Med-Ecomedia
Introduction : MED-ECOMEDIA was established as a regional network to link media professionals and communicators interested in environmental issue reporting, and in promoting environmental awareness. The network was first launched in July 1995 in Geneva following a Mediterranean Environmental Technical Assistant Program METAP II Workshop, but reactivated with support of the Regional Capacity Building Program RCBP in 1997 in Amman, Jordan. Recently the Network registered with the International Federation of Environmental Journalists IFEJ to increase its contacts with environmental journalists globally. The Worldwide Fund for Nature WWF provided during the year 1999 technical and financial support to the network in a process that aims at strengthening the network and opening new contacts and venues to other media institutions. The Network presently is more than 100 members. The Network, since its establishment, was able to expand and contribute to the enhancement of media role in promoting the increase of public awareness in environmental matters. The number of members has both increased both in term of countries and individual members.
MED-ECOMEDIA
Establishment Justification The
Mediterranean Region is degrading at an alarming rate. The environmental
degradation of the Mediterranean Region already severe is worsening daily in
many areas; in some cases the degradation threatens to be irreversible. Most
sources of pollution are land based; contaminating the sea, coastal zones,
ground water, and areas of natural beauty and biodiversity. Environmental
problems in the Mediterranean have both health and economic impacts.
Pollution in the Mediterranean, as elsewhere, results from the misuse of
natural resources, prompted by inadequate institutions, inappropriate
policies, low levels of public awareness, low level of media involvement and
insufficient investment. The Mediterranean degradation as a common resource, binds the countries together that collectively share the cost of their past and current neglect of the environment. National and Regional concerted efforts are needed to boost the environmental conservation and protection initiatives among of which the MED-ECOMEDIA network . Objectives To enhance
capacity of environmental media in covering and communicating priority
environmental issues through awareness-raising activities; improving access
to environmental information; producing newspaper and magazine articles,
videos, newsletters and conducting interviews. Activities Undertaken
ü
MED-ECOMEDIA in a step to bring together
Journalists and Information professionals of all METAP* countries and to
diffuse through all forms of information in the fields of environmental
terminology's, media power, environmental management, nature conservation and
to achieve sustainable development for the purpose of alleviating
Mediterranean Region environmental
degradation and to consolidate the experiences right After the Network
initiation and reactivation, a meeting took place in Amman during the 27-30
June 1997 organized a Regional Workshop on the Role of Media in Environmental
Communications , following the organization of the Network’s General
Assembly. At this time the By-laws of the Network were developed, the
workplace of the Regional secretariat was agreed upon and the national teams
developed draft work plans. The organizational structure of the network was
defined and national coordinators were elected. The Network expanded its
membership from the original 7 countries to include 11 METAP countries; ü
MED-ECOMEDIA
Participated in round table discussions, training events and international
conferences. ü
MED-ECOMEDIA
participated in the TRIPARTITE REVIEW 10-15 January 1999 where METAP thought
of as a review mechanism for the Regional Capacity Building Program RCBP
objectives, progress towards them, and the need for any action to ensure
program achievements. ü
MED-ECOMEDIA
participated in the meeting of Partners and Collaborators for the MEDBRANCH
Program where the Network was able to learn about this program and outlines
ways in which the media could support the process; ü
MED-ECOMEDIA
participated in the MEDBRANCH Regional Workshop on Participatory Processes
and Planning in July 1997 , where the network presented its experience in
organizing and covering public hearings and consultations; ü
MED-ECOMEDIA
was represented at the METAP National Focal Points Meeting in Bled in
November 1997 where the Network presented its experience in establishing the
organizational structure and operation of the Network; ü
A
MED-ECOMEDIA member participated in the MEDPOLICIES Regional Consultations
held in Bled in November 1997; ü
In April
1998 , MED-ECOMEDIA member from Tunisia participated in the Sub-Regional NGO
Consultation for the Magreb in Tunis and presented the Network and the role
