Peace Journalism

Details

Created on 01 February 2012

Consolidating Peace Journalism in Uganda (2011-2013)

Project Summary

The Project is a partnership between Uganda Media development Foundation and Church Development Service’ (EED) an association of protestant churches in Germany based in Bonn. EED supports the project financially and through building the capacity of UMDF to effectively implement the project, while UMDF promotes the concept of peace journalism among media practitioners and church media people, to strengthen their contribution. 

Overall objectives of the Project

The Project is intended to contribute to efforts to realize peace in Uganda within the framework of the poverty eradication action plan.

Specific Objectives of the Project

1.To create a critical mass of media practitioners who consciously promote peace in their regions through practicing peace journalism.

2.To promote an active citizenship that appreciates the value of peace and participate in more peace initiatives through listening and contributing to peace radio programmes

3.To create synergy between the media and churches in promoting peace in Uganda.

Summary of Project Activities for the year ending December 2011

Uganda Media Development Foundation conducted mentoring visits and trainings at four Model radio stations in the areas of Rwenzori, West Nile, Northern and Eastern Uganda. Model radio stations then were; Radio Pacis (West Nile), LUO FM (Northern Uganda), Kyoga Veritas (Eastern Uganda) and Grace FM (Rwenzori).  The stations were all facilitated in production of PJ Programmes.

There were four regional trainings for radio presenters and journalists on the theme ‘consolidating peace journalism practice’ in the four project areas.  The facilitators included Sam Gummah the Executive Director of Uganda Radio Network and John Matovu a lecturer of mass communication (Makerere University).

Networking on e-groups continued and Station managers were challenged to be active on the e-network where PJ’s have increasingly posted issues for discussion. 

In July, Six Radio stations were selected to take on the model radio status in addition to Luo FM and Radio Pacis which participated in the pilot phase of the project. This brought the total number of model radio stations to eight.  

The new entrants were Voice of TESO and Step FM in Eastern region, Radio WA in Northern Uganda, Life FM and Kasese Guide Radio in Rwenzori/western Uganda and Radio Paidha in West Nile. UMDF took a management decision to drop KVR-FM and Grace Radio from the list of model radio stations after the pilot phase.

As part of the capacity building process and to initiate entry of the stations into the program, orientation visits were made to at least four of the selected stations during the month of August. The objective of the visit was to orient staff into the model programme modalities and reporting structures.