NMDC’s 94th Training on Disaster & Reconstruction

 Training on Reporting Disaster and Reconstruction

24-27 March 2016 (11 -14 Chait 2072), Palpa DAP/NMDC

Summary:

NMDC organized its 94th journalism training in Tansen, Palpa from 24 to 27 March 2016. DAP of the Australian Embassy had supported the four days long Reporting on Disaster & Reconstruction focused training. FNJ Palpa district branch had coordinated the training. It is fifth out of six training supported by DAP.

In the training, there were 19 energetic and young working journalists including 9 female from different media outlets. Among the participants, they were 7 from print, 7 from FM radio and 1 from TV Channel and other 4 were involved both in print and FM Radio station. Participants were from five different districts including Palpa, Shyangja, Kapilbastu, Rupendehi and Nawalparasi.

All participants were young working reporters and had participated actively. Reporters had learned about disaster, phases of disaster, tips for disaster and reconstruction reporting NMDC had given priority to young working journalists. They also have learned basic principles of journalism.

Chief District Officer of Palpa, Baburam Gautam had inaugurated the training. Senior journalist and journalism freedom fighter Megh Raj Sharma, former FNJ President Bhagwan Bhandari, trainer Shreeram Singh Basnet and Badri Tiwari, representatives from different media organizations and reporters were present in the inaugural program.

Chief Guest of the session Baburam Gautam welcoming and thanking to the organizer-NMDC and the Australian Embassy for bringing the training in Palpa said, “Training supports the participants to enhance their skill, knowledge and technology. The relevant training will certainly help inspire young journalists to be professional in their profession.

Senior journalists Megh Raj Sharma said, the journalists should provide true information so that it strengthens democracy in local level. Highlighting on the need of such training Bhagwan Bhandari requested the participants to benefit from the training.

Trainer Basnet addressing at the inaugural session said, ” Local reporter should be ready to write on disaster on regular basis. Nepal lies under disaster zone, so we seriously have to take emergency journalism as a major theme reporting. On behalf of NMDC, FNJ and the Australian Embassy, Mr.  Bishnu P Sharma (Executive Director, NMDC) welcoming the participants and guests had highlighted the theme, contents and methodology of the four days training. He also had thanked to the Embassy and FNJ for their precious contribution and support to enhance journalist’s reporting capacity. Rajesh Kumar Aryal, FNJ President Palpa district had chaired the session.

In the four days sessions, reporters had gained both basic information about journalism and theme based knowledge about the emergency journalism: its highlights; implications,  disaster reporting: its objectives, audience, style, linkage with journalistic norms of presenting stories for mass media, online, social media, verification of sources, facts, dealing with authorities during disaster and handling social media information. Other topics included were: cases of disaster reporting, policies of the government, what ethical reporting on disaster. What are the challenges to the journalists while reporting on disaster? Focuses was given on enhancing reporters’ listening, writing, and presenting skills.

They were involved in presenting, writing and listening exercises. Trainers had given cases of the disaster. Discussion and presentation took place on the topics such as disasters in respective districts, preparedness in the districts and news writing practices.

They also learned their role, role of news-desk, disaster preparedness at district level, tools for disaster: breaking news, follow-up news, news digest; public opinion; running story etc. Participants were encouraged to prepare disaster map of the district and write stories continuously to inform the public as well as concerned authorities. Snacks bite, flood in Terai, landslide, bushfire and flood in hill districts were discussed. The effort of media builds awareness about possible disaster to the general people and the authorities and helps save them.

Trainers Shreeram Singh Basnet and Badri Tiwari had facilitated the training. Similarly, LDO of Palpa Krishna Prasad Pandey and FNJ Presient of Palpa branch Rajesh Kumar Aryal had also facilitated about disaster preparedness and disaster reporting at district level respectively.

All reporters had expressed their commitment for regular reporting on disaster. They also had prepared ‘Individual Work-plan’ for post training reporting. All of them will prepare radio report, news and articles in Baishak 12 remembering the devastating earthquake of (12 May 2015) and they will continue reporting.

FNJ President of Palpa branch Rajesh Kumar Aryal had Chaired both inaugural and closing sessions. FNJ Palpa President, trainers and  former Presidents of FNJ Palpa had provided participation certificates to the trainees.

In total, 2273 (988 female) participants have participated in the training of NMDC including NMDC’s this 94th training organized in Palpa. 

Major Achievements of the training:  

The major achievements of the training are as follows:

• Participants identified 38 disaster and reconstruction related issues and placed them under their Individual Work Plan (issues are given in the detail report).
• 19 young journalists including 9 women expressed their commitment to write on disaster on regular basis.
• Confidence on writing news on disaster and reconstruction related issues developed.

