Relations with the media and Journalists’ Network on IWRM

The experience of GWP in Central America and West Africa

Marianela Argüello and Sidi Coulibaly,

Communications Officers

GWP Comms meeting 1&2 Sept. 2010, Stockholm

Contenido

1. Introduction

2. How to maintain relations with the media?

3. GWP Central America’s Journalists Network

4. How to establish the network?

Introduction/Justification• Media people have professional connections and are respected by

decision-makers.

• Media people are key for conveying information to Population and decision-Makers!

• Journalists are one of the best entry points to highlight the achievements and raise the visibility of an institution

• However they usually need some capacity building to understand well the topic, the concerns, be convinced with the relevance so that they can develop high quality articles and thus be well appreciated in their respective organs.

• A Partnership with them is then a win – win opportunity

• A Network with journalists can be a tool…

GWP Comms meeting 1&2 Sept. 2010, Stockholm

Relations with the media To Start

• Assess the existing networks of media people related to water or environment and define the added value to bring.

• Set clear goals from the beginning

• Target the best people

• Organization and thus be a representative and therefore have a room for including Water and Environment issues in the publications. Competent and well dedicated people are required

• If possible set some incentives /competitions such as prices and awards for the best publications

GWP Comms meeting 1&2 Sept. 2010, Stockholm

Things to avoid• Avoid a « bureaucratic » network

• Avoid giving the impression that GWP is a donor that can finance media organisations

• Better not give instructions – better advice!

• Gender issue is sometimes very sensitive, avoid interfering in private life!

• Avoid giving preference to a group (in WA we use both French and English)

• Avoid having private messages in the network listserve

• Avoid promises you cannot fulfillGWP Comms meeting 1&2 Sept. 2010, Stockholm

Good things to know• Associate high level personalities such as Ministers,

parliamentarians or well known water experts

• Have a specific theme for each meeting and build each workshop/meeting arround real and concrete cases (including field visits)

• Profit from the experience of the network members

• Always be a professional, what you do will be a reflexion of what GWP is

• Ethics is neededGWP Comms meeting 1&2 Sept. 2010, Stockholm

OUTCOMES/PRODUCTS• Since four years better quality articles

• GWP is refered to/cited more and more when there is an event

• Journalists are not waiting for any particular « incentive » to report on an event concerning GWP when they are informed

• During the workshop there is a lot of production on the topic and reference is always to GWP

• Two newsletters produced with articles written on the spot

• Five radio magazines produced and uploaded on web site

• Newsletter used as an advocacy tool by municipalities

GWP Central America’s Journalits Network on IWRM

• It was established on April 2004, after a regional workshop for Journalits on Drink Water and Sanitation held in Guatemala.

• The workshop was organized in coordination with the Inter-American Developmente Bank (IDB)

• We suggested to the journalists the creation of the network and invited them to be the first ones to be incorporated.

• With a group of near 15 journalist from Panama, Belize, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala, the network started to function, coordinated by GWP Central America.

How does it works?

• Mainly through the e-mail.

• There is a space on the wed site www.gwpcentroamerica.org dedicated to the network.

• Every year in GWP Central America’s workplan we include activities as national or regional trainings, field trips or invitation to events.

• The continues communication is necessary.

• The visibility of the work of the journalists is done through the site, e-mails and electronic bulletins.

How to establish a network?

• Having a clear idea of what you want and how you will accomplish it (your plan).

• Relating with journalists interested on the subject.

• Organizing an activity to promote GWP, IWRM and creating a commitment from the journalits.

• Motivating your regional coordinator and steering committee.

How to establish a network?

• Knowing that onces you start, you need to keep working on it.

• Creating information of interest for journalists and giving some value to be part of the Network.

• Be a teamleader to make everybody feel at home; be open with journalists and ready to respond

• Take into account recommendations they make

• Have a budget for the activity

How to maintain the network?

• Supporting journalists when they ask for advice

• Writting and sharing press releases

• Inviting journalits to key events

• Organizing activities, as workshops, trainings, etc.

• Setting up clear rules for participation and let the network know

• Involving the CWPs in the collaboration with journalists

What not to do?

• Corruption is not accepted

• Special interests can create future problems

• Ideas mentioned by before by Sidi

GWP Comms meeting 1&2 Sept. 2010, Stockholm

• More and more Journalists now know GWP

• They write more about water issues

• GWP is mentioned in articles.

• They feel confortable asking to GWP for advise

• The participate in events we organized

• Other organizations know the work GWP is doing through the Journalists Networks…

• This story will continue…

OUTCOMES/PRODUCTS

Thank You!¡Gracias!

Merci!Tack!