new trends in training science journalists in africa
DESCRIPTION
NEW TRENDS IN TRAINING SCIENCE JOURNALISTS IN AFRICA. Gervais MBARGA, Ph.D. Professor, Science Journalism, Univeristy of Yaoundé 2, Cameroon. Research Associate, Chair in Science Journalism, Université Laval, Québec, Canada . Regional Coordinator SjCOOP, Francophone Africa Region. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
NEW TRENDS IN TRAINING SCIENCE JOURNALISTS IN AFRICA
Gervais MBARGA, Ph.D.Professor, Science Journalism, Univeristy of Yaoundé 2, Cameroon.
Research Associate, Chair in Science Journalism, Université Laval, Québec, Canada. Regional Coordinator SjCOOP, Francophone Africa Region.
Johannesburg, 19 Feb, 2009
SRUCTURE OF THE EXPOSÉ
• 1- CLASSICAL APPROACHES OF TRAINING S.J.
• 2- THE SJCOOP METHOD AND TOOLS
• 3- THE SjCOOP ACHIEVEMENTS
• 4- LESSONS WE LEARNED.
THE PROBLEM
Science journalists in african countries are:
Very few
Isolated
Unsupported
Lack training
THE PROBLEM
Science Journalists face:
Populations with questions: Health, Environment, Mastering the nature, Poverty
Scientists with answers Locally Worldwide
Growing influence of media In quantity In quality
CLASSICAL SOLUTIONS
Formal training in universities
Seminars Workshops Scholarships Awards Informal training
High Loss Rates: 70 to 90% do not continue as Science Reporter after 3 to 9 months
TRAINING IN UNIVERSITIES OR HIGH SCHOOLSLOSS RATES
YearProgrammeUniversityTypeGraduated1 yearLossRate
83-85ScienceUniversity of Yaoundé
National2011995.00%
94-96Science, Health, Environment
University of Yaoundé 2
International 15 countries
30102066.66%
98-00Health, Environment
Universities of Douala and Buea
National2021890.00%
Total70135781.42%
WORKSHOPS LOSS RATES
YearProgrammeFund byPlaceTypeAssisted1 yearLossRate
1982ScienceIDRCYaoundéInternational4 countries
2021890%
1990ScienceUNESCODakarInternational8 countries
2561976%
2002EnvironmentUNEPAdids-AbabaInternational19 countries
28101864.4%
2005HealthSciDevYaoundéInternational7 countries
2071365%
2005EnvironmentUNEPNairobiInternational20 countries
42162661.9%
2006Science, HealthUNESCO/ISESCO
BamakoInternational4 countries
2041680%
TOTAL1554511070.96%
THE SjCOOP PROJECT
• SjCOOP: Science Journalists in Cooperation
• A WFSJ MENTORING PROJECT.
• FUNDED BY: IDRC, DfID, SIDA
THE SjCOOP CONCEPT
The vision: equip a critical mass of journalists with skills; give suitable space to S&T in media; public in Africa and ME recognizes S&T as a mean to help solving their problems.
The mission: with the support of donors, build a network of SJ in Africa and ME connected to worldwide community of SJ.
THE SjCOOP ORGANISATION
SjCOOP MANAGEMENTCanada
15 MENTORSBelgium, Cameroon, Canada, Egypt, France,
Germany (2), Lebanon, Morocco, Senegal, South Africa, UK, US
60 MENTEES FROM 32 COUNTRIES
3 Regional CoordinatorsCameroon, Egypt, Nigeria
Website ModeratorNigeria
EvaluatorGermany
THE SjCOOP OBJECTIVES
1. Panafrican and panarabic initiative
2. Increase quantity an quality of SJ
3. Break Isolation
4. Train In Situ With Advanced Tools
SjCOOP TOOLS THE WE WEBSITE
SjCOOP TOOLS
ONLINE COURSE: ENGLISH, FRENCH AND ARABIC
SjCOOP TOOLS FACE-TO-FACE MEETINGS
CREATING LINKS, NETWORK, AND HUMAN CONTACTS• Nairobi (2006), Doha (2008)
SjCOOP APPROACHIN SITU TRAINING
• Trainees remain in their Environment, with their Colleagues, their Editors, with local Scientists, Policymakers, Decision Makers, with their public...
WE REACHED 60 NEWSROOMS AT THE BEGENNING, 46 NOW.
