LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - MR. GEORGE TANBER

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 MASERU 000548 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S, IIP/SEG (KARA BREISSINGER); E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP KDEM LT SUBJECT: LESOTHO: SPEAKER PROGRAM EVALUATION - MR. GEORGE TANBER REF: KARA BREISSINGER E-MAIL (5/02/07) MASERU 00000548 001.2 OF 002 ¶1. SUMMARY: From September 17-21, Embassy Maseru hosted international speaker and journalist Mr. George Tanber, a former correspondent and investigative reporter/editor for The Toledo Blade. Mr. Tanber's presentation and dialogue with journalists from different media houses came at a timely point in Lesotho's history as political turbulence is having an undeniable impact on the country's nascent press corps. Lesotho's media is becoming bolder in their reporting. In the five program days Mr. Tanber was in Maseru, post assesses that he had a strong impact on those he addressed. During his two-day workshop with journalists, his presentation and dialogue with journalism students, and his one-on-one sessions with local journalists, we found him to be attentive and helpful. We rate Mr. Tanber's program highly and recommend him for future speaking engagements. END SUMMARY. ¶2. Below is Embassy Maseru's official review of Mr. George Tanber's program. ¶A. NAME OF SPEAKER AND DATE OF PROGRAM NAME: Mr. George Tanber, former correspondent and investigative reporter and editor for The Toledo Blade PROGRAM: Mr. Tanber conducted a program on investigative journalism, the challenges faced by journalists, fact finding, and other aspects of media tradecraft in Maseru, Lesotho, on September 17-21, 2007. ¶B. BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE TOPICS, VENUES, AND AUDIENCES ADDRESSED Embassy Maseru's Public Affairs Section (PAS) arranged for Mr. Tanber during his five programming days in Maseru a two-day journalism workshop, a one-day speaking engagement with journalism students, and a number of media appearances and one-on-one sessions with working media practitioners (see below). PAS successfully worked with local media houses as well as the Department of Mass Communication at the Institute of Extra-Mural Studies (IEMS) to allow Mr. Tanber access to Lesotho's journalists, journalism students, and members of the IEMS staff. His presentations brought Lesotho a global perspective on challenges faced by journalists and how they can be tackled, ideas on pursuing community journalism and balanced reporting, as well as the role of media in development and democracy. His presentations were at: 
 -- The Maseru Golf Club: PAS hosted a two-day workshop facilitated by Mr. Tanber (Participants/audience: working journalists) -- The Institute of Extra-Mural Studies (IEMS): IEMS hosted Mr. Tanber's half-day seminar (audience: IEMS staff members, journalism students) ¶C. AUDIENCE SIZE Mr. Tanber directly addressed 58 individuals, and reached many more through the mass media (see below). The audience IEMS was approximtaely 30 students. The workshop audience numbers were slightly less than anticipated, but still high for Lesotho's small and understaffed media houses. ¶D. EFFECTIVENESS OF THE SPEAKER IN COMMUNICATION OF INTENDED MESSAGES TO TARGET AUDIENCE Mr. Tanber's presentation at the two-day workshop was well received and he addressed some critical issues and challenges currently facing the media. He advised the journalists on ways to vary their stories, thus creating diversity. He pressed them to seek community stories. He advised journalists to form an umbrella organization and to create a code of conduct in order to ensure professionalism and protect themselves from lawsuits. He advised media professionals on the importance of acquiring and protecting sources, especially in investigative journalism. Perhaps most importantly, he strongly emphasized the importance of solid fact finding, using more than one source, and ensuring impartiality. He gave journalism students tips on good journalism, and discussed many of the same points noted during the workshop. ¶E. QUALITY OF IIP SUPPORT Embassy Maseru is greatly appreciative of IIP's support during the entirety of this program. The lines of communication between our post and Program Officer Kara Breissinger were open, effective, and constant. As a "PD-light" post with limited resources, Embassy Maseru is delighted to have been offered this opportunity. We were in frequent communication with IIP regarding Mr. Tanber's schedule, and appreciated her arrangement MASERU 00000548 002.2 OF 002 of several pre-departure briefings for Mr. Tanber. ¶F. IMMEDIATE RESULTS/IMPACT While highlighting the importance of balanced reporting, the need for a code of conduct, and good journalism practices, Mr. Tanber's presentations and dialogue directly addressed two of Embassy Maseru's Mission Strategic Plan goals: 1) Democratic Practices and Systems; and 2) Domestic Understanding of Foreign Policy. This program fulfilled a number of current post objectives, including: 1) supporting and assisting the local media with training to ensure their professionalism as well as impartiality; 2) enhancing the ability of the media to act as an independent watchdog; and 3) increasing attention or awareness in the media and in public of USG assistance to Lesotho. Mr. Tanber reached out to a group of dedicated and driven journalists and students who want to see the media in their nation improve and become more professional and independent. ¶G. PRESS PLACEMENT REPORTING Embassy Maseru arranged an interview for Mr. Tanber on PC-FM, a privately-owned Maseru-based radio station. The interview was broadcast live on September 21. He had a second interview with Harvest FM, a faith-based privately-owned radio station, on September 21. His third radio interview was with Ultimate FM, a government-owned youth-oriented government-owned radio station. The interview was broadcast live on September 21. A recorded interview with Radio Lesotho, a government-owned national radio station, was broadcast on September 20. Embassy Maseru also arranged an interview for Mr. Tanber on Lesotho Television (LTV),the nation's sole domestic television station. We estimate the viewership of LTV at approximately 30,000. In addition, Mr. Tanber interviewed with two English language newspapers -- Mopheme and Public Eye. We estimate the readership of these publications at approximately 200,000. NOLAN