Media and Peacebuilding

This initiative reaches out to young members of Nepal's print and electronic media, and seeks to enhance their capabilities in reporting on peacebuilding and politics.

Description

The Media and Peacebuilding programme aims to enhance the capacity of young journalists in the field of democracy and peacebuilding. It also seeks to develop positive group dynamics in the field of journalism in relation to conflict resolution.

Aims / Objectives

The specific aim of the programme was to enhance the capacity of young journalists by working with a selected group of people from the targeted community. The aim was also to develop positive group dynamics by (if we have continued support) continuing to work with the same participants, in the same groups, over a period of time so that a meaningful relationship develops both amongst the participants and between the National Peace Campaign (NPC) and the participants. This will promote knowledge-sharing and the elaboration of various key themes.

How it is Articulated

The initiative involves:

• Needs assessment; and
• Mapping of activities, responsibilities and focal points in the areas of media and peacebuilding.

Achievements / Learning Points

Date and Place: August 2006, Pokhara

Number of participants: 25

This was an interactive workshop-seminar with a young group of journalists representing different publications and electronic media. The programme has been useful in helping the participants understand different political and social issues as parts of the dynamics of conflict and politics at the national and local level. The programme itself was new to the participants, who were already interested in the national agendas on politics, conflict and peace negotiations.

This was a pilot phase. The general observation is that the programme should have been designed for a period of several years as short-term programmes are less effective. In a long-term programme, we can engage the participants continuously.

Geographical Area of Operation

Districts and regions.

Funding Resources

Misereor, Germany.