Request for Speaker on Journalism Ethics

UNCLAS KINGSTON 001135 SIPDIS STATE FOR IIP/G/WHA CBARONE; INFO WHA/PDA MJOHNSON; APRUITT; RBANKS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KPAO JM SUBJECT: Request for Speaker on Journalism Ethics ¶1. Summary: Post seeks a speaker to direct a three day program of discussions and training on ethics issues for journalists and journalism students. End Summary. ¶2. Proposed Program Dates: A three-day program in Jamaica in September 2005 (dates are flexible but preferred dates are mid-September). ¶3. MPP Strategic Goal: "Democratic Systems and Practices" ¶4. Purpose of the Program: Post seeks a speaker to address ethics issues in journalism. Topics of particular relevance to Jamaica are: reporting on scandal,- speculation and rumor; objectivity and personal agendas; editorial page ethics; ethics and the Internet; special interests buying coverage; plagiarism and deception; ethics in reporting crime and violence (including photojournalism/visual presentation); and boundaries and guidelines. Jamaica is a small society. Rumor and speculation (presented as fact) circulate fast, often fueled by the personal opinions of radio talk show hosts and newspaper columnists, many without journalism training. Conflicts of interest abound; media figures generally have affiliations crossing public and private sectors. Journalists, young and old alike, find themselves pressured by special interests and distracted by rumor and innuendo. In an increasingly competitive media landscape, reporters are also under pressure to break stories at any cost. Factual and objective reporting is often a casualty of all these pressures. Jamaica will benefit from accurate and fair reporting, based on clear analysis of the facts and with high professional standards. While some media houses, such as the Gleaner newspaper, have attempted to establish their own code of ethics, the topic is barely addressed by the English- speaking Caribbean's only journalism training school. The proposed speaker program will address this issue and sensitize younger journalists and journalism students about the importance of ethical considerations. ¶5. Audience: Practicing journalists and editors (print and broadcast media); youth reporters; students and lecturers in journalism and communications. ¶6. Proposed topics and nature of events: Workshop (consisting of two morning sessions) for practicing journalists; lunch with the Media Association of Jamaica (influential media bosses); Editors Forum at the Gleaner newspaper; meeting with lecturers at the Caribbean Institute of Media and Communication (CARIMAC) at the University of the West Indies; presentation to a CARIMAC undergraduate class; after-school discussion session with teenage journalists. ¶7. Type of specialist required: An academic from a journalism school such as Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Oregon or the College of Communications at California State University, Fullerton. ¶8. Language: English. ¶9. Funding specifics: I Bucks. ¶10. Post program officer: Glenn Guimond, PAO; tel: (876) 935- 6053; fax: (876) 929-3637; email:guimondg@state.gov. Back- up program officer: Emma Lewis, PAA, tel: (876) 935-6009; fax: (876) 929-3637; email: lewisec@state.gov. Regards, Tighe