Southern Africa Media Training Needs Assessment

This report presents the findings of an assessment of media training needs in Southern African commissioned by the Maputo-based NSJ Trust in collaboration with the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) based in Namibia; the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism in South Africa and the Zambia Mass Communication Institute (ZAMCOM).

The main objectives were to establish an overview and analysis of:

• The institutions undertaking and delivering media training
• The type of training they are providing
• How to improve and strengthen the training
• The identification of new media training needs
• Sustainability of media and training institutions

The research took place in two phases. During the first phase from March to April 2001,questionnaires were sent out to users and providers of media training and in-depth interviews conducted by phone, as well as face to face. Preliminary findings of the research were presented at a joint meeting of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Media Trainers Workshop and the Editors Forum ahead of World Press Freedom Day in Windhoek, Namibia in May 2001.

The second phase of the research sought to both broaden and deepen the research, through obtaining more responses to questionnaires; canvassing the views of media practitioners who have been beneficiaries of training; as well as obtaining case material on innovative approaches that are contained in the various boxes in this report.

All 61 interviews were conducted with providers, users, beneficiaries and donors of media training in Southern Africa; 33 of these by phone, and face to face in the six SADC countries where on site research took place. The researchers also reviewed a number of existing studies on media training and related subjects in the region. Comments received on a second draft of the report at a subsequent meeting in September helped to shape this final report.