Countries: Rwanda
There is a severe lack of information in the Rwandan media concerning the environment and the effects of climate change on agricultural production. Community radios have the potential to play a decisive role in filling this gap but lack the technical capacity to do so. If this skills shortage were addressed, educational radio programmes on the environment and climate change could reach more than 4,000,000 people from 15 radio stations, including rural communities, decision-makers and local leaders, enabling them to fully participate in environmental protection and take appropriate measures...
Although the media in Rwanda is developing fast, professional standards and product quality are not. Journalists lack the training required to carry out investigative journalism and instead focus on topics such as entertainment, sports and event reporting. A 2013 report by the Media High Council of Rwanda (MHC) highlighted journalists' overreliance on the voices of leaders (49%) to the detriment of other citizens (10%), in particular the police (6%) and other anti-corruption/crime bodies (3%). As such, one of the report's recommendations is for media practitioners to be trained in...
Véritables outils et moyens d’action au service des objectifs poursuivis par l’Etat ou par d’autres entités politiques, les medias sont aux centres d’enjeux politiques, idéologiques tribaux ou religieux. Au Rwanda en 1994, les medias ont joués un rôle néfaste dans le génocide. Apres 1994 la presse rwandaise à l’instar des autres institutions, elle se reconstruit au niveau matériel et humain. Aujourd’hui le Rwanda ne totalise que une seule station de télévision d’Etat, une vingtaine de stations de radio ainsi qu'une trentaine de titres de journaux dont deux quotidiens pour une population de...
The 1994 genocide in Rwanda provides a telling case study of the role the media can play in a conflict situation. The genocide was among the most appalling catastrophes of the 20th century and media, especially the radio, played a significant part both nationally and internationally. Prior to the genocide, radio stations and newspapers in Rwanda were carefully used by the conspirators to dehumanize the potential victims, particularly Rwanda's Tutsi minority, rather than address the plight and development of what was viewed as the minority in the society. Currently the majority of radio...
Since the end of 1994 genocide in which “hate” media played a major role both before and during the events, and following the liberalization of the airwaves in the late 2000s, Rwanda’s media landscape has seen tremendous change in terms of the number of media houses and the quality of the programmes. From overreliance on a single state owned media and a few government-controlled print media, the nation today boasts over 20 FM stations and one public TV channel, as well as over 40 newspapers, thanks to new laws on press issues, in particular law N°22/2009 of 12/08/2009 on Media. The...
Most graduates from journalism training institutions have been reluctant to enter the field due to a lack of adequate opportunities. Furthermore, media outlets' lack of financial and qualified human resources do not allow in-house and on-the-ob training for practicing journalists. Radio stations in Rwanda are not yet equipped to fulfill their mission in society: currently, most programming is dedicated to entertainment, leaving insufficient attention and resources for professionally designed educational programmes addressing the developmental issues. This project seeks support to upgrade...
Since the genocide in 1994, Rwanda has launched a process of reconstruction in all fields, including the press. Despite the efforts made, the challenges remain considerable: in 2006, 77 newspapers and magazines recorded by the High Press Council, but it is difficult to determine the exact number of written press outlets and whether they are printed regularly or are short-lived. After 1994, Rwanda proceeded to the progressive liberalization of the media sector. Besides a public radio with three community branches, Rwanda has a total of about ten private and community radios. Currently, the...
The Rwandan mass media are still in their young phases after having been completely destroyed during the country's civil war and genocide in 1994. However, the state-owned media still dominate this sector: they own the only TV station, have a nationwide outreach radio station and two weekly newspapers. Presently, the Rwandan media are stable, enjoy considerable freedom than ever and minimal cases of censorship. The media law defines the working engagements with other institutions, and the Constitution provides a regulating body (High Council of the Press), which in return supports the...
The HCP, in existence for less than four years, is a young institution still in the early stages of development. While its staff has gained valuable skills and experience since its inception, the HCP has yet to reach its full potential. In fact, the HCP recognizes that some of its staff and, indeed, some of its members, lack the knowledge, resources, and training necessary for the body to fully carry out its responsibilities. The mechanisms to guarantee HCP independence seems still weak, and measures need to be taken to fully implement the intentions on paper in the new media law. The...
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