Civic Education for Radio Presenters in Uganda to Promote Development

Abstract

There has been a rapid proliferation of both the print and electronic media in Uganda in the recent years. As at February 2012, Uganda Communications Commission had 255 registered radio stations. Radio has a larger outreach as a medium of communication and a greater potential to provide continuous, independent and accurate flow of information. Radio presenters therefore have the duty to accurately inform, educate and entertain the population without sympathy or antipathy. However, many of the radio presenters in Uganda and programmers are not professionally qualified. They also often cannot discern content responsibly to positively inform and influence the public in decision making, dialogue, mutual understanding, building peace, reconciliation and development. There are serious cases of abuse of media freedom by some of the radio presenters and this has resulted into misleading the society not only by giving the public inaccurate information, but also flouting media ethics, inciting the public, triggering intercultural misunderstandings and violence. It is against this background Uganda National Commission for UNESCO took the initiative to organize trainings on civic education for radio presenters to promote development. This was aimed at having in place skilled, knowledgeable radio presenters who understand the importance of radio in peace and development. Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights states that: “Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers." Timely access to accurate information empowers people and allows them to participate in an informed way in making decisions that affect them, and also holding governments and other leaders accountable. It enables individuals to learn about their rights and so exercise them and 8 act against their infringement. Free flows of information can also help uncover the misuse of funds that should be allocated for public benefit and positively impact on the quality of delivery. Radio is able to build awareness of the right to know and its benefits, and disseminate information related to essential matters such as access to public services, social development programs, income-generating activities, protection against abuse and therefore becoming a platform for mutual dialogue and understanding across divides. Citizens should enjoy the right to be informed about political, social, economic and cultural activities in their countries so that they can take part in civil societal activities and in the decision making process. The media as the fourth arm of the state should act as a constructive link between the population and decision-makers to reinforce a culture of peace and tolerance. The civic education training project for radio presenters aimed at re-orienting radio presenters on their civic roles, obligations and responsibilities to the public. The training was premised on the adaptation of UNESCO Civic Education for Media Professionals: A Training Manual. An appreciation of journalism was important for this training. Participants were therefore exposed to various aspects of journalism, importance of civic education, civic journalism and radio as a public sphere. They were enabled to differentiate between conventional journalism and civic journalism as well as identify means they could use to include issues of civic journalism in their programming.