Seminar – “Independent institutes of journalism” – MISA
Certain governments still decide on whether or not to sanction media, and in most countries governments feel the need to institute the members of independent media organisations themselves. One of NiZA’s main partners, MISA (The Media Institute of Southern Africa) deals with allegations made against media and offers support in times of crisis. In 1998, MISA organised a seminar for national institutes of journalism in the region.
(Niza has sponsored this seminar)

The creation of a regional news agency – MISA
There is at least one national MISA office in each southern African country. Collectively these offices share information via an extensive network. Via the network, violations of press freedom are reported and distributed. MISA aims to professionalise this service, and to create a single central network.
(NiZA sponsored the seminar.)

Journalists in danger

Media-alert system
Be it physical or otherwise, each journalist that is attacked is one journalist too many. Only via international pressure can an impact on the assault of journalists be made. In 2001, NiZA hopes to establish an international alert system which will inform organisations of violations of press freedom and related activities

The revival of five independent newspapers in Lesotho.
A military coup in 1998 sent Lesotho into turmoil. Although the aim was to diffuse the situation, the invasion of South African troops aggravated the situation further. For weeks, Maseru was an arena of chaos and disorder. Independent newspapers watched helplessly as their premises went up in smoke. NiZA assisted these media houses in getting back on their feet by financing computers, computers and recording equipment

Media Monitoring

MediaWatch/MediaWorks
MediaWorks is an organisation that supports the democratisation and gender-sensitising of the media. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, the organisation provides training to communities that previously had little or no access communication and media education. The organisation’s newsletter, MediaWatch, acts as a watch-dog for insensitive reporting on gender issues in the South African press. This newsletter is an eye-opener for the still male-dominated media in country. (NiZA supports the newsletter financially).

Behind the Mask - GALA (South Africa)
The Dutch journalist, Bart Luirink, has supported the establishment of a web-site dedicated to the homosexual community in South Africa. The web-site serves as a central information source for various gay organisations in the country.

The Chronicle – Malawi
With two computers and five editors, the Jamieson family publishes the weekly Chronicle. The publication is known as the most impartial newspaper in the country. This is refreshing in a country where newspapers carry a reputation for mud-slinging and provocation. In order to keep the paper independent of the government, the Jamiesons are now working towards establishing an independent printing company. The printing company will also be used for the publication of newsletters for organisations.
(NiZA has sponsored the scanner, printer and computer for lay-out and editing)sw

Radio training Katatura Community Radio – Namibia
Namibia has very few independent radio stations. Katatura Community Radio(KCR) is the country’s only non-commercial broadcaster. Broadcasting since 1995, the station’s programs are aimed at the communities of the Katatura and Komasdal townships. Community members and non-governmental organisations remain active in the organisation.
(Radio training for eight producers by radio journalist Frans Stultiëns was organised by NiZA in 1998. The training was aimed at the coverage of the national elections).

For this reason, community media (radio and print) is an essential medium to make people realise that the media is open to everyone, and it is a means whereby communities can make their voices heard.

Fact-finding mission to gain insight into community radio in South Africa. – Zimbabwe
The Media Institute of Southern Africa supports all forms of independent media(print, radio, television and video) in this region. Its primary goal is the reformation of press laws. It is also concerned with the representation of the media, and the safety of journalists.
In Zimbabwe community radio remains forbidden. Reformation of the law surrounding this sector is needed. In 1999, MISA’s Zimbabwean office, along with a number of NGO’s from the region, organised a fact-finding mission to South African community radio stations. This was the first step toward getting this sector off the ground in Zimbabwe. One year later a delegations of all stakeholders (including politicians and decision-makers) met with their counterparts in South Africa
(NiZA provided the financial assistance for this project)

Radio training-Bush Radio – South Africa
Bush Radio is the first community radio station of this country. The station is the basic training ground for most of the country’s black journalists. Bush Radio’s programme s are directed at making its listeners aware of events taking place in their immediate surroundings. It broadcasts programme s dealing with AIDS education, health and violence and crime. (Training in 1998 and 1999 with Peter van de Akker organised via NiZA.)

