PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
Conducting Media campaign
The UNDP funded project was aimed at assistng human
rights NGOs in increasing public participation in human
rights issues using media power.
The project objectives
were:
- Provide better knowledge for human rights NGOs on
public relations and conducting media campaigns
- Offer opportunity to closely work with journalists
and improve quality of newspaper publications
- Raise awareness of journalists and media professionals
on human rights issues
- Encourage the close cooperation between human rights
NGOs and journalists
The project involved 19 human rights NGOs and invited
11 journalists from 6 daily newspapers to the activities
that provided capacity in effective public relation
and conducting newspaper rallies on human rights issues.
ACTIVITIES:
- 2 –days workshop "
How to Conduct Media Campaign?
This intensive workshop was aimed to give better
knowledge on public relations and organizing media
campaigns. The workshop involved 19 persons - representatives
18 human rights NGOs. The workshop was held on November
11 and 12,2002 at Press Institute. The program and
list of participants are enclosed. The participants
were introduced with principles of public relations
and media campaign, obtained knowledge on newspaper
columns, publication of newsletter, video journalism
and production of talk shows. They also gained knowledge
on freedom of information and public participation,
right to reply and media legal issues.
Globe
International prepared handbook: Public relations and
How to Conduct Media Campaign (Mongolian)
- One- day brainstorming
meeting
The brainstorming was organized
on 13 November 2002 at the Press Institute for half-day
and it involved 11 journalists and 19 NGO representatives.
The meeting was more practical and participants
formed to 4 teams, and developed ideas on human
rights issues and discussed the crucial topics.
For brainstorming the teams used method of journalistic
mind-mapping. Brainstorming was lead by H.Naranjargal,
head of the Globe International.
- Newspaper columns
6 daily newspapers Odriin Sonin, Zuuny Medee,Unen,
Mongolyn Medee, Onoodor and a local UB Times run
6 weekly columns on human rights and freedoms and
published 36 publications during the 3-months period
as planned in the initial proposal. Columns were
chosen as one of the systematic and analytic form
of journalism. Newspaper columns play a big part
in the national dialogue and writing columns have
been one of the most coveted assignments in print
journalism. Columnists enjoy fare, independence,
and special relationship with readers. See copies
of all newspaper materials.
Evaluation
meeting
Evaluation meeting was held on 14 February 2003 at Press
Institute from 14.00 to 16.00. Meeting was attended
by 19 participants-representatives of target groups,
experts and journalists. Mrs. Malin Samuelson , Governance
officer of UNDP. H.Naranjargal, head of the Globe International
opened the meeting and introduced participants with
project activities and results.
Experts took presentations on expertise and concluded
quality of journalism and content of human rights issues.
In order to assess
quality of newspaper column materials, the Globe International
formed an independent expert's group consisting of 4
persons; 2 journalism teachers and 2 human rights experts.
Names are below:
- Yu.Erdenetuya, Ph.D, journalism teacher, Journalism
Department of MNU
- D.Batjargal, journalism teacher, Press Institute
- S.Tserendorj, Head of National Commission of Human
Rights
- B. Hishigsaihan, Head of Working Department of NCHR
EXPERTS'
CONCLUSION
HUMAN RIGHTS
EXPERTS
36 publications of
11 journalists covered economic, social, cultural, civil
and political rights. 70% of them are concerned on civil
and political rights. Besides certain examples of human
rights violations, the journalists wrote about those
violations, which are considered not existed in Mongolia
such as sexual harassment. It is very important in terms
of human rights education.
3 publications focused
on human exportation, which is getting one of the crucial
human rights issues in the world. It is notable that
journalists paid big attention to respect for human
rights and publications are objective. The journalists
also touched violence issues in interesting forms.
Running newspaper
columns during 3 months is very important and significant,
when human rights education is in the big concern throughout
the world.
It is should be emphasized
that journalists collected plenty of facts and conducted
interviews and used good information sources. Good cooperation
with human rights NGOs provided good information, good
angle and good coverage.
It is also notable
that writing columns enable the journalists to specialize
on human rights reporting.
Recommendations
-Support activities
initiated by the Globe International and encourage specialized
journalists
- Launch respective journalism prize on human rights
reporting
MEDIA EXPERTS
It was interesting
to read publications it is not boring so it is one of
success of our journalists. Publications were written
in professional level. It should be noted that journalism
quality of publications is one of the best this year.
Newspaper publications were reviewed on basis of journalism
principles: balance, angle and how facts were used.
Facts
Journalists found a plenty of facts on human
rights violations and used several information sources.
International and local documents, and Constitutional
provisions were used in appropriate ways.
Balance
As concerns balanced reporting, the most of
publications kept it but in some of them balance was
lost because journalists based on information sources
coming from one side. Human rights reporting is fragile
and touches other's human rights so it should be thought
in the future.
Angle
The most of journalists wrote in more detailed
angle that covered general concerns. It is good thing
but in some examples there are still too general issues
were mentioned. There are also some examples of journalistic
conclusions thus expressing their own opinions. It is
not modern journalism that we strive to develop. Journalists
should very careful with this.
Recommendations
-Continue such rallies
regularly. It is not only public awareness or public
education on human rights issues it is test of journalism
- Train specialized human rights reporters
- Launch national prize on human rights reporting
- Enable journalists to nominate to international awards
and prizes
RECOMMENDATIONS
-Organize journalism
training on human rights reporting
- Publish a book in Mongolian and English
- Translate publications into English
- Launch National Prize in Journalism Excellence on
Human Rights Reporting
- Support continuation of newspaper columns
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