"The project was an ambitious one, really: to create a bounded network of trusted local media organizations to gather real-time first-hand information from affected populations to create a two-way communication flow with humanitarians. Internews’ contention was (and is) thatcommunication is aid and that effective communication between local populations and aid providers improves emergency response, community participation & community resilience.
To achieve this goal, Internews trained a network of local journalists to gather, aggregate and analyze information submitted by local journalists and community members using short text messages (SMS). This information (i.e. reports) were then relayed by local radio stations and community correspondents around the country to a central coordination hub run by theAssociation of Journalists for Human Rights (RJDH in its French acronym).
The reports were made accessible to humanitarians and other journalists with internet access through an interactive humanitarian map (www.cartehumanitaire-rca.org) that was set up to facilitate the exchange of information between local journalists and humanitarian organizations. The goal was also for humanitarians to engage with the community, working with local journalists, and posting reports on the same platform.
The project faced numerous challenges, starting with the deep mistrust existing between humanitarians and media in the CAR as documented in one of my reports and blogs.“Guilty by association” –Internews shared offices with the RJDH–, the project needed first to rebuild trust between actors through outreach and regular meetings. And it worked through the work of a dedicated Humanitarian Liaison Officer –check the blog posts by Raimondo Chiari, very insightful.
The humanitarians interviewed at the end of the project all reported improvement in their relations with media, leading to increased contacts and collaboration. Nevertheless, humanitarians still judge the overall media landscape as being of poor quality and lacking analytical skills."
You will also find very interesting insights in the report on the use of communities as sources of information filtered by local media and the use pf the crisismap by Humanitarian organization on the ground.
Despite the closure of the project, Internews will continue to explore possibilities for replicating the system in other countries drawing from the lessons learned in this context.
If you have any comments or suggestions, or if you want to know more about this project, feel free to contact me at aayala@...
A huge thank you to Ushahidi, UNOCHA CAR, and HHI for their support and their involvement in the project!
Regards,
Anahi
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Anahi Ayala Iacucci | Media Innovation Advisor - Africa, Health and Humanitarian Media
aayala@internews.org | Mobile 1 (+254) 706-623-650 | Mobile 2 (+1) 202-550-1537
Mobile 3 (+39) 345-805-3067 | Skype anahiii | Twitter @anahi_ayala
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