IOM Sudan Media Forum Internal Report (Q. 1) May 10 11 th 2016 IOM Sudan s holds its First Quarterly Media Forum The topic of migration in Sudan has been somewhat absent in local and national media and when present is relayed within a negative context as well as limited familiarity of the basic concepts associated with migration. Consequently IOM Sudan will focus its communication work on offering positive alternatives to this narrative and aims to shed light on stories and messages highlighting resilience and opportunities of migrants in Sudan; hence strategically humanizing the current crisis narrative of migration. One of the most effective ways of addressing negative public opinion and increasing awareness on migration and IOM s role in it is through strengthened proactive media relations; which are key to building the organizations external image, public opinion on IOM in Sudan as well as how migration is approached in the country. In order to have a committed, knowledgeable and influential narrative around migration, it is important to have a more systemized relationship with the media who can play a crucial role in increasing awareness as well as influencing opinions. This way, IOM Sudan can have a small but reliable and responsible media network that can report on migration in Sudan beyond IOM s work. Consequently, under the theme of Media and Migration in Sudan, IOM hosted its first two day quarterly media forum on May 10th 11th 2016 at its offices in Khartoum. A total of 29 media professionals participated in the forum including TV, radio, online and print media (please see table below) and were given a chance to discuss issues related to migration in Sudan and globally. 1
Session 1: IOM Overview Presenter: Mohammat Nour (Head of Nyala Sub Office) This presentation was 10 slides outlining IOM s constitutional framework, its strategic response, IOM partnerships, unit activities and IOM presence in Sudan. Session 2: IOM migration terminologies and language use Presenter: Heba Abdel Latef IOM Cairo This presentation was interactive and it outlined commonly used terms, perception, correct language use and standardized definitions on migration. Session 3: Ethical Reporting for Journalists Facilitator: Faisal Mohammed Salih, a renowned and respected Sudanese journalist and media trainer with over 25 yrs media experience. His session was on general ethical reporting in relation to accuracy, objectivity, accountability, privacy laws, and protection of rights of migrants when covering news. Participation Participants in the forum expressed their appreciation and commitment to the issues discussed and asked for further more specialized technical training support; also highlighting the absence of specialized media coverage of migration in the country and their interest to be part of the upcoming August 2016 forum. As journalists, we need to show more responsibility when speaking of migrants in Sudan Abdelgader Mohammed Sudanese freelance journalist. At the Forum, IOM emphasized that the most effective ways of increasing awareness on migration and IOM s role in it is through strengthened proactive media relations; which are instrumental in influencing public opinion of migration in the country. This quarterly forum serves to encourage a partnership that is based on a committed, knowledgeable and influential narrative around migration, as well as allowing IOM to have a more systemized relationship with the media. The participants were generally interactive and common issues raised were as follows: 1. The vague seeming overlap between IOM and UNHCR s work/ role in Sudan and globally 2. The definition of migrant which they thought was too comprehensive and in a set up similar to a city like Khartoum this includes almost everyone; as many of the capital s inhabitants are in fact originally from outside it and puts the term migrant as one that is too general to capture who IOM really works with. Especially in terms of the regardless of the duration of stay which is part of IOM s global definition of a migrant. 3. They spoke of the need for more statistical data on numbers of migrants in and through Sudan. 4. There was concern over the way in which the economic benefits of migration are covered; which some said seem to focus on how migrants from the developing world can economically benefit the West while there isn t enough emphasis on how IOM can help keep local Sudanese youth in the country and discourage the brain drain context. 5. There was some sensitivity on putting displaced populations as equal to external migrants which within the Sudanese context may have a politicised tone in terms of the civil conflicts in Sudan which generally have a racial/ ethnic tone to them. Evaluation An evaluation form was shared with participants to be filled awaiting their feedback. In addition, Faisal Mohammed Salih, the media technical trainer submitted his training report evaluating the content, facilitation, duration, participation and venue. The evaluation has generally commended the forum and confirming the need to conduct future forums (more regularity requested) which has more specialized topics. The media monitoring conducted with the support of IOM at the end of 2015 was 2
