Currently, South Asia lacks a facility that can expose regional media to the latest developments in information and communication technology and that can train journalists to use new media tools. True, there are media houses in South Asia with cutting-edge technology and tools, but such facilities and in-house expertise is seldom shared with other individuals and organizations. The PSA Media Centre has been established to make available a regional facility that will help upgrade journalistic skills in South Asia using new media tools and technology. The Centre will be used primarily to contribute to PSA's efforts in improving and enhancing reporting in its traditional thematic areas, but the facilities will also provide hands-on training on communication and media tools and techniques, including the requirements of the broadcast media. The Center will incorporate the on-line technology in all training modules since the digital age has brought about a convergence and the Internet is supporting increasingly more audio-video-Internet hybrids.

Objectives

The PSA Media Centre operates with the basic objectives to:

• Expose fellows and participants of Panos programmes to cutting edge media tools and techniques
• Expose management and editors of traditional media to digital tools and techniques
• Expose and train regional journalists from traditional media to improve reporting skills through the use of digital media tools
• Expose and train radio and television professionals on virtual broadcasting and radio-television - Internet hybrids
• Expose project managers and decision-makers from development organizations and government agencies to digital technology solutions
• Provide special access to women in media by dedicating some programmes exclusively for women
• Conduct special training courses for journalists on demand from media houses and development organizations

Activities

• Research on digital and on-line media technologies
• Regional training for both print and broadcast journalists on the applications of digital technologies
• Demand driven training for government and non-government organizations
• Consultancy on developing communication and media-related strategies
• Workshops, conference and other media related events

• A full-time Programme Manager and a Research Assistant, along with the support of other PSA staff manage the Media Centre
• The Media Centre is equipped with ten workstations/computers with the latest state-of-the-art gadgets and digital software
• It is developing a resource centre on media containing books, journals, bulletins, CDs, VCDs and other resource materials on media and development issues

Services

• Research on digital and on-line technology for media
• Training of journalists on the application of digital technologies in media (print and broadcast)
• Special issue-based (environment, health, poverty, human rights etc.) digital and on-line technology and communications training for various government and non-government organizations
• Consultancy services for developing media and communication strategies and conducting related training for government and non-government organizations
• Organising conferences, workshops and media and communication related event management
• Making the premises and facilities available to other organizations for training, conferences, workshops and other events

For further information, please contact:

Kishor Pradhan
Programme Manager
Panos South Asia Media Centre
Panos South Asia Institute, GPO Box 13651 Kathmandu, Nepal
Telephone: 977-1-520985, 531447
Fax: 977-1-523846
E-mail: kishor@panossouthasia.org
Website: http://www.panossouthasia.org