On Media, Society and Mauritius
Announcing two workshops for journalists in Mauritius:
Check this blog post for more info:
http://comstudies.wordpress.com/2012/10/04/two-workshops-for-journalists/
We are pleased to announce the launching of our book of proceedings for the UNESCO/UOM conference on the media in Mauritius which was held in September 2010 at the University of Mauritius.
The book is entitled ‘Enhancing Democratic Systems: The Media in Mauritius. A Dialogue Session’. It is a collection of papers presented by the panelists which come from the media industry, regulatory agencies, political parties, civil society and academia.
The ceremony will take place on Tuesday 23rd August in ELT1 at the Engineering Tower of the University. It is open to journalists and to anyone interested in media issues such as freedom of the press, media regulation and policies, training and professionalism and new trends in the media.
Enhancing Democratic Systems: The Media in Mauritius
A UNESCO/UOM Dialogue Session
Venue: University of Mauritius – 16 & 17th September 2010
Day 1: Thursday 16th September (ELT2 – Engineering Tower)
Opening Ceremony
13.30 – 14.00 Registration
14.00 – 14.05 Welcome Remarks – Dean FSSH
14.05 – 14.15 UNESCO Representative
14.15 – 14.20 Ag Vice Chancellor, UOM
14.20 – 15.00 Keynote address: Mr Amadou Mahtar Ba – CEO African Media Initiative
15.00 – 15.15 Floor Discussion
15.15 – 15.30 Tea Break
Session 1: Freedom, Media and Democracy
Chair: Ibrahim Koodoruth, UOM
15.30 – 15.45 Constitutional and Legal Frameworks: Opportunities and Constraints for the Media Industry – Maneesh Gobin
15.45 – 16.15 Freedom and Transparency: A Journalistic Appreciation – Subash Gobine and Gilbert Ahnee
16.15 – 16.30 Enlarging the Mauritian Democratic Space: Creating an Informed Citizenry – Catherine Boudet
16.30 – 17.00 Floor Discussion
Day 2: Friday 17th September (LT1 -NAC)
Session 2: Media Systems and Policies
(i) Chair: Amadou Mahtar Ba – African Media Initiative
9.30 – 9.45 Integrity of Public Institutions: The Case of the MBC – Dan Callikhan
9.45 – 10.00 Private Radio: Serving Public or Commercial Interest – Striking the Right Balance – Abdoollah Earally
10.00 – 10.15 21st Century Broadcasting: The Need to Revisit and Reinvent Established Systems – Roukaya Kasenally
10h15 – 10.30 Floor Discussion
(ii) Chair: Roukaya Kasenally – UOM
10.30 – 10.45 The Role of Regulation – Gilbert Ithier – IBA
10.45 – 11.00 Experiments in Self Regulation: The NEPA Code of Conduct – Lindsay Rivière
11.00 – 11.15 State or Self Regulation: The Search for Common Ground – Christina Chan-Meetoo
11h15 – 11h30 Floor Discussion
11h30 – 11h45 Tea Break
Session 3: Media, Politics and Democracy
Chair: Sheila Bunwaree – UOM
11.45 – 12.15 Mainstream Political Parties and the Media: Cehl Meeah (FSM ), Steven Obeegadoo (MMM), Nita Deerpalsing (LP)
12.15 – 12.35 Extra-parliamentary Dynamics and the Media: Ashok Subron and Nilen Vencadasamy
12.35 – 12.50 The Media and the notion of ‘Free and Fair’ Elections – Mayila Paroomal
12.50 – 13.10 Floor Discussion
13.10 – 13.40 Lunch
Session 4: Citizens and the Media
Chair: Caroline Ng Tseung Wong – UOM
13.40 – 13.55 New Spaces, New Challenges: The Relevance of Regulation – Trilock Dwarka
13.55 – 14.15 The Advent of Digital Content: Experiences in Online Journalism – Rabin Bhujun and Avinash Meetoo
14.15 – 14.30 The Emerging Digital Environment: Opportunities and Constraints – Azhagan Chenganna
14.30 – 15.00: Floor Discussion
15.00 – 15.15: Tea Break
Session 5: Challenges to the Journalism Trade: Training and Professionalism
Chair: Christina Chan Meetoo
15.15 – 16.15 Round Table: Kiran Ramsahye, Jean-Claude de L’Estrac, Henri Marimootoo, Axcel Cheney and Jean-Luc Emile
16.15 – 16.45 Floor Discussion
16.45 – 17.00 Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks
The Media and Communication Studies Unit of UOM, in collaboration with the UNESCO, is organising a conference/dialogue session on the theme ‘Enhancing Democratic Systems: The Media in Mauritius’ on Thursday 16th and Friday 17th September.
