With a view to strengthening media coverage about the role of science and technology in agricultural development, CGIAR, in cooperation with Reuters Foundation, organized a media workshop in Marrakech during December 4-7, 2005.
Twenty-one mid-career journalists and broadcasters from Algeria, Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, and Syria attended the workshop.
Our goal was simple, said Saad Hattar, a seasoned journalist from the BBCs Arabic Service who facilitated and led the workshop. We wanted to benefit from the presence of world-class scientists attending the CGIAR meetings in Marrakech while exposing journalists to the latest advances in food and environmental science geared toward improving the lives of poor farmers.
Because coverage of science and agriculture is limited in the region, the action-packed workshop helped fill a niche. Journalists and broadcasters participated in the Science Forum, attended technical presentations, lectures and press conferences on key issues ranging from an overview of the world food situation, to changing contexts and new opportunities in science for agricultural development, climate change, and the adverse impacts of avian flu.
Roundtable discussions held over informal lunches brought together scientists and communication staff from CGIAR Centers, including Greg Clough, Bonnie McClafferty, Rex Navarro and Farid Waliyar. They briefed workshop participants about research activities at the CGIAR Centers and Challenge Programs. Mike Shanahan of SciDev.net spoke to the participants about the dos and donts of online publishing.
More: http://www.cgiar.org/enews/december2005/story_12.html
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