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“All journalists are spies. I have been one” - Mobutu Seseseko

Explore the vital role of media in promoting food security policies in Southern Africa and engaging stakeholders through effective communication strategies.

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“All journalists are spies. I have been one” - Mobutu Seseseko

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  1. “All journalists are spies. I have been one”- Mobutu Seseseko

  2. Media Coverage of Food, Agriculture, Natural Resources (FANR) Issues Node Common Visioning Workshop 1 – 2 April 2009PRETORIA, South Africa Busani Bafana, Media Consultant bafana@netconnect.co.zw

  3. Outline • The media are a critical component in the development and promotion of food security policies in Southern Africa. • The media provide the vital link all stakeholders in the food, agriculture and natural resourcesissues allowing the stakeholders to interact and share views and experiences. • Well crafted policies and well meaning initiatives would not make a difference if the media are not taken on board to understand the critical issues on food security policies. Stakeholders cannot effectively use research evidence if they do no have access to that information and if the research results do not speak their language. • Media Coverage of FANR issues. • The role of media in FANRPAN • Packaging FANR issues for the media and for the nodes. • Media Build-up to the 2009 Regional Policy Dialogue.

  4. FANRPAN in the News “A food secure southern Africa free from hunger and poverty” • To promote effective Food, Agriculture and Natural Resources (FANR) policies by: (i) facilitating linkages and partnerships between government and civil society (ii) building the capacity for policy analysis and policy dialogue in Southern Africa (iii) supporting demand - driven policy research and analysis Why should FANRPAN be in the News: • Generates the evidence to influence policy development and implementation in 12 countries. • Is a regional platform for dialogue between farmers, policymakers, research institutions, government, private sector and other regional bodies in Southern Africa. The annual regional policy dialogue connects stakeholders to key decision makers.

  5. Media Coverage of FANR issues Types of Journalists: • Amateurs – who have little or zero understanding of FANR issues. • Ad hoc Armchair Critics – who write at the spur of the moment to beat the deadline. • Specialised reporting – who devote the time to understand and analyse FANR issues. * Which of these frequents your node and what are the results? What makes news for journalists: • What makes news? – man bites dog, something fresh, something new! • What should we do to educate journalists to ensure that they are interested in what we do and they are our voice in telling the African story? – involve them • How do we communicate what we do? – clarify issues to ensure they are understood by ordinary people at the local context: what is CAADP Compact, Climate Change, REDD, etc. Sourcing Stories: • National & Regional Dialogues • Workshops • Conferences • Training Seminars • Field Days • Research Outputs • Interviews/opinion pieces

  6. Do Media Matter? • Key development partners in information dissemination. How best can the media exploit Africa’s oral culture to inform FANR stakeholders on FANRPAN’s work on policy processes and research evidence linking the 4 thematic areas. • Shine the light on gaps in Food Security Programme Implementation, good policies produce results i.e. The Case of Malawi. • Highlight the significance of research on FANR issues and how this research evidence can be put to better use. For example, FANRPAN’s HVI Tool.

  7. Packaging FANR Issues for the Media • FANRPAN Information Products: • Press Releases • Policy Briefs • Research Papers • DVDs/CDs • Building the Capacity of Nodes/Nodes Hosting Institution Secretariat & the Media: • Content Development • Media & FANR Experts database

  8. What we take Home • Reflections on the topical FANR issues in your country • List of node meetings for 2009 • List of journalists in your country • List of FANR experts in your country • Identify capacity gaps in terms of communication needs in your country • Submit entries for the FANRPAN Food Security Policy Leadership Award

  9. Towards Maputo 2009 • Global Food Crisis: Malawi acted on the crisis by triggering a number of intervention such as Agricultural Input Subsidy Programme, Water & Irrigation Programme, are good policies insurance against global crises? • The True Contribution of Agriculture: How serious have African countries taken the Maputo Declaration of investing 10% of national budget in agriculture. Malawi is today at 14% and one of four countries to achieve this target. Why and what needs to be done? • FANRPAN Food Security Policy Leadership Award: An ideal hook for generating national stories on FANR issues.

  10. Thank You

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