Continuing Education Project for Journalists in South Africa Begins

Based on a recommendation from CNN South Africa bureau chief Charlayne Hunter-Gault, the Journalism Resources Institute is developing a Continuing Education Project for Journalists in South Africa.

While visiting Rutgers in 2003, Hunter-Gault reported there was a significant need for such a project in not just South Africa, but for all of sub-Saharan Africa. Basing the project in South Africa, where the overall telecommunications and media infrastructure is most developed, Hunter-Gault recommended made the most sense. With appropriate funding, journalists from throughout the continent could be brought for continuing education seminars and workshops in South Africa.

The JRI director John Pavlik will travel to South Africa July 2004 to begin laying the foundation for the project. He will arrive in Cape Town July 1, where he will meet with various journalism and other colleagues. He will visit various locations concluding his trip in Johannesburg, where he will meet with leaders of the journalism and journalism education community.

In preparing for the visit, Dr. Pavlik has met with various experts on the region, including Dr. Clifford Nxomani, the head of the South African Large Telescope (SALT) project which is a collaborative project involving Rutgers. Nxomani has agreed to host a visit by Pavlik to the SALT facility north of Cape Town.

In addition, Nxomani has agreed to sponsor and organize a summit meeting of leading South African news media, scientists, policy makers and educators, with Pavlik as moderator, to discuss opportunities and need for improved coverage of science, technology and health in the region.

Pavlik will also be meeting with journalism colleagues at Rhodes University in Grahamstown, including director of the journalism dept., Prof. Guy Berger. Pavlik will also meet with leaders of the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) in South Africa, which conducts continuing education for journalists, but not primarily in the areas of science, technology and health.

The JRI program will focus on these areas, including investigative reporting and new media. These are areas of expertise and experience at the JRI, and will serve to compliment the existing programs at the IAJ. Prof. Jerri Eddings, Howard University, is an expert on South African journalism and has advised Prof. Pavlik with regard to effective strategies for the project.

Based on the experience and information acquired during the July 2004 visit, the JRI will develop a fundable proposal to implement the project on an ongoing basis for a minimum of five years. Partners in the project include Carolyn Brown and Allen Howard of the Center for African Studies at Rutgers. Initial support for the first phase of the project is being provided by the office of Seth Gopin, Global Initiatives, and Gus Friedrich, Dean, SCILS.

CNN's Charlayne Hunter-Gault has also indicated she will assist with the program.