Countries: Somalia
The level of media development in Puntland, Somalia is low due to lack of resources and expertise as well as decades of war. Puntland State University (PSU) is committed to filling this gap and is ready to operationalize its Campus Radio Station. It has established a Media Training and Resource Centre, attained government permission for the radio station and, in 2011, equipment was procured by UNESCO. The station will cover community issues including, governance, rule of law, youth unemployment, environmental conservation, the plight of IDPs, piracy, FGM/C, terrorism and HIV/AIDS.
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Despite the lack of federal government in Somalia for the past 20 years, there is a vibrant media landscape throughout the country. Security and lack of infrastructure has made it nearly impossible to gauge the exact number of broadcasters, radio stations, newspapers and websites that operate within Somalia and beyond its borders to diaspora populations, but estimates put numbers of media outlets in Mogadishu at 12 radio stations, 15 newspapers, several television stations and many individually-owned online news blogs. In spite of the encouraging figures, however, many media outlets are...
The media in Somalia has grown despite the chaos that ensued after the fall of the military government of General Siad Bare. In Mogadishu alone, there are over 10 independent radio stations, more than 20 privately-owned newspapers and more than 30 Somali websites on the internet, but all of these media outlets are directed by men who also occupy positions of authority. Women neither sit at the decision-making organs of these media institutions nor work as managing directors, editors and owners. Women journalists do not receive the same opportunities as their male counterparts in terms of...
Since the outbreak of war in 1991, Somalia has ranked among the world's most dangerous and violent countries. With many journalists fleeing the country, this had a massive negative effect on the amount and quality of news coverage of the political and humanitarian crisis. Access to verified and relevant information within Somalia and in neighboring refugee camps is difficult and with the conflict continuing into its 20th year, it is becoming increasingly important to bring about change to the situation. The United Nations news agency, Integrated Regional Information Network (IRIN) has a...
Mass media in Puntland is not well supported due to lack of facilities and expertise. It is therefore absolutely necessary that a well-equipped university campus radio station be established to not only serve as a community broadcaster, but more importantly provide the much needed training in professional journalism and broadcasting. Through its programming, this radio will address local issues as well as those that affect the surrounding communities, such as internally displaced peoples, educate the population about the negative effects and dangers of piracy, female genital mutilation and...
Somalia's plight is reflected in its media: undeveloped, fragmented and often partisan, poorly resourced, professionally and technically inadequate and operating in an atmosphere hostile to free expression and often dangerous. In spite of this, diverse and more professional media outlets have emerged in recent years, in particular FM radio stations with no explicit factional links. The TV and press sectors are weak and radio is the dominant medium. Radio Galkayo depends on its dedicated volunteer staff with very limited financial and capacity-building support. The lack of staff training on...
Somalia's media has evolved since it first blossomed in 1991, with private newspapers that were aimed at a rather narrow urban, literate and politicized elite, up to the time when it became a much more populist, commercial and community-based media with a tendency to side with various clans. The increase in the number of media outlets has corresponded with the arrival on the labour market of a generation of journalists, unskilled in either the basics of the profession or its ethical requirements. May be the largest obstacle to professional reporting remains the lack of education and...
In spite of their limited print runs, the papers in Somalia, especially the more independent ones, have been known to have had an edge that more than shaped up the destiny of this tiny nation (3.5 million). They consistently championed issues that touched the day-to-day lives of the man on the street: freedom of expression, individual rights, women rights, the right to justice, health and education, and the right to choice. This proposal is therefore meant to seek support to the setting up of the Campus Radio station and telecentre. The Campus CMC will serve as a reference point for both...
Mass media in Puntland is not well supported, due to lack of facilities and expertise. Most journalists operate in ill-equipped offices with little research materials, and lack reference centres and a media library. It is therefore necessary that a university multimedia Centre including a university radio station and an ICT Centre be established which would not only serve the university community but also benefit the media professionals in Puntland. The Puntland community also lacks the Internet and a library where they can look for references, undertake research activities and turn in for...