9 July 2003

MISA CONFERENCE TACKLES MEDIA AND DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHERN AFRICA


The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) will be hosting a conference in Tanzania in September examining the role of media in advancing development goals in southern Africa. Entitled "The Development Agenda and the Media: A southern Africa perspective," the conference is open to journalists, editors, media academics, researchers and development workers. It will be held in Dar es Salaam from 10 to 12 September.

An important aspect of the conference is that the media will, for the first time, consider how it can respond effectively to HIV-AIDS within its own structures, MISA says. Southern Africa is currently experiencing a major food shortage with over 12 million citizens needing food aid, the group notes. Southern Africa is also the region with the highest number of people living with HIV-AIDS, currently estimated at over 15 million. According to the United Nations Development Programme, where lack of food is greatest, HIV prevalence is alarmingly high.

Discussion topics will include strategies for greater participation and interaction between the media and civil society in the realisation of development goals and how the media can stimulate public involvement in the development and monitoring of national poverty reduction plans.

"As a key organisation in civil society, media has the potential to mobilise African people to support development initiatives and spur them on to take ownership of their development agenda," MISA says.

A limited number of funds are available for conference participants. Please contact Peter Chilambwe at chilambwe@misa.org for an application form and further details on accommodation and registration.

A full programme will shortly be available online at http://www.misa.org



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