Another year has gone and at the Media Institute of the Caribbean, we have been honoured to help our region's journalists and students to be better prepared to confront the challenges of a constantly changing environment.
The Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) is proud to announce the successful completion of a comprehensive virtual training program for over fifty journalists in the Caribbean, focused on climate and health reporting. The culmination of this initiative resulted in the publication of five compelling news stories, each shedding light on critical issues at the intersection of climate change and public health. These stories are now available for the public to read on the Caribbean Investigative Journalism Network's website.
The issues arising in the civic space are varied and are tied to basic rights of freedom of expression, speech and thought. It relates to the human spirit at its core and how citizens can convey their sentiments responsibly but without fear or reprisal.
ISSUE: August 2023
The primary objective of this training is to equip participants with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively communicate with the public. In today's rapidly evolving communication landscape, it is crucial for civil society organizations to foster transparent and engaging communication with various stakeholders, including the general public, donors, and media outlets. By attending this training, participants will gain valuable insights into crafting compelling messages, utilizing various communication channels, and navigating through challenging communication scenarios.
Criminal violence, employing a wide variety of firearms, has emerged as a singularly important challenge for countries of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) in the modern era. Up to three years ago, regional authorities were estimating that more than 70 percent of all murders were the product of a wide variety of both modest and increasingly sophisticated weapons.
On 3rd June, twenty-five individuals representing the media and civil society organizations came together for a one-day workshop to explore issues related to the civic space and how these stories could be effectively rendered. A recent study was done within three communities in Jamaica (Kingston, Clarendon. St. Catherine) among 300 respondents. Key findings included the lack of visibility of CSOs working on civic rights; community engagement and information spaces require trust and legitimacy of media and state actors; and age is a determinant of community perspectives on public safety and individual civic rights. The full report will be available at the end of June.
In the face of existential threats to traditional media together with advances in digital technology, media viability has emerged as a major area of focus. Small, independent media outlets now contend with the challenge of big tech, and a lack of resources to support their journalism.
With enormous oil reserves, Guyana stands on the threshold of transformation. Its economy grew more than 60 per cent in 2022 largely because of an influx of oil revenues. But the nation’s rich resources come with promised opportunities and serious risks.