Empowering communities to be responsible consumers of the media

16/11/2010

Fiji Media Watch is running a community based workshop from 17 – 18 November, 2010.  The two day Media Education & Media Monitoring Workshop will be officially opened by the Attorney-General Mr Aiyaz Saiyad Khaiyum.  

The workshop will held at JJ’s on the Park, Suva.

The workshop is being convened with the theme, “Empowering Communities to be Responsible Consumers of the Media.” This is in the light of the fact that young people now receive more media messages than their parents or grandparents in a week, month or even a year. They spend more and more time watching television or DVD, listening to music on the radio and IPod and, playing video games, play station, surfing the internet and spending endless hours on their desk top, lab top, palm top and IPhones, IPads and blackberries.

More than 30 participants have confirmed their attendance for the workshop and they are from a wide section of the community from Lami to Nasinu.

As a result of local public outcry against immoral standards and cultural insensitivity in the media, the Fiji Media Watch was formed in June 1993 as a monitoring body, and a forum for airing media concerns. Members soon realized the need for awareness raising and media education programmes. This would enable people to counteract the consumer mentality, and adopt a more positive critical attitude towards the media.

Fiji Media Watch (FMW) is a civil society organization (CSO) consisting of ordinary people who are concerned that the mass media be used for society’s benefit, and so ensure that Fiji is a good place to live in. Members, who presently number 60, come from all walks of life; from religious organizations, educational institutions and concerned citizens. FMW would warmly welcome new members to assist in the dissemination of their message.

Apart from its Vision, a media literate society & a responsible Fiji Media and Mission, raising awareness on the power of mass media and encouraging ways for the media to enrich people’s lives, the organization’s Goals and Objectives are also centred on Good Governance and Human Rights.

On its achievements, FMW’s first activity was a series of meetings with cinema operators and Fiji Film Censors, which enabled members to see the other side of the media coin. This was followed by a course on information technology. Media education activities began in 1994, and the following year, awareness workshops were held in Suva and in other centres, these targeted teachers and senior secondary school students.

Public forums were also held involving both media producers and media users. Over the years, workshops have been held for the Fiji Film Censors at the request of the Attorney-General’s office on the principles and practice of censorship, and the criteria for film classification. Training workshops for media educators are held annually where possible, including those on national reconciliation for journalists.

FMW opened an office in Suva in August 1999, and a quarterly (Media Awareness) was published and circulated to members and schools throughout Fiji.


FMW is thankful to its donors Caristas Australia, EED (Germany) and the European Union Delegation for the Pacific and Marist Mission for the continued financial assistance, and to all participating organizations, resource personnel, speakers and individuals for the support towards this workshop, and to the work of FMW in general.


AGATHA FEREI
Director