Potential Centre of Excellence in Journalism Training in Africa, Walter Sisulu University to Train Community Broadcasters

UNESCO and the Walter Sisulu University’s broadcast school have entered into a partnership to train community radio broadcasters from Lesotho and Swaziland. The training seminar will focus on starting up community radio stations in both these countries. The training will take place at the broadcast studios at the Walter Sisulu University’s media school in East London from the 16 – 21 August 2009.

Walter Sisulu University’s broadcast school was chosen as training provider after being identified as a potential centre of excellence in media studies by UNESCO in 2007. The training will be directed by Phil Schneider, programme co-ordinator of the broadcast school based in Cambridge Street.

The school has successfully undertaken training of community radio practitioners in 2007 and 2008 in partnership with the Eastern Cape Communication Forum, a joint venture with the German Development Service (DED), for various community radio stations in the Eastern Cape, and is recognised as a leading trainer of radio broadcasters.

The UNESCO and Walter Sisulu University training initiative is another example of Walter Sisulu University’s close involvement with community development initiatives. “This is an exciting opportunity for WSU to play a meaningful role in community media development in Southern Africa in this partnership with UNESCO,” said Mr Schneider, “as well as a wonderful opportunity to forge partnerships with our neighbours to promote development communication.”

While community radio is readily accepted and promoted by South Africa’s government and legislation, many countries have yet to recognise the value of community radio for development. The participants from the Southern African countries who will be attending this historic training seminar are enthusiastic broadcasters who are highly motivated to start up community radio in their own countries.

UNESCO strongly supports the free exchange of ideas and knowledge by promoting the free flow of ideas by word and image in all countries, thus contributing to human rights, development and democratisation and strongly encourages the establishment of community radio for this purpose.

Issued by: Phil Schneider

Programme Coordinator,
School of Broadcasting,
Heritage Campus,
Walter Sisulu University,
Cambridge Street,
East London
Tel: 0437038506
Cell: 082200612
Fax: 0437038534
E-Mail: pschnei@wsu.ac.za