a foundational baseline on how media was covering migration issues and will be used as a comparison with the status of media coverage in October/ November 2016. The group present in this forum will be the same for the upcoming forums for 2016 so they can be specialized in the topics at hand and will also ensure ease of monitoring through indicators such as frequency, accuracy and professionalism of coverage by participants. News Coverage and monitoring Although the forum was intended to be an internal media engagement process some participants wrote positive reviews of the forum and also highlighted key messages within days of the forum (sample clippings below). There were also a couple of investigative articles (please click on Amal Habbani and Haroun Mohammed and Sabir Hamid (duplicated in both print and online media) that were written on migration following the forum which referenced knowledge obtained from materials and presentations shared. This demonstrates commitment and interest from them to cover migration issues as well as shows the need for media engagement of this sort. The forum was shared by IOM Sudan through twitter, Facebook and on the website news. Follow Up For the following forum planned for August 2016, presentations should go in line with the topics requested by the May participants. Planning for Arabic speaking IOM presenters should be done in due time since coordination may require time. More specialized presentations should be ensured with relevance of the timing of the forum (in case there are specific contextual developments in the country or regionally that may interest the media to cover e.g. increase in influx of migrants at the time of the forum). The same participants must be invited as there will be no introductory sessions and it will be based on continued interest. However some expectations may be made for more participants if they have previous experience in the topics and demonstrable media interest. 3
Forum Attendance: (please note that media outlets chosen have ensured balance between government affiliated newspapers and a few non government media outlets) Name Media Outlet Position 1. Maaz Al Nujoumi Freelancer (online and Reporter international) 2. Mohammed Amin Al Watan Qatari Newspaper Reporter (online regional) 3. Mohammed El Fatih Humma Al Medan Newspaper (print local) Editor 4. Khalid Ahmed Freelancer Reporter 5. Faisal Mohammed Salih Teeba Press Journalist 6. Mohammed El Mokhtar Aljareeda (electronic/ online) Journalist Mohammed 7. Khalid Hashim Nile News TV (online) Reporter 8. Tarig Osman Abdalla Altaghyeer Newspaper (print local) Reporter 9. Al Hassan Abbas Ministry Of Justice Communication 10. Shawgi Abdel Azim Osman Al Youm Al Tali (print local) Head of News Section 11. Amal Habbani Freelancer (online) Journalist 12. Alula Kidani Sudan Vision (English print local) Journalist 13. Eiman Abdel Bagi Al Mijhar Alsiyasi (print local) Journalist 14. Hagir El Hadi Suliman Sudan TV (local) Film maker/ Journalist 15. Haroun Mohammed Adam Al Mustaqilla newspaper (print Head of Investigative section local) 16. Khalid El Balula Al Shurooq TV (Satellite) Reporter 17. Abdel Gadir Mohammed Freelancer (local) Journalist 18. Abdel Moniem Madibo Nyala Radio Radio broadcaster 19. Mahir Hassan Sayed Mobile Theater (local) Theater Director 20. Haroun Mohammed Adam Al Mustaqilla newspaper (print Head of Investigative section local) 21. Asma Michael Al Tayaar Newspaper (print local) Journalist 22. Abdel Rahman Abdel Salam Sahafa Newspaper (print local) Editor 23. Sabir Hamid Abdelsalam Al Siyha Newspaper (print local) Editor 24. Hanan Kisha Al Sahafa Newspaper (print local) Editor 25. AbdelSalam Al Haj Alzeet Blog (online) Blogger 26. Mahasin Ahmed Al Sudani Newspaper (print local) journalist 27. Hajir Abdel Majeed Mobile Theater (local) Actress 28. Haytham Khairi Mobile Theater (local) Actor 4
Sample Newspaper Clippings: Sample 1: SIYHA Newspaper (offline and online local) General coverage quoting IOM Sudan CoM and 2015 Annual Report figures Sample 2: Alsahafa newspaper (local and print) Headline: IOM: 4 million Sudanese in GCC Countries 5
Sample 3: Al Mustaqilla Newspaper (print local and was also published online in Alrakoba) Comprehensive positive coverage of the forum with quotes from IOM CoM, Head of Nyala Sub Office and IOM Cairo presenter. 6