Making media a partner in development

In countries where struggle for sustainable development is a part of daily life, role of media is vital in creating a more active information dissemination platform where people can identify with the issues and challenges. UNESCO is the lead coordinating UN agency designated to ensure the implementation of the United Nations Decade of Education for Sustainable Development (DESD, 2005-2014) objectives that seek to provide an opportunity to promote active learning and suggests ways to make climate change issues relate to people’s daily lives. Cover page of the manual / Photo credit: GKP Under this framework, Media as Partners in Education for Sustainable Development, a training manual and resource kit by UNESCO and the Thomson Foundation urges media practitioners to take a closer look at a few theme based priorities and inquire how best education can respond to related ongoing and future challenges. The role that media can play in development goes beyond reporting news and events. It contributes to the freedom of expression and the plurality of information, to engage and empower communities and to underpin sustainable development and good governance. This training manual addresses the issues that are being discussed at the social, economic and environmental fronts. The aim is to encourage changes in behavior that will create a more sustainable future in terms of environmental integrity, economic viability, and a just society for present and future generations. Sustainable development is a difficult phrase as it can mean several different things. This resource kit attempts to provide media professionals with basic information about some priority issues for sustainable development. It also provides practical exercises to inspire investigative reporting, and draws links to existing experience that may enrich the information resources of media professionals. The first five chapters in Section 1 of the publication provide basic information on climate change, forests and fisheries, fresh water, biodiversity and pollution. In Section 2, the idea of sustainable development is placed in a wider context setting out some of the questions that any sceptical journalist would ask; hints on persuading editors to run a relevant story and on making the subject matter attractive to editors and to readers. The third and last section moves towards the future by taking a glimpse into reported best practices; imagining what people would have to give up to accelerate gains for a stable, peaceful, contented and “sustainable” living. A DVD containing films and audio clips and a CD-ROM of information resources are additions to the publication that will come useful in any training, round table or dialogue on the subject matter. Source: GKP

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