Media Capacity Development
As part of the media and advocacy domain, Media Management Group for Literacy and Development was part of two large and high visibility EU sponsored projects as a facilitating partner:
- EU-India Documentary Initiative
- EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS
- EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS - II
EU-India Documentary Initiative
The EU-India Documentary Initiative was launched by The Thomson Foundation in January 2004 and the project implementation period ended in July, 2005.
The following partners implemented the project:
- The Thomson Foundation
A media training organization based in Cardiff, Wales, UK. Trains print, radio and television journalists/ managers/ technicians in dozens of countries every year. - Indian Institute of Mass Communication
A premier media training institute based in New Delhi, India. Is an autonomous body funded by the Government of India. Trains journalists from many countries. - Commonwealth Broadcasting Association
An association of the major public service broadcasters of the Commonwealth countries, headquartered in London. - University of Tampere University in Tampere, Finland. The Jean Monet European Centre for Excellence and the Tampere Peace Research Institute (TAPRI) were associated with this project.
- Media Management Group for Literacy and Development
An NGO that assists comprehensive development – human resource development, social development and support environmental issues. Operates in north east India.
The project was ambitious in approach and rewarding in its outcomes. It paired European and Indian film-makers and radio programmers for the purposes of producing TV and radio documentaries. This gave the project an unprecedented cross-cultural feel and facilitated intensive learning and linkages across continents.
The project outcomes included the production of 24 uniquely cross-cultural documentaries – 8 television documentaries and 16 radio documentaries – each recorded on two continents. This is a flavour that is not usually seen in the media. India and 11 EU member states were covered in the documentaries, each of which looks at a social conflict or issue that is relevant to both India and a European country.
The documentaries were exhibited numerous times in a variety of Indian and European locations, and gained widespread appreciation from audiences. The high quality of the documentaries produced, in spite of the time and resource constraints faced by the participants, is testimony to the participants’ dedication and the effectiveness of the motivation, training and mentoring provided under the project.
The activities included a series of intensive workshops with Indian and European participants. The workshops included inputs on journalistic skills, media techniques, programme making, documentary conceptualization, concepts of diversity and the basic principles of conflict resolution and transformation. The project structure itself was effectively designed, with Indian and European journalists forming working pairs, looking at things from two perspectives.
Each of the four workshops was followed by a schedule of documentary production, which was in many cases the first exposure the participants had to work practices in another culture. Each of the documentaries was closely monitored and intensively mentored.
Through-out the two Television and the two Radio workshops organized under the project, one was constantly aware of the fact that the working cross-cultural teams were exposed to different levels of expertise, experience, sensibility and locale ; yet almost all the teams came together and found a common level to complete the immediate job at hand – quality production of the documentaries. The participants exhibited great enthusiasm and struck up meaningful working relationships – these, along with the linkages formed between the participants and experts/ resource persons were an important outcome.
The trainers in the project were John Pickford (UK); Mr Unto Vesa (Finland); Mr. Ian Masters (UK); Mr. Arwel Ellis Owen (UK) and Mr. Jyrki Kakonnen (Findland). Mr Savyasaachi Jain, representing Thomson Foundation was the Managing Editor of the project.
In all respects - documentary making skills and training, forging working partnerships and linkages across cultures, cross-cultural learning, introduction of new concepts, documentary production, and visibility for the EU – the project has achieved its objectives.
EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS (Phase-1)
The EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS was conducted by The Thomson Foundation with the financial assistance of the European Union. The Thomson Foundation’s partners in this project were: The Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+), the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) and the Jean Monet Centre for Excellence, University of Tampere, Finland. Media Management Group for Literacy and Development played a facilitating role, organizing coordination and logistical support to the Project.
Six short, intensive workshops were held during October and November, 2005, to encourage the adoption of best practices in covering HIV/AIDS. The workshops built capacities of 40 journalists. These Workshops were a prelude to an Award Scheme that recognized excellence in covering HIV/AIDS. The dates of the Workshops were:
- Oct 17-18, 2005 TV Workshop 1, Pondicherry – 8 participants
- Oct 20-21, 2005 TV Workshop 2, Pondicherry – 8 participants
- Oct 24-25, 2005 Print Workshop 1, Goa – 12 participants
- Oct 27-28, 2005 Print Workshop 2, Goa – 12 participants
- Nov 6-7, 2005 Radio Workshop 1, Gangtok – 8 participants
- Nov 9-10,2005 Radio Workshop 2, Gangtok – 8 participants
EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS –II
The EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS was conducted by The Thomson Foundation with the financial assistance of the European Union. The Thomson Foundation’s partners in this project were: The Indian Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+), the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) and the Jean Monet Centre for Excellence, University of Tampere, Finland. Media Management Group for Literacy and Development played a facilitating role, organizing coordination and logistical support to the Project.
Six short, intensive workshops were held during October and November, 2005, to encourage the adoption of best practices in covering HIV/AIDS. The workshops built capacities of 40 journalists. These Workshops were a prelude to an Award Scheme that recognized excellence in covering HIV/AIDS. The dates of the Workshops were:
- Oct 17-18, 2005 TV Workshop 1, Pondicherry – 8 participants
- Oct 20-21, 2005 TV Workshop 2, Pondicherry – 8 participants
- Oct 24-25, 2005 Print Workshop 1, Goa – 12 participants
- Oct 27-28, 2005 Print Workshop 2, Goa – 12 participants
- Nov 6-7, 2005 Radio Workshop 1, Gangtok – 8 participants
- Nov 9-10,2005 Radio Workshop 2, Gangtok – 8 participants
