@PinkAngel284Katyana
Libya has been experiencing a political and social upheaval since Muammar al-Gaddafi’s regime was overthrown and the National Transitional Council (NTC) assumed power. The media could play a decisive role in a process aimed at restructuring the country as a democratic and civil society. In September, Carsten von Nahmen, head of DW-AKADEMIE’s Africa division, and project manager Martin Hilbert visited local broadcasters in Bengasi to get a sense of the situation and to look at perspectives for new media in the country’s east. One result is that DW-AKADEMIE will be training journalists from four radio stations in Bengasi starting in mid-October.
Von Nahmen says the trip underlined a great need for training as well as positive reactions towards DW-AKADEMIE support. Although fighting continues in parts of the country, DW-AKADEMIE is optimistic that the media landscape will develop in Bengasi and other liberated areas. “People there want to change things,” says project manager Hilbert. Many are pushing for new media structures, he adds, particularly where radio is concerned .“The people we spoke with emphasized a need for basic training in the areas of news, reports and live reports,” says von Nahmen. These formats will be the focus of an initial two-week workshop in Bengasi. In November, presenters will be trained in interviewing techniques and in hosting talk shows. A management workshop for young executives will follow in December.
Since the revolution began, those radio stations participating in the workshops have relied primarily on young volunteers with no previous journalistic training. The workshops are to enable them to professionally accompany and support the country’s reconstruction and democratic development.
Carsten von Nahmen, head of DW-AKADEMIE’s Africa divisionSome of these stations emerged from the remnants of old infrastructures, as is the case with “Sawt Libya Al-Hurra” radio (Voice of Free Libya), a future DW-AKADEMIE partner. The station, located in Bengasi, emerged from two bankrupt state broadcasters taken over by Libyan rebels. It broadcasts nationwide via middle wave and is seen as the NTC’s “official broadcaster”. Another DW-AKADEMIE partner ,“Shabab” (Youth), is a student radio station established in May 2011. DW-AKADEMIE experts say it has “very ambitious programming” but limited technical equipment and financing. The journalists and technicians currently working there do not get paid.“We want to support our partners’ strong commitment as much as we can,” says Carsten von Nahmen. “Our first workshop in October is just the start of a long-term commitment in Libya – not only in Bengasi, but also in Tripoli and other areas in the country as soon as the security situation there allows.”
