst evil on the continent in addition to eternal dependence in all domains: economy, agriculture, culture, health and aid. And the only way for Africa’s bright future is to be on its own and to be able to think, say and act on its own.
And the greatest responsibility to achieve this aim rests on journalists and media experts who have to take the “mother of all messages” to leaders and peoples, owners and workers, teachers and pupils, professionals and intellectuals, men and women, and children and adults.
In these last years and decades, several African nations have embraced market liberalisation in different ways but the results of this market-based economy are the same: bigger gap between the rich and the poor, greater consumerism, destruction of environment, lack of quality of life, depreciation of local goods, standardisation to global market, services and goods, and transfer of capital to other nations. And finally fighting, killings, and permanent unrest, conflicts and wars.
And journalists hold the supreme responsibility and possibility to illuminate and to enlighten nations and their leaders to avoid this subhuman existence. And the theme of this refresher programme “Journalism for Co-existence, Reconciliation and Welfare” has been chosen in order to facilitate these debates and to bring out solid recommendations.
An Event in line with priorities and ideals
One of the top priorities in these times has been enhancing formation and education that leads to independence and poverty reduction. Besides, it is not simply enough to have any formation, but “quality formation and education” so that leaders and peoples can take healthy decisions.
Formation and education lead to democracy and rule of law, economic integration, prevention of conflict, gender parity and hence overall and integral development.
Such a quality formation is guaranteed through quality information and media. In our modern world, many international news diffusers have unfortunately made their job pure entertainment and propaganda for the owners of the media or their parties. Though a lot of information is available in many places, it is almost impossible to find the true information and the both sides of the reality and the sophistication of technology does not simplify the task.
Many serious- and internationally-minded experts believe: “Information, communication and knowledge are at the core of human progress and development.” The Refresher Seminar will enlighten: “knowledge is liberation”. Therefore, for any development that has to last, quality of information and knowledge must come first. Without information and knowledge, there is no poverty reduction and participative democracy and without participative governance, there is no justice or peace.
Therefore the free flow of information and knowledge are essential elements for poverty reduction and ensuring people’s participation in societies. Freedom of expression is a fundamental right for the promotion and attainment of other civil, cultural, economic, political and social rights and press freedom is part of the agenda for a human rights-based approach to development.
The Refresher Seminar will analyse the situation in Africa and will address the needs of Africa. The event will thus (a) promote an environment conducive to freedom of expression and freedom of information; (b) foster universal access to information; (c) promote the development of free, independent and pluralistic media; and (d) strengthen the role of communication and information in fostering mutual understanding especially in open and post-conflict areas and post-disaster situations.
Aims
Each Refresher Programme is conceived taking into consideration the local and international realities. The following are a few general aims:
In spite of sea-changes in the field of governments and society, threat to freedom of expression is growing day after day. The freedoms of the press and religion have been in greater danger due to growing economies and widening gap between the rich and the poor. Such serious threats to the basic freedoms and a series of conflicts and wars have destroyed peace and development. The programme will make a comprehensive analysis of the situation.
Absence of such freedoms also denies men and women the basic right to choose according to his or her conviction and hence contribute to the integral development and lasting peace. Refresher Programme is a serious attempt to safeguard freedom in view of stability and growth.
One of the main objectives of all Refresher Programmes is to improve the quality in reporting. In a world where inequality and intolerance continue to make heavy inroads, journalists are aware of the need to develop an ethics and information diffusion system founded on values of solidarity, sharing, equality and dignity of every individual.
The Refresher Programme is exceptionally conceived taking into consideration the needs of professional, active and dynamic journalists who want to serve their people in an international context in view of their integral development.
As most of the journalists have a basic training in journalism, what we envisage through this one-week International Refresher Programme is an analysis of subjects like freedom of information, ethics in journalism, conflicts in the field of the media, political systems and so on with the help of experts, and taking into consideration the present day exigencies. Such an educative analysis is a lot more important to a professional journalist who has been accomplishing his/her noble profession for a few years already.
Such a "training of oneself through the analysis of present-day realities" will help the active information diffusers to have sufficient and balanced understanding of international affairs, their impact on nations and peoples, and their significance in the profession of the journalist.
As the programme will bring together professionals from different walks of life, the event will give first-hand information on different peoples by the journalists hailing from the same group of people.
This way of understanding realities is more fruitful and meaningful for a professional to report or comment on an event than relying on the lucrative and often biased international news agencies.
Refresher Programme is an occasion to reinforce solidarity and friendship among journalists. Solidarity and friendship leads to initiatives of mutual co-operation and development, exchange and learning, encouragement and support, thus finding the real meaning of one's own professional and personal life.
Such professional and personal contacts guarantee an ideal information network based on mutual respect irrespective of all difference, lead to goals of equal development, and respect the dignity of all.
The Refresher Programme is also a serious attempt to understand the contemporary society and to study profoundly the challenge of value-oriented journalism in the modern society. The one-week Refresher Programme will discuss the issues in the region in view of peace and development. It will be also an exceptional opportunity for dialogue between media professionals, state and religious leaders.
The specific aims of the event include:
Reduce and gradually eliminate poverty through the help of the media
Offer ongoing formation to journalists so that they can take up these issues in their everyday exercise of the profession
Promote democratisation of decision making on all levels
Defend human rights
Facilitate economic and fiscal development
Explore the situation of justice, reconciliation, peace and participative democracy
Promote peace and welfare education through media and communication initiatives
Consecrate permanent space and time for peace, justice and reconciliation issues in print and electronic media
Make leaders and other decision makers aware of the necessity of safeguarding peace and justice.
Encourage young people to find new dynamics for bringing justice and peace
Enable families so that they can contribute to healthy living by reducing consumerism into their everyday life
Empower journalists in all parts of the world to take initiatives for maintaining peace and justice
Undertake initiatives of justice and peace in all activities and performances.
Initiate and maintain permanent observatories and vigilances through reports, publications and broadcasts.
Methodology
The study days are consecrated to explore the theme and its sub-themes with experienced speakers, resource persons and working groups. Keynote speakers are experienced journalists and experts from all walks of life.
Working groups meet during the study days to explore the theme from precise geographical and concrete professional levels. Selected exposures during the refresher week give the participants, resource parsons and organisers to get a touch with reality and first hand knowledge.
The refresher is also conceived to develop strong ties among its participants this allowing them to build their own networks for future and to become competent.
Benefits
The Refresher Seminar will be beneficial on many levels. Here are a few of them:
It will make journalists and other media professionals aware of the most pressing issues such as poverty and its consequences on good governance.
It will explore ongoing actions and future initiatives.
It can help prevent violence.
It can enable people share their welfare so that they may not engage in conflicts and wars.
The event will promote networking and co-operation among journalists and all other parties.
The Refresher Seminar can enlighten business, religious and political leaders on the necessity of greater equality and access to welfare in order to maintain peace.
It will make recommendations to media professionals and leaders worldwide.
Focus
The programme will focus on all major issues that affect peoples of Africa in general. The event will also deal with people’s living situations, basic necessities, relationship with the other, family and society. All professionals and concerned individuals and parties will be invited to be part of the programme.
For Registration: Please write to <
helo@ucip.ch>
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