Community Media/CNCMC/Workshop Overview

Description
An engaging four-day community media workshop for Caribbean community media practitioners; sponsored by UNESCO and the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) as a follow-up to workshops held in Suriname (2005) and Jamaica (2008).

Dates
19-22 November 2008

Location
St. Vincent and the Grenadines (tentative)

Objectives
Long term outcomes (3-5 years)
 * 1) Strengthen the regional community media network, especially online exchanges and content portals
 * 2) Build capacities to design and develop effective learning programmes for community radio
 * 3) Improve participants’ practical skills, in online journalism, effective facilitation and collaborative Web 2.0 skills


 * Vibrant, dynamic network of community media using media and ICTs locally and regionally to promote and facilitate equitable, sustainable development
 * Widespread access in the region to effective learning programmes via local community media and telecentres
 * Stronger regional networks linking media with development and education providers

Short term outputs

 * Greater familiarity, sharing of experience and ideas, etc. among Caribbean community media
 * Increased use of regional networking tools, the Caribbean Internet Radio Portal, etc.
 * New online skills, e.g. writing for the web, blogging, wiki, etc. developed
 * New training and facilitation skills
 * Promising ”media for learning” programme formats – good practices – identified
 * Concrete plans to develop educational community radio programmes for at least six stations

Approach

 * Build from existing community media processes and programmes in the region
 * An inclusive, engaging, highly participatory workshop focused on sharing experience, practical group work, skills training
 * Pre-workshop discussions with participating stations in an online forum; pre-workshop online wiki skills training
 * Site visit to a community media outlet in St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Participation

 * 20 Caribbean community media practitioners, especially programme directors, producers
 * 4+ community media trainer-facilitators
 * 3+ local partner observers, e.g. farmers’ group, educational institutes
 * 3+ regional partner observers, e.g. regional agricultural association, health programmes, etc.