Radio training of prisoners in South Africa
“Otherwise” is an organisation that does rehabilitation work with juvenile offenders and street children. In the Brandvlei prison, Otherwise produced a radio programme with the juveniles about their lives. The goal was to work with these youth in a non-threatening manner, and to create a platform they could use to comfortably discuss the problems they experience. On completion, the programme was distributed to community radio stations.
(NiZA provided financial assistance to the radio project).

Community Radio – Angola
ADRA (Acção para o Desenvolvimento Rural e Ambiente) is one of the strongest non-governmental organisations in Angola. The organisation assists community members to improve their quality of life. The result is a strengthening of the social welfare of a community living in a post war situation.
Access to unbiased information is still a missing link in Angolan society. In the coming year, ADRA will be establishing the first community radio project in the country.
(The Mozambican training institute NSJC gave the first training to ADRA’s staff and this brings the country’s first community radio station closer into existence.

Community Publishing – Zimbabwe
The NGO ACDPT (African Community Publishing Development Trust) facilitates and assists local community organisations with their publications. Trainers visit local villages and teach groups how to develop their own newsletters. This is done with just one laptop computer and one printer. By producing their own publications organisations are to draw attention to their situation and to make their voices heard.
(NiZA has financed one high quality printer and other design/printing facilities for various ethnic communities)

Community Publishing – Angola
As is the case with community radio, community publishing is still in its infant stage in Angola. In 1999, under the leadership of ACDP-Zimbabwe, the first community publishing projects were started in Huambo and Luanda. The Angolan Development Workshop will give training in the future.
(After a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe, staff-training of Development Workshop, ACDP trainer Cathy Stewart is stationed with DW to help build the project).

Photographic exhibition and publications by community members-Namibia
The photographic training institute, Phocon, trains young photographers. Via a photographic exhibition, the inhabitants of the Katatura township brought the reality of their daily lives into light. This exhibition was also shown in the Netherlands. The photographs were an eye-opener for both Namibians and foreigners.
(NiZA gave financial support to several photo-publications, such as the exhibition, “Life in Katatura”).

Professionalising the e-mail bulletin - Mozambique.
There remains a lack of newspapers in Mozambique. This is due to distribution problems. In the north and central regions of the country, distribution problems occur due to a poor infrastructure. There is also very little reporting on issues or events taking place in this region. As the first e-mail bulletin, Notícias de Moçambique is attempting to overcome these difficulties. Thrice a week a summary of news is sent via e-mail to subscribers of the bulletin. Most subscribers are NGO’s. The e-mail bulletin is followed up with an actual paper being printed and distributed on the street. (NiZA financed the computers for the use of professionalising this service.)

Media College - Media Works South Africa.
For many black high school pupils, it is still difficult to be admitted to study journalism at a tertiary institution. The gap between secondary and tertiary is far too high. MediaWorks presents a one year bridging course to overcome this gap. Students learn all basic facets of the subjects, and are also given the opportunity to improve their language skills and as well as their computer knowledge. (The curriculum has been analysed and improved upon with the aid of Chudi Ukpabi. NiZA has financed this personal assistance)

Women and Communication - MediaWorks
In the New South Africa women still being shunned by the media. Stereotypes and biased writing styles are the order of the day. For black women it is still very difficult to gain access to the media. MediaWorks is trying to overcome this situation and to train women in producing media productions for their communities. Thus the “Gender and communication” programme was developed.
(NiZA supports the programme with the input of Imke Gooskens, in the video training and production of the programme s).

A study into electronic media - Southern Africa
The renowned organisation, FXI (Freedom of eXpression Institute) keeps its finger on the pulse of developments in the media and violation of this basic human right. Do people have complete access to news as well as a variety in their choice?
Last year, the fast paced changes in the radio and television sectors have been under scrutiny.
(NiZA has co-financed the publication on this research.

A lot of young independent media is drowning in financial troubles. How does one keep a newspaper afloat when running costs are expensive, when advertising revenue falls due to a recessive economy and when the only printing press lies in the hands of a “friend of the government”?