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Category: NEWS & MEDIA
Media Empowerment for Democratic Information Access
Original Title : Media Empowerment for Democratic Information
Access
Media Format : Multiple
Website : http://meroreport.net/
