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)

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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

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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