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In Ethiopia, Women's Groups Improve Their Media Skills

Photo: Solomon Teferi/Internews Network Yitayish Maru of Food for the Hungry participates in a radio interview exercise.

(July 7, 2006) “How can we get the media to listen to us?” That was the most common question posed when 13 representatives of women’s activist groups met in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in June for an Internews workshop on working with the media. 

The workshop, held in collaboration with the AIDS Resource Center, brought together participants from all over the country to share experiences and learn new skills. Activities included practice in writing press releases and in being interviewed for radio. 

Several keynote speakers gave presentations to the gathering including the head of Public Relations for the HIV/AIDS Prevention & Control Organization (HAPCO), Solomon Abate, and the project manager of Panos’ Women in the Media initiative, Tadella Demeke.

A special session introduced a panel of journalists to the group to help the NGO participants realize just how challenging it can be to find good news stories. NGOs and media organizations often have different agendas, but both sides discovered that there was much common ground and opportunities for collaboration. 

“What surprised me most was the passion the participants demonstrated when they undertook an exercise in being interviewed for radio,” said Internews Resident Advisor Jim Clarke. “Clearly all of these organizations have great stories to tell the media about their work, but have difficulty making it onto the news agenda. We are helping them find ways to get their stories out there.”

“We have learnt a lot,” said course member Addis Alem Taye of the Health Communication Partnership, “but would like to spend more time with journalists in their workplaces to really understand how they operate.” Internews plans to explore the possibilities of further collaboration and mentoring.

The course was funded by the United States Agency for International Development through the President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

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