Workshop Partner

Role of Audio-visual and Broadcast Media

• Mainstream television gives little or no interest in telecasting development programmes.
• Video programmes need to be short and to the point, so that it can hold the viewers’ attention.
• Broadcast scenario is now changing. Several local channels provide slots for development programmes to be telecast.
• Professionalism is definitely required in films on ESD.
• Show both positive and negative aspects of implementation of a development project.
• Audio-visual medium is only one of the tools and we should look for synergy with several other media and initiatives to achieve sustainable development.
• Outreach activities with videos in, for example, film festivals would be successful if it provides information on the issue in discussion, inspires similar action from the audience, and integrates diverse information into one forum.
• Videos made by women on issues that concern them have helped empower several women.
• Video programmes produced need to have accountability, affordability; and accessibility.
• Development film makers should start to think beyond recognition for their films and see how they could also contribute to make a difference to the communities they portray in their films.
• Most people in developing countries depend on Western news channels for information. However, the Western channels seem biased in their coverage of stories from developing nations.

Print and electronic media

• Media has to be strong in its science and facts and is in need of an interpreter who could convert technical jargon into simple language interestingly.
• Media has enormous strength and this should not be underestimated.
• Good practices should be documented more often by the print media.
• Print continues to be a stronger medium than AV.
• Focus of environmental journalism has shifted from the larger role that it can play in the development of the society to just selling.
• Quality of stories in print media seems to be on the decline.
• Internet reaches policy-makers worldwide. Hence, it can be instrumental in bringing about a change.
• Ease of archiving, searchability, and instant feedback facility have made internet a popular media.

General media

• Internet has emerged as a potential media for creating awareness and providing information.
• One needs to look at alternate media if one wants to exercise freedom of expression.
• One needs to look at mechanisms to allow alternative media to evolve and facilitate easy and free flow of information without too many bureaucratic hurdles.
• Amateur media like the HAM or FM radio should be encouraged as they can play a significant role in disseminating information, particularly during disasters.
• Professionalism is definitely required in films on ESD.
• We should look for synergy with several other media and initiatives to achieve sustainable development.
• Media has now started looking at the underlying causes to disasters like ignoring standards for buildings, importance of green belts and other such natural barriers.
• Media should also look at dealing with fear that follows disasters. It should relate to similar disasters in the past.
• Media has an important role to play in fostering debate, influencing public opinion and encouraging people to make changes in their hygiene behaviour.
• Media can advocate for strengthening policies and institutional frameworks needed to improve water supply, sanitation, and hygiene.

Media’s role in disaster management

• Need to give information on what really is happening and statistics related to it.
• People want to know more about the relief and rehabilitation work underway at times of disaster and not only the science behind the disaster. This would help in providing rescue and relief efforts to people really needing the attention.
• Initial coverage of disasters is not geographically spread to all areas that are affected. Criterion for coverage seems to be the proximity of the incident to the media agencies.
• The first information after disasters that is lapped up by mainstream media is mainly from the amateurs.
• Media has now started looking at the underlying causes to disasters like ignoring standards for buildings, importance of green belts and other such natural barriers.
• Media should also focus on relief operations so that it ensures transparency.
• Government should encourage systems that can communicate information about disasters well in time.
• Power of visual image can get people more involved. However, there is a need to consider the ethical issues - gory images should be avoided. The case of the visuals from 9/11 was discussed as an example.
• Media should also look at dealing with fear that follows disasters. It should relate to similar disasters in the past.

Communicating water and sanitation messages using the mass media

• Need for media to take on the role of initiating a dialogue between various governments, non-government and donor agencies, as all of them have their own views and strategies for the water and sanitation issue.
• Coverage of water and sanitation issues in the last decade in the print media has declined. While episodic events like drought, epidemic, etc. got extensive coverage, endemic issues like physical and mental agony women suffer due to lack of water and sanitation facilities hardly got covered by the mainstream press.
• Media tends to dramatize and sensationalize coverage of issues. This seems to lower the credibility among readers.
• The stories are not linked to the larger issues and the underlying causes.
• To reach out to the larger community, the programmes have to be kept simple, yet educative, interactive and informative.
• While promoting water and sanitation issues, ground realities must be kept in mind.

Click here to view the concept paper that formed the basis for the workshop discussions...