This Intermedia project aims to address the capacity and resource deficiencies of the limited radio media in the Waziristans regions in Pakistan's conflict-wracked Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA) through journalism trainings, technical assistance and production of local community radio information programmes that promote conditions for stability and development in the region.
During the project (August 2010 to March 2011), the following activities will be undertaken:
• Producing a signature local community voices radio programme focusing on the Waziristans
A daily 15-minute radio programme focusing on community development issues will be produced six days a week after trainings are held. At least 125 programmes will be produced between October 2010 and March 2011 for a total of at least 31 hours over the life of the project. Because each programme will be aired on two stations, the total airtime will be at least 62 hours. An attempt will be made to double the programme duration for the last three months of the project. This will generate an additional 36 hours of airtime. The programme will be produced by a group of 3 journalists each based in Razmak and Miranshah in North Waziristan and in Wana in South Waziristan. The reporting teams will cover issues of their respective communities based in the three regions covered by the two stations.
Life in Waziristan (Radio Programs)
• Building Technical Capacities of Radio Razmak and Radio Miranshah in North Waziristan
A small technical facility will be built at two radio stations with small equipment grants. This infrastructure – building a production studio, a recording and editing kit and a broadcast unit – at each station will help generate in-house discussion off the back of the broadcast of the signature radio programme.
• Conducting journalism trainings for a team of North and South Waziristan reporters and radio staff
A journalism boot camp will be conducted for reporters and radio staff. The training will include designing the flagship programme, generating story ideas to highlight community agendas. This will be followed by a follow-up training to iron over journalism and technical gaps in programme production.
• Conducting baseline and impact evaluation studies
A baseline assessment of current station capabilities will be conducted ahead of training and production while an impact assessment study will be produced through an evaluation meeting with the two stations towards the end of the project.
The objectives of these activities are:
• Making available quality radio programming on local issues for communities in the Waziristans;
• Promoting local voices /articulation on local community issues in the Waziristans;
• Helping the only legal local stations in the Waziristans build their capacity and potential to be the voice of their local communities
• Building technical capacity of the radio stations to increase quantity and quality of community information
• Building capacities of local journalists to improve journalism standards
• Producing regular community information relevant to local issues, interests and needs
Implemented by Intermedia, this project is funded by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO-UK).
