The U.S. Embassy launched nationwide media trainings to empower journalist for accurate reporting in connection to the upcoming elections scheduled for August 2020.
The initiative implemented by the Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs (CCP) in partnership with Addis Ababa University School of Journalism and Communications and a support from the US embassy in Addis is launched on Wednesday March 4, 2020 at Sapphire Hotel.
The embassy earmarked 450,000 USD for the project which seeks to help the media provide accurate, balanced, and verified information to the public during the election process.
According to the organizers, a total of 25 training sessions are planned throughout the country in which 20 to 30 members of the media and social media influencers are expected to participate that ultimately reaching 625 Ethiopian media professionals.
“This project aims to enhance the skill sets of journalists and strengthen the institutional capacity of Ethiopian media organizations with the overarching goal of improving the quality of information available to the Ethiopian public in the lead up to the 2020 elections in Ethiopia” said Amanda Jacobsen, Public Affairs Officer of US Embassy.
“These media trainings are part of the U.S. Embassy’s efforts to improve media capacity as part of our seven pillars of engagement in support of the incredible reform effort underway here in Ethiopia,” she adds.
“The Media training helps journalist to inform the public by facilitating forums for open debate, and educate the public about the election process and discharge their responsibilities,” said Wondwossen Andualem Deputy Director of Ethiopian Broadcasting Authority.
The Training manual is prepared by the Addis Ababa School of journalism after a comprehensive needs assessment and findings was conducted.
A week-long intensive facilitators’ training was provided to 24 trainers who will be deployed nationwide for the trainings. As part of the overall media capacity initiative, up to six American media professionals will be embedded in Ethiopian newsrooms to reinforce best practices and conduct need assessments.
“The goal of the program is to enhance the skill sets of journalists and strengthen the institutional capacity of Ethiopian media organizations to produce objective, fact-based reporting on the elections process, which will in turn improve the quality of information available to the Ethiopian public in the lead up to the 2020 national elections.”