RRT ERBIL: IIP SPEAKER TRAINS BROADCAST

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 BAGHDAD 001004 SIPDIS SIPDIS DEPARTMENT FOR ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: OIIP OEXC SCUL OPRC KPAO IZ SUBJECT: RRT ERBIL: IIP SPEAKER TRAINS BROADCAST JOURNALISTS IN THE KURDISTAN REGION This is an Erbil Regional Reconstruction Team message. Summary -------------- ¶1. (U) RRT Erbil hosted IIP Specialist Professor Robert Hooper of the University of California - San Diego, who conducted a two-week training workshop from March 3 through March 13 for eighteen local television journalists. The program improved the technical skills of Iraqi journalists and strengthened USG contacts with local media. Context -------------- ¶2. (U) Television is the primary source of information for residents of the Kurdistan Region, as it is for residents of the rest of Iraq. Although most media organs in the Kurdistan Region are controlled by the major political parties, the recent protests by journalists regarding the Media Law passed by the Kurdistan National Assembly in December 2007 and the subsequent decision by the KRG President to return the law to the KNA for amendment indicate a growing independent role for media within civil society. Journalists have identified training as one of their most important needs; international NGOs, such as IREX, have also indicated a need for training of journalists. Journalists (reporters, editors, and camera operators) from Zagros TV (KDP),Kurdsat (PUK),Galle Kurdistan (PUK),Yegirtu TV (KIU),and Nowruz TV (KRG) participated in the training program which was conducted at a local hotel. Training program -------------- ¶3. (U) Professor Hooper is an experienced television producer and documentary maker who has extensive international experience training broadcast journalists and developing curricula in several countries. In his workshop in Erbil, Hooper focused on basic techniques of interviewing and reporting, writing and story narrative, lighting, camera framing, and presentation. Hooper brought several video clips to demonstrate concepts and had sent worksheet handouts in advance for translation, but the class most appreciated the hands on exercises. Although security considerations precluded leaving hotel premises, workshop participants utilized various locations on the hotel grounds for their exercises. At the end of the workshop, Hooper could identify specific areas of improvement in technical skills. ¶4. (U) Participants exhibited great determination to attend the workshop. Journalists from Kurdsat came from Sulaimaniyah to attend and during the second week of the conference, downtown roads were closed to normal traffic due to the Conference of Arab Parliamentarians taking place in Erbil - forcing participants to walk a great distance to reach the training venue. Workshop participant and reporter Hemim Mam Rash said "as a journalist in more than one organization (Galle Kurdistan TV, Radio, Kurdistane Nwe newspaper, and PUKmedia.com) and a journalism student at Salahaddin University, it was very useful to have an expert professional provide practical training, especially such a person as Dr. Hooper who has spent years in the media field. The experience and information that I learned during these two weeks was more valuable than two years in university." ¶5. (U) During free afternoons, Professor Hooper accompanied the RRT PDO to visit the Journalism Department of the local Technical Institute and three local television stations (Galle Kurdistan, Yegirtu, and Zagros). In some cases, these visits were the first by USG personnel to the partner institutions and all served to strengthen the RRT's connection to local contacts. All of the station managers stressed how useful their journalists found the workshops and expressed interest in further collaboration. Comment -------------- ¶6. (U) The mission of the PRTs is to build capacity with local government and civil society organizations; training is one of the most effective means to build that capacity. Professor Hooper's training program was also an important component in RRT outreach to local media. RRT has also provided OBS videos to local television stations for broadcast; translated IIP's "Handbook of Independent Journalism," and nominated local journalists for a study tour and a TV Coop - but training of this type is the most important element. It has improved the technical skills of local journalists and has built great goodwill for the USG BAGHDAD 00001004 002 OF 002 among key opinion leaders. ¶7. (U) Post appreciates IIP's support of this program in a new and challenging environment. This was RRT's first speaker program and the direct person-to-person interactions that a speaker/specialist program provides were invaluable. At the conclusion of the workshop, Hooper indicated a willingness to conduct a follow-up workshop in the Fall. Post would welcome that opportunity or other opportunities to program IIP speakers or specialists. CROCKER