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Update: Bolstering Science Journalism in the Developing World

From left to right: Godefroy Chabi (former mentee), Marthe Kakou (former mentee) and Gilles Provost (mentor), at a meeting in Nairobi, Kenya.

2008-12

Godefroy Chabi, a young science journalist, goes to the reception desk of a research institute.

He has to write an article on education and human rights. However, the researchers refuse to disclose their information, because the journalist must submit a request in writing. He does so, but Chabi never receives a reply.

Is this is an intolerable infringement on the freedom of access to information? Perhaps, but it is a common occurrence in this African writer’s life.

To help science journalists overcome barriers such as this, the World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ) has developed a peer mentoring program, with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the United Kingdom Department for International Development, and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency.

With the aid of an Internet platform for exchanging documents, mentees benefit from the advice and recommendations of experienced science journalists from other countries. Launched nearly two years ago, the program involves 60 science journalists from 35 countries in the Middle East and Africa.

Overcoming barriers

Every week, Godefroy Chabi communicates by email with his mentor, Gilles Provost, a journalist at the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. They discuss research methods, approaches, career progression, etc. Together, they find ways to overcome barriers, and sometimes they win a few battles.

 For example, a few months ago, Chabi convinced his editor to create a science column at the Office de radiodiffusion et télévision du Bénin (ORTB), which is very rare in this country’s media. The journalist noticed that "news organizations are quite indifferent about science. To them, it’s only a field of minor interest. They prefer politics or culture. It’s important to raise their awareness about this."

Thanks to his mentor’s support, Chabi has established good credibility in Benin, particularly since he began writing a regular column on AIDS for IRIN PlusNews.

"I believe I ‘graduated’ in 2007 when I received an award from the African Information Society Initiative in the category of radio. Now I’ve found my own identity, I’m recognized for my work, and I’m able to deal with topics entirely on my own."

A world-wide network

Today, Chabi and Gilles Provost communicate with each other like colleagues, thereby building a worldwide network of science journalists.

Provost recently helped Cameroon’s new science broadcasters’ association develop its website, and one of his colleagues is setting up a similar association for all Maghreb countries.

Jean-Marc Fleury, WFSJ’s Executive Director, points out that "the development of science journalism is a Trojan horse, a gateway to improve the quality of media and thus democracy in these countries.

The organizations that support us are financing the development of local scientific expertise. Our role is to train journalists who will be able to spread these experts’ ideas in order to generate a public debate that is locally relevant."

  - This is a translation of an article published by Julie Dirwimmer in the November-December 2008 issue of Découvrir magazine.

Since its creation in 2006, this peer mentoring program has achieved several milestones:

• 20 mentees have been awarded more airtime or printed space to report on health, the environment, and scientific issues;
  
  
• 14 mentees are now in charge of science beats and two teach science journalism at universities;
  
  
• The most discussed story ever published on SciDev.net was written by a mentee: Sickle cell drug mired in controversy (June 2008)
  
  
•  The WFSJ launched the world’s first online course in science journalism: http://www.wfsj.org/course/;
  
  
• Nine teams of journalists have produced the first trans-border science stories in Africa and the Middle East, which have been published across the two regions;
  
  
• Kenya, Nigeria, Rwanda, and Uganda now have science journalism associations that organize local training activities.
  
  

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