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Assistance for the 'Association des Journalistes Haïtiens'

Year when project approved: 
2010
Approved budget: 
US$55 000.00

Despite the existence of a few privately owned journalism schools (85% of the establishments in the Haitian education system are privately owned), the majority of journalists are not sufficiently trained to enable the process of critical and investigative journalism. Moreover, most Haitian journalists--especially those in the provinces--do not belong to a professional association promoting their interests and development. Most of the journalists work in radio, which attracts more than 80% of the national audience. Although very dynamic, Haitian radio is severely affected by the low level of training among its journalists, and particularly those in the regions. The issue of ethics and standards of conduct is very sensitive one in Haiti--especially in provincial towns, given the working conditions and the method of recruitment of journalists. On November 8th, 2008, at its general assembly meeting, the members of the Association des Journalistes Haïtiens (AJH) adopted a Code of Conduct. The dissemination of this document has served to mobilize Haitian journalists around the AJH to contribute to enhancing the profession. This project will: strengthen the capacity of the largest media organisation in the country, i.e., the AJH--the only journalist organisations which is officially recognised in the Haitian constitution--to support journalists; promote the adoption by the profession of a Code of Conduct, the outline of which has been prepared by the AJH and applied by its members; broaden the AJH's membership base; members will receive a Press Card delivered on the basis of professional criteria recognized by AJH members; give journalists access to a collection of reference documents housed in a small library on the AJH premises; provide an immediate response to Haitian journalists' training needs in investigative journalism and the coverage of legal affairs; and be national in scope thanks to the network of AJH representatives throughout the country.

Project details
IPDC Bureau meeting nº: 
54

Implementation status :

Project evaluated:

Project scope:

IPDC Priority:

Budget
Budget code: 
354HAI5092

Source of funds:

Beneficiary
Beneficiary name: 
Association des Journalistes haïtiens (AJH, Association of Haitian Journalists)

Beneficiary country:

Beneficiary type:

Location and contacts
UNESCO
Responsible UNESCO Regional advisers: 

Isabel Viera Bermúdez, i.viera@unesco.org;

UNESCO Field Office:

Project place: 
10 department capitals and 3 cities in the country

Project region:

Follow-up and achievments
Summary of the project implementation: 

This project aimed to increase ethical and professional standards among journalists through the organization of a series of training sessions, particularly in the provinces. These training sessions have enabled AJH to strengthen its role association representing media professionals and promoting a code of conduct and ethical rules. The project has also contributed to improving the quality of information provided by media in Haiti, in particular on natural risks but also on humanitarian, educational, cultural and historical issues. Furthermore, the strengthening of AJH as association defending journalists and promoting ethical practices in this field helps to consolidate freedom of expression in Haiti. Finally, this project has also provided emergency aid and training to journalists who had lost their jobs as a result of the earthquake. The project was completed despite a several-month delay due to the political unrest, cyclone Thomas and the cholera epidemic. The mid-term report was submitted to the UNESCO Office in Haiti and approved. AJH is currently finalizing the final report which is also to be submitted to the UNESCO Office in Haiti.

Achieved outputs: 
A series of 3-day training sessions on natural disasters was organized training involving trainers from AJH and from the Department of Civil Protection (DPC) in 9 departments in the country for 220 journalists. The training sessions took place between 7 august and 10 October 2010 (see news item: UNESCO supports natural disaster training for Haitian journalists ). Three training sessions could not take place because of the post-electoral political unrest, cyclone Thomas and the cholera epidemic. Moreover, some twenty journalists who lost their jobs in the aftermath of the earthquake were offered an emergency aid and training programme organized by AJH. The produced reports were broadcast during three months on the National Radio of Haiti from 15 October 2010 to 15 January 2011. (see news item: voir communiqué : UNESCO assists unemployed Haitian journalists). It must be noted that the aim of training female journalists was confronted to the reality of a great gender imbalance in the provinces. The proportion of women journalists in the country remains very low. Female journalists constituted less than 10% of those attending the training sessions in most departments. The library could not yet be installed because the AJH premises were completely destroyed during the earthquake. The AJH, which is currently in a temporary location, will soon move to new premises. A series of UNESCO publications are for the moment stocked in the UNESCO Office but will be provided to AJH for its new library. Moreover, UNESCO has shipped a series of publications of the Communication and Information Sector that will be offered to the libraries of the nine MINUSTAH Community Multimedia Centres in the country for use by provincial journalists. AJH Membership has increased by over 25 % (from 120 to 160 members) between the beginning of January 2010 and the end of December 2010 thanks to its training on natural disasters and assistance and training programmes for unemployed journalists.