May 23, 2012

Reporting the Pan African Parliament

On behalf of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (GTZ) and the Pan African Parliament, frayintermedia conducted a half-day training course on 6 November 2009 for journalists covering the First Ordinary Session of the Second Pan African Parliament.

The training looked at the role of journalists in a democracy and approaches to parliamentary reporting. Its prime aim was to enhance understanding amongst participants of their role as watchdogs and shapers of public debate and opinion, and to promote professionalism and high standards of reporting in general and of parliamentary reporting in particular. Specific objectives were:

  • To equip participants with a sound understanding of the importance of accurate and probing reporting for the development of mature democracies
  • To provide insights into internationally recognised codes of conduct for journalists and thus promote professionalism and high standards of reporting
  • To analyse the importance and relevance of parliamentary reporting.

The workshop was attended by 10 journalists from 10 African countries and was conducted by Birgit Schwarz from frayintermedia in English and French.

Holding Politicians Accountable

hp-main

HOLDING POLITICIANS ACCOUNTABLE: REPORTING ON THE 2009 ELECTION & BEYOND

You are invited to attend a free one-day seminar series on March 4 at Hackle Brooke, Johannesburg.

- Resurgent inter-party violence in KwaZulu-Natal and the Eastern Cape.

- Political leaders turning the heat up with hate speech against their adversaries.

- South Africa’s huddled masses competing for scarce services, jobs and resources with millions of economic migrants and asylum-seekers.

- A fractured ruling party facing down the wild-card threat represented by an untested splinter movement.

- A news media shaken by job losses, threatened free speech curbs and the rise of virile new media and the tabloid press.

This is the face of South Africa as it enters the most hotly-contested poll since the coming of democracy in 1994.

In the interest of raising the tone and quality of the national elections debate, frayintermedia is presenting a dynamic day-long programme free of charge to journalists and editors. The programme offers participants the chance to cover as breaking news what some of the leading political, analytical and electoral role-players have to say about the election, to engage in debate with them – and to improve the quality of newsroom skills regarding electoral coverage.

  • Drawing together some of the country’s leading political analysts, editors and party policy-makers such as Dr Frederick van Zyl Slabbert, Jovial Rantao, Smuts Ngonyama among others, the programme kicks off with a debate hosted by Prof Adam Habib, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Johannesburg, on today’s volatile social and political landscape.
  • It then breaks up into a series of five tailored Seminars led by respected editors and electoral experts who examine key election coverage issues: how to cost the promises, how to generate and gender election story ideas, how to cover hate speech, how to manage elections logistics, and the legal ground-rules of electioneering.
  • This unmissable day concludes with a two-hour Policy Debate – to be broadcast by SABC Radio – between the leading policy-makers from the ANC, COPE and other political parties discussing their attitudes towards migration in the shadow of the election.

Who should attend?

- Journalists reinventing their careers

- Journalists, line-editors and editors managing election coverage

- Journalists interested in the future of their profession

- Journalists wanting to cover what top politicians, editors and analysts have to say about the looming election

- Editors and news-editors managing change, and journalism trainers

When? 07:30-16:00, March 4. Lunch and teas provided.

Where? Hackle Brooke, corner of Jan Smuts Avenue & Conrad Drive, Craighall, Johannesburg

Space is limited, so book now! Contact Debby Kramer at frayintermedia on 011-341-0767 / dkramer@frayintermedia.com

Download a draft programme here.

Attend the Journalism Dialogues, Pretoria: Has the media treated Jacob Zuma fairly?

pretoria-invitation

Does the media ignore the plight of the poor?

journalism-dialogues-september-east london

The Journalism Dialogues come to East London

The Frere Hospital baby deaths scandal raised awareness about the huge challenges faced by under-serviced parts of the country such as the Eastern Cape.

What is the role of the media in highlighting the stories affecting the poor?

Do media focus on the affluent in a bid to increase advertising profits?

Do media widen the information gap between the rich and the poor?

What is the ideal balance between elite / business interests and poor / social interests?

Don’t miss this crucial public debate with the Press Ombudsman Mr Joe Thloloe; Daily Dispatch Editor Phylicia Oppelt; Grocott’s Mail Editor Steven Lang and regional leaders. Debate this and more at the Journalism Dialogue to be held in East London this month.

Date:Tuesday 30 September

Time: 5.30pm – 7.30pm

Place: Fusion House, No 36 Darlington Road, East London.

Parking is available. Refreshments are provided.

Organised by frayintermedia in partnership with the Mail&Guardian as well as local media houses in the regions the debates are held, the monthly Journalism Dialogues have got journalists, policy makers and the public talking about journalism in South Africa, a critical pillar of our democratic society. The main aims of the Dialogues are to foster a common understanding of the role journalism plays, to examine how journalists and the media operate and to provide a forum for journalists to discuss how they practice their craft in a transforming and developing country.

Contact person: Avile Nkushubana. To RSVP please contact Avile on 011 341 0767 or email admin@frayintermedia.com

Click here for transcriptions of previous Journalism Dialogues.