NMDC Training at a Glance May 2007 to March 2016
SN	Training Theme	Male	Female	Total	Trainings	Covered Dist
1	Basic/Inter./Advanced	547	499	1046	41	55
2	Health	206	144	350	17	129
3	Development	107	124	231	11	53
4	Civic	271	91	362	11	45
5	Disaster	93	102	195	10	11
6	Diff. Themes	61	28	89	4	20
		1285	988	2273	94
	Training Conducted in 67 out of 75 districts of Nepal

 

 

NMDC’s 93nd Journalism Training

Training on Reporting Disaster and Reconstruction

15-18 March 2016 ( 02 – 05 Chait 2072) Dang DAP/NMDC

Summary: NMDC organized its 93^nd journalism training in Ghorahi, Dang from 15 to 18 March 2016. DAP of the Australian Embassy had supported the four days long Disaster & Reconstruction focused training for working journalists of the region. FNJ Dang coordinated the training.

In the training, there were 19 energetic and young working journalists including 9 female participants from different media outlets. Most of the participants were from FM radio stations working in different 5 districts- Banke, Dang, Salyan, Pyuthan and Rukum. All participants were working reporters and had participated actively in the training. Reporters had learned about disaster, phases of disaster, tips for disaster and reconstruction reporting. Among the participants 7 were from print, 11 from FM radio, and 1 from TV Channel.

S.N.	District	Female	Male	Total
1	Banke	–	2	2
2	Dang	4	7	11
3	Salyan	2		2
4	Pyuthan	1	1	2
5	Rukum	2	–	2
		9	10	19

Chief Guest of the session Narayan Prasad Sharma thanking to the organizer and the Australian Embassy for bringing the training in Dang said, ” The main task of journalism is to make the people happy from pain. This is an art of journalist that leads the society toward creativity and positiveness. Main part of journalism is social development giving news by evaluating the development of society.” Highlighting on the need of reconstruction, he said, “Nepal is now in new phase of political development, so there should be overall reconstruction of the society- for that journalists can lead, and they should”. Informing the participants about trainer Prof. R.K. Regmee he said, ” Regmee is the mixture of self reliance and dignity.”

Special guest CDO of Dang district Dipak Kafle said, ” Knowledge, skill, good attitude and techonology are essential to be a good journalist. Training provides all these things in short period.”

Trainer Regmee addressing at the inaugural session said, “Emergency journalism is one of the major faculties of modern journalism. Nepal is sitting above disaster zone, so we seriously have to take emergency journalism as a major theme reporting. Journalists have to raise questions on reconstruction, bring issues of the people then steps of reconstruction starts. Reporting builds confidence”.

Trainer R. K. Regmee and Laxman Adhikari had facilitated the four days. Reporters had gained theoretical knowledge about the emergency journalism: its highlights; implications,  disaster reporting: its objectives, audience, style, linkage with journalistic norms of presenting stories for mass media, online, social media, verification of sources, facts, dealing with authorities during disaster and handling social media information. Other topics included were: cases of disaster reporting, policies of the government, what the journalists should do and what not during disaster reporting? What are the challenges to the journalists while reporting on disaster? Focuses was given on enhancing reporters’ listening, writing, and presenting skills.

They were involved in presenting, writing and listening exercises. Trainers had given cases of the disasters such as death of the citizen, damaged historical sites during the earthquake, reconstruction and policies. During training participants had written news on the basic of given information. Later, trainer had provided feedback on their works.

They also learned their role, role of news-desk, disaster preparedness at district level, tools for disaster: breaking news, follow-up news, news digest; public opinion; running story etc. Participants were encouraged to prepare disaster map of the district and write stories continuously to inform the public as well as concerned authorities. The effort of media builds awareness about possible disaster to the general people, the authorities and helps make them able to address on disaster.

After the training, around 100 percent participants had developed ‘Individual Work-plan’ for post training reporting. They have identified 23 disaster and reconstruction related issues for the reporting. NMDC has promised to make necessary follow-up, guidance if necessary and feedback on training outcome after reviewing their work.

Trainers Prof. R.K. Regmee, Laxman Adhikari had facilitated the training. NMDC as per its planning had also hired local resource persons from office of DDC and FNJ.

FNJ President of Dang branch Sudeep Gautam had chaired both sessions. Senior journalists, former Presidents of Dang, senior journalists of Dang were present at both sessions. All the guests  including Sushil Gautam, Bipul Pokharel and Pratap Regmi wished for the success of the training and thanked the organizer and supporter bringing the training in Dang.

On behalf of NMDC, FNJ and the Australian Embassy, Mr. Bishnu P Sharma (Executive Director, NMDC) welcoming the participants and guests had highlighted the theme, contents and methodology of the four days training. He also had thanked to the Embassy and FNJ for their effortful and valuable contribution to make the program happen.

In total, 2254 (979-female) participants have participated in the training of NMDC including NMDC’s this 93th training.

Major Achievements of the training:  

• Participants expressed their commitment to prepare regular news reports on disaster.