of media in supporting activities of NGO’s; ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ · METAP
Countries include : Albania, Alegeria ,Bosnia , Croatia , Cyprus , Egypt ,
Jordan , Lebanon , Morocco , Palestine , Slovenia , Syria , Tunisia , and
Turkey ü
The
Network was represented in the Fifth Journalists World Congress of
Environmental Journalists in Colombo in October 1998 where the Network
registered itself with the International Federation of Environmental
Journalists. ü
1 Network
member participated in the 11th Asia Pacific and 2nd
Commonwealth Congress of Environmental Journalists. Comilla – Bangladesh
September 13-17, 1999. ü
MED-Ecomedia
General Assembly and a training workshop were organized in Tunis 17-20
February 2000 . Training and Skills Enhancement of Network Members ü
3 Network
members participated in June 1997 in a Regional Training for Environmental
Media organized by the Federation of Arab Journalists with Al-Ahram and
CEDARE in Cairo; ü
2 Network members were selected to
participate in September 1998 in a course organized by the World Bank’s
Economic Development Institute in Ankara , to learn about environmental
economics and planning ; ü
2 Network
members participated in an Environmental Media Training organized by the
International Federation of Environmental Journalists in Colombo in October
1998. ü
1 Network
member participated in the MAC-Bride Round Table on “ Culture and
Communication “ in November 1998 in Amman. ü
1 Network
member presented a paper titled “ Partnership between NGO’s and Media “ in
the Scientific Day Organized by the Moroccan Society for Evnironment and
Development in Rabat in July 1999. ü
2 Network
members participated in the “Sustainable Tourism in the Mediterranean and
Environmental conservation: potentials, threats and opportunities “ in June
1999 in Rome. ü
The
Network has produced different publications as follows :
ü
Three posters titled
ü
Contribute
to rescue mission towards sustainable development.
ü
Accidents
‘ Prevention starts from the information
ü
Pollution
Prevention.
ü
Network
membership card
ü
Network
stamps for the 14 METAP countries.
ü
Fact
sheet about the network.
ü
Calendar
about the Network for the year 1998.
ü
Network
By-Laws.
ü
Two
issues of the MED-Ecomedia Bi-monthly Newsletter “ Environmental Watch”.
ü
Translating
an environmental reporting guide book” Ten Practical tips for environmental reporting” National Action Plans
ü
The
Jordanian group organized a series of public hearings on key themes, training
workshops for media, and field visits. Increased media coverage of events
such as the National roundtable in Zarka Basin where the problems of the hot
spot were given extensive presses, TV and radio coverage. ü
The Palestinian
group reported that it had organized public awareness activities about the
environment with community groups, such as youth and students, it was also
promoting effective media coverage of issues as well as engaging in the
production of multimedia activities. ü
The
Albanian group, with support of local NGO's, organized a series of
Round-tables with Parliamentarians and the media in order to discuss key
environmental issues and concerns facing the country and government efforts
in this regard. MED-ECOMEDIA members are also engaged in development of a
video library with support from other donors. ü
The
Tunisian group has extensively written about environmental issues in the
press and has held interviews with government officials and institutions. ü
The Moroccan
group has activated a special committee to consider environmental reporting
within the Federation of Moroccan journalists and has covered environmental
issues in the press and radio. ü
The
Turkish group has promoted the Network through different writings and
interviews. Al- Hurriyet Daily Newspaper and Green Talking as well as the
Turkish Radio Television were among the media promoted the Network. Results ×
Functioning
network bringing media and communicators from radio, TV and press in 11
countries. ×
Mechanisms
to increase public awareness and improve access to environmental information. ×
A
multi-directional flow of information reflecting concerns of various actors,
government and the public. ×
Institutional
support mechanisms established within press associations and NGO’s. ×
Training
of Network members in Political Economy and Environmental Management. ×
Institutionalized
and established Network linked with many other networks and organizations and
implementing activities in partnership. ×
The
Network have registered as member body in the International Federation for
Environmental Journalists IFEJ and in the Asian Forum for Environmental
Journalists AFEJ. Future Activities A Joint
proposal is under development to be forwarded to donors to continue the
partnership existing between the network and WWF Rome. |