ACHIEVEMENTSQUALITY AND QUANTITY : 29 COUNTRIES, 46 SJ
ACHIEVEMENTS
Creating SJ Associations 10 Associations are
created in Africa. Associations became
member of the WFSJ
Associations are functionning Arabic, Fes (October, 2008) Nigeria (November, 2008) Uganda (November, 2008) Kenya (November, 2008) Rwanda (October, 2008)
ACHIEVEMENTS
Linked SJ to SJ and Scientists Worldwide 6 Associations are twinned
with Associations in developed countries
We built a Network of S.J. on a panafrican and arabic basis
ACHIEVEMENTS TRANSBORDER STORIES
REPORTS ON A PROBLEM WRITTEN BY SJ FROM 2 COUNTRIES AND MORE: VACCINE, WATER, ENERGY, CLINICAL TRIALS, ETC
MORE THAN 20 PAPERS IN NEWSPAPERS
Onche Odeh, Micheal Simire, Mabutho Ngcobo and Otula Owuor Subject: Energy
Aimable Twahirwa Charles Mkoka and Christina ScottMail & Guardian, South Africa
Subject: Chemicals
Christophe MvondoSubject: Water
Jerôme BigirimanaSubject: vaccine
ACHIEVEMENTS
We established contacts with Editors Scientists Academies
o The African Science Academy has invited us in Accra for its conference next year (2009)
4 Mentees created new science beats
1 Mentor started a new science magazine Otula Owuor, Kenya
8 mentees promoted head of science desks
ACHIEVEMENTS
We evaluated the programme on a daily basis and corrected problems when needed.
The use of the method of «Outcome Mapping» was helpful. This a participatory and learning oriented framework.
LESSONS LEARNEDABOUT TRAINING
Science Journalist capacity bulding is needed in Africa and ME.
Loss Rates can be reduced with in situ training and mentoringo 60 SJ at the beginning; o 46 now in their newsrooms .
Loss Rate: 30%, compare to 70-90% in Classical Approaches Ex Situ Training.
LESSONS LEARNEDABOUT TRAINING
Trainers from developed countries are not necessarily
better than trainers from developing countries.
Trainees have to be selected rigorously.
Combination of tools (mentoring, face-to-face meeting, field activities, online lesson, Skype and web-communication) really helps mentees.
LESSONS LEARNED ABOUT SCIENCE JOURNALISTS POSITION
Science Journalists can collaborate: Deborah Blum with help of Oxford Publishing is writing a book on global climate change. The book will include original reportings from our mentees. This is an example of international collaboration
Isolation can be broken and digital divide be reduced
- 2006 no one could held a discussion forum, a skypechat or a skypecast.
- 2008: nearly everybody has a skype acount and can hold a discussion forum a skypecast or a skypechat.
LESSONS LEARNEDABOUT SCIENCE JOURNALIST POSITION
Well chosen editors representing key media could become strategic partners of training programmes.
Scientists or Academies in developing world are key partners of Science Journalism.
Science Associations can help establishing national and transnational relationships.
LESSONS LEARNEDFROM A GLOBAL POINT OF VIEW
Transborder stories can have a big effect.o It’s a «massive» production of articles on a subject
Science Journalists can influence policymakers and decision makers.
LESSONS LEARNEDFROM A GLOBAL POINT OF VIEW
Influencing policies and government decisions Examples
• Allocation of funds to fix Lake Nyos (Cameroon)• Installation of filtering system on a cement plant (Jordan)• Setting up technical committee on Lake Nyos (Nigeria)• Speeding up of water treatment in Baghdad (Iraq)• Attacking societal taboos concerning children born with deformities
(Côte d’Ivoire)• Firing of corrupted AIDS drugs distribution official (Uganda)
LESSONS LEARNEDFROM A GLOBAL POINT OF VIEW
The evaluation of activities should start at the onset of the programme.
Panafrican or panarabic capacity building projects can work.• With the network we built, we see people in science and in
media willing to work with us.
FINAL OBSERVATIONS
• More efforts should be put into studying Science Journalism and Science communication in Africa (and developing countries):
– Science Journalists (Who? Where?What? Influence?)– The public of Science (Portraits, Needs, Interests,
Influence on Science and on Science Journalism) – The media of Science (Public, Stories, Writing skills)
THANK YOU
SjCOOP (Science journalists in Cooperation) –peer-to-peer mentoring project
for science journalists in Africa and the Middle East