The objective is to allow key stakeholders to:
– Take stock of the existing battery of legal and regulatory framework with respect to the media in Mauritius.
– Revisit the various debates / exchanges about the changing role of the media in a democracy.
– Examine the relationship between the media and the different institutions such as the government, regulatory bodies and civil society.
– Explore the good practices available in the area of media regulation / self regulation.
– Engage into dialogue with key stakeholders in relation to the above and ensure a way forward for its prompt implementation.
For more information, read the concept note.
The opening ceremony will be held on Thursday 17th September at 2 p.m. in ELT2 (Engineering Tower). Mr Amadou Ba, CEO of the African Media Initiative will give the keynote address. His profile can be found here.
Read the detailed programme for both days here. Note that the first day (Thursday 16th) will be in ELT2 whereas the second day (Friday 18th) will be in ELT3 Lecture Theatre 1 of NAC.
Please drop me a line if you are interested in attending. Entrance is free and open to everyone and you can attend any number of sessions on any day. Feel free to disseminate.
Why do I have this uneasy feeling that we ordinary people are caught in the middle of a serious egocentric war between our power elites? That our democracy, though good in comparison with other nations on the continent, direly needs to be rebooted? That the system seems clogged with viruses?
Latest episode in the saga: the Sentinelle vs. Government tug of war with the decision by Pravind Jugnauth (DPM, Minister of Finance and MSM leader) to bar access from his press conference in the government house to all journalists from L’express and 5 Plus Dimanche (of the Sentinelle group) and from Radio One (of Viva Voce company which is partly owned and managed by La Sentinelle).
There has been an avalanche of articles in L´express which have traced back the punitive actions against the media group to 2006, with the advertisement boycotts from government and parastatal agencies, then with the tense relationship with the MSM which is now in alliance with the Labour party, then with the coverage of elections this year. It is a very complex affair which intertwines personal conflicts (Jean Claude de L’Estrac and Raj Meetarbhan vs. Navin Ramgoolam and Pravind Jugnauth) together with institutional (Sentinelle vs Government and its agencies, private sector vs government) and national inter-ethnic dimensions (Franco/Creoles vs. Hindus). This is where it becomes dangerous as we ordinary people are called upon to take sides without being given the full picture.
What is it that went sour in the relationship between the boss of L’express and the PM? In fact, how come they had such an intimate relationship at all? Why is the MSM so angry against JCDL and what does JCDL have to hide about the Jugnauths? There are so many questions to be asked and it looks like we will not be getting answers soon.
Personally, I am not taking anyone’s side. Rather I am taking the side of democracy. And I feel that both parties have done wrong to our democracy. On the one hand, L’express did not provide neutral and independent coverage of elections (just like Le Matinal and Le Dimanche). On the other, the Labour Party/MSM alliance has used its authority to try to stifle the private press (just like the MMM did in the past).
But, government has gone too far this time. Banning journalists from a press conference is a direct attack to press freedom. I hope this does not go any further and that they will recollect their senses and stop this escalation…
Hereunder a collection of links to articles which were published in the written press recently:
– Ce que je sais by Jean Claude de l’Estrac
– Ramgoolam, pile et face by JCDL
– Délits d’opinion by JCDL
– Faux démocrates by Raj Meetarbhan
– Boycott de la presse : Navin Ramgoolam répond au Dr Philippe Forget
– Cette grande presse partisane… by Subash Gobine
– Maladresses by SG
– Boycott ? by Kiran Ramsahaye
– Le Mauricien Opinion: Nous condamnons…
– Week-End Opinions : Délire liberticide et Ça sent la banane…
– Mauritius Times: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship
– NewsNow: Did I hear you say Mobutu? by Sydney Selvon
Addendum: list of publications whose editors/columnists have condemned the press conference ban (please let me know if the list is incomplete):
– Le Mauricien
– Week-End
– Samedi Plus
– Business Magazine
– Mauritius Times
– Le Défi
This year for the World Press Freedom Day, UNESCO has chosen the theme ‘Freedom of Information: the Right to Know”. In this context, Communication students have produced a series of material for a virtual exhibition. Their texts, photos and videos can be consulted at http://comstudies.wordpress.com/world-press-freedom-day-exhibition/
This resource is listed on the UNESCO website
.
Cette année pour la Journée Mondiale de la Presse, l’UNESCO a choisi le thème de ‘La Liberté d’Information. Dans ce contexte, les étudiants en Communication ont produit une série de textes, photos et vidéos pour une exposition virtuelle sur le lien suivant: http://comstudies.wordpress.com/world-press-freedom-day-exhibition/
L’expo est listée sur le site web de l’UNESCO