Africa Community Development Media (ACDM) proposes the launch of “ACDM Community Journalists’ Training Programme” – a training program that will further implement the organization’s mission of actualizing the power of communities through community and social media. The “programme”,to be conducted at our offices, will serve as a platform to train Community Journalists on how to manage social media and blogs for their respective organizations. From a theoretical perspective, key ethical challenges for online journalists will be addressed, including: Accuracy, Transparency, Value Addition, Corrections and dealing with Trolls.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Nairobi
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
The training targets two sets of groups:
-Community Journalists working or attached at community radio and TV stations as primary target
-Individuals with no media skills but who have a knack for gathering information in the community as secondary target
ACDM frequently partners with other Community Media outlets especially on the development of audio content. One of the most revealing aspects of such partnerships is that due to low internet-penetration in many non-urban areas Community Media has given a wide berth to online journalism. Unfortunately, most community media houses have little or no representation at all yet their staff are well versed in utilizing the internet and technologically savvy.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
Jabari Smith – twitter.com/jabarinspires, facebook.com/jabarinspires, youtube.com/jabarinspires,
Kofi Yeboah-https://www.facebook.com/kofi.yeboah.547?fref=ts, https://twitter.com/kofiemeritus
Musa Haron- https://twitter.com/musa_haron, http://musaharon.wordpress.com/
Kenneth Kigunda- https://twitter.com/kenkigunda
Ziporah Syokau- https://www.facebook.com/zippy.syokau?fref=ts
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Through this training, we expect increased coverage of Human Rights and Development News. We also expect more of a World Wide Web presence from Community Media platforms where their on-line content is in sync with their on-air content. Most of the Community Radio Stations that ACDM partners with have enriching and thought-provoking content but due to the limitation of their on-air frequency, only a few people are reached. However, with a powerful and expansive on-line presence, the opportunities are unlimited.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established or plan to establish that will contribute to the success of the project.
ACDM frequently partners with Kenya’s Community Radio Stations to syndicate content, air feature stories, and produce jingles and public service announcements. Currently, ACDM broadcasts two syndicated shows on Pamoja FM, the official radio station of the Kibera Slum community, in an effort to improve the quality of content aired by Community Radios in the country. The two shows, Vybz Mtaani (a youth show focusing on reproductive health issues) and Ndimi Za Siasa (a current events & civic education show) are the first in a long-term plan to be at the forefront of the producing quality content for Community Radio in Kenya and across East Africa.
With this grant, ACDM seeks to widen its scope in the development of online-content.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
With the grant, ACDM will be able to train 24 participants in a three-phase training process. We believe that our vast partnerships on the Community Radio front will be the driving force in attracting participants. Additionally, our current and past partnerships with Community Based Organizations (CBOs) will also come in handy as we will further seek participants who are not necessarily Community Journalists but have a knack for news-gathering.
ACDM has an available training space and a dedicated team of trained journalists and in-kind supporters which will go a long way in sustaining the training for the full three phases.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
We pride ourselves in being an organization with a strong online media presence. ACDM’s Safari Africa Radio has an average of 3000 daily hits while on the social media front, ACDM has a combined fan base of over 4000. ACDM also boasts the Kenya Civil Society Information Service (KSCIS) portal. As the organization’s Editor, I spearhead the two departments.
The team that will be involved in the trainings has well-rounded knowledge in Online-Media and frequently attends training on the same. Kenneth Kigunda, our Social Media Content Creator has attended Multimedia and Mastering Social Media trainings at Internews and Radio Netherlands Training Centre respectively.
Media and Tools:
Windows,Sound Cloud,Word Press,Whatsapp,Google Accounts,Facebook & Twitter
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
ACDM has an available space that will be set aside during the conducting of the ACDM Community Journalists’ Training Programme. Currently, it serves as the organization´s library hall and has enough space for 40 people. We will also use a projector during the practical lessons and participants´ phones while training them on how to use whatsapp as a multimedia tool for news gathering. ACDM has a wi-fi connection with dedicated speeds of 2MBPS. During the training, we shall provide 4 laptops to the trainess for practical lessons.
What is your current relationship with the community with whom you plan to work? What makes you the most appropriate individual or organization to implement this project?
Currently, ACDM has two syndicated shows on Kibera Slums’ Pamoja FM in an effort to improve the quality of content aired by Community Radios across the country. The two shows, Vybz Mtaani and Ndimi Za Siasa (mentioned earlier) are first in a long-term plan to be at the forefront of the production of quality content for Community Radios.
Previous successful partnerships conducting FREE trainings for Community Radio Stations across Kenya, alongside the Centre for Rights, Education & Awareness (CREAW) gives us an added advantage. We have been, and continue to be, readily available to provide material for any Community Radio Stations in need which has ensured great trust in our ability to serve as effective partners
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
Challenges
ATTITUDE: From our previous trainings, attitude has been a challenge where most participants feel they already know most of what is being taught and feel that it is a waste of time to go through the whole training.
RESISTANCE to change: While most of the target participants are well versed in the effective utilization of technology, they blame lack of remuneration from Community Media as the primary reason they are unwilling to step up their on-line presence.
To address ATTITUDE, we will use questionnaires and think tank like discussions to identify the specific needs of the participants.
To address RESISTANCE, we will teach them how to have their content published via mainstream media in exchange for a retainer through a consistent on-line presence.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
1) More online Development and Human Rights (news, features, radio shows) coverage.
2) More involvement of community in national agenda setting.
3) Marked influence and response of area leadership in community development and human rights issues
4) Increased influence in Development and Human Rights issues by partner community radios.
5) Wider partnership with Community Media that supports this agenda
6) Popularized Human Rights and Development issues at community level.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
ACDM Community Journalists’ Training Programme is expected to take place on the following dates:
Phase 1: (May 26 – May 30)
Phase 2: (June 9 – June 13)
Phase 3: (June 23 – June 27)
Course Outline:
Introduction to ACDM Community Journalists’ Training Programme 1
Questionnaire-Day 1
Social Media- Day 2
Micro Blogging-Day 2
Podcasts-Day 3
Photo editing-Day 4
Media Law and Ethics-Day 4
Participants´ Evaluation-Day 5
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
Hiring a Projector- $353
Travel re-imbursment-$565
Refreshments-$353
Printing and stationery-$188
Flip chart-$34
Two audio recorders for practical lessons-$588
Certificates of participation-$240
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Kindly provide advice on how to further maximize the impact of online journalism in communities that may be challenged in their ability to access consistent internet connections. Additionally, please share past projects, if any, which successfully supported the representation of underserved communities online.
Contact name
Leonard Njau
Organization
Africa Community Development Media