VZCZCXRO2124
RR RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHRN
DE RUEHMR #0082 0511506
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 201506Z FEB 07
FM AMEMBASSY MASERU
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 2641
INFO RUCNSAD/SADC COLLECTIVE
RUEHMR/AMEMBASSY MASERU 2988

UNCLAS MASERU 000082 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/S: MUNCY 
DEPT ALSO FOR AF/PD: COZZENS 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: KPAO KDEM SCUL PREL LT
SUBJECT: EMBASSY MASERU'S PRE-ELECTIONS MEDIA WORKSHOP IS TIMELY, 
ENGAGING 
 
REF: 2006 MASERU 516 
 
¶1.  SUMMARY:  On February 8-9, 2007, Embassy Maseru gathered 25 
of Lesotho's state-employed and independent journalists for a 
two-day pre-election media workshop conducted by Cape Town-based 
American media trainer Terry FitzPatrick.  Mr. FitzPatrick used 
examples from television, radio, and print media from election 
campaigns around the world to teach local journalists how to be 
a powerful advocate for the people in the period leading up to 
elections.  With the entire Basotho nation focused on Lesotho's 
upcoming National Assembly elections, the workshop was timely, 
well-attended, and generated ideas which were immediately put 
into practice at the end of the training.  END SUMMARY. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Enthusiastic Group, Important Times 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  On February 8-9, 2007, Embassy Maseru organized a 
pre-election media trading workshop in Maseru.  The group 
participated in lectures and group exercises aimed at improving 
journalists' judgment and reasoning skills as they face 
difficult decisions while covering electoral campaigns.  The 
workshop also included a highly relevant panel discussion with 
speakers from the National Democratic Institute (NDI) and 
Lesotho's Independent Electoral Commission (IEC) concerning the 
role and responsibilities of the media during elections. 
 
¶3.  Twenty-five reporters from thirteen media houses were 
present for the two-day session.  The participants, from both 
Lesotho's state-owned media and many of the country's private 
media outlets, stated on their evaluation forms that they were 
impressed by the dynamism of the presenter and the concept that 
they could be a strong force in shaping the space for dialog on 
social issues during this important time. 
 
----------------------------------- 
Topics on Lesotho's Collective Mind 
----------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  Topics of the workshop included: 1) organizing political 
debates; 2) covering candidates and parties; and 3) how to act 
as an electoral system watchdog.  Many participants stated that 
these topics had been on their minds recently, and that this 
presentation aided them to put these issues in their proper 
global, regional, and local contexts.  Manifold challenges face 
Lesotho's journalists as Lesotho's election veered into negative 
campaigning and complex issues needed to be explained to the 
public, such as the meaning of shifting party alliances within 
the "Mixed Member Proportional" parliamentary system. 
 
¶5.  During one group exercise, journalists brainstormed about 
questions to ask candidates during their next encounters.  In 
the week after the session, several journalists put these 
questions to real world use.  At the end of the workshop, the 
media personnel expressed their appreciation and willingness to 
attend such further training organized by the U.S. Embassy. 
 
--------------------------- 
Why Did This Event Succeed? 
--------------------------- 
 
¶6.  COMMENT:  This pre-election media training workshop was a 
success for several reasons:  1) Terry FitzPatrick, an 
experienced media trainer with extensive experience in Africa, 
put together a very relevant and engaging program; 2) through 
negotiating with a Nordic aid organization which had arranged a 
concurrent media-related workshop, we managed to borrow their 
participants for the two days of our (superior) workshop, 
ensuring good attendance; 3) due to the impending elections, the 
participants were especially engaged and interested in the 
subject matter; and 4) the hands-on advice and guidance provided 
by NDI and the IEC gave the workshop an additional practical 
edge for the participants to take back to their work.  With the 
success of Embassy Maseru's two recent media workshops under our 
belts in the last six months (reftel), we hope to engage members 
of the local media who still require professional training.  END 
COMMENT. 
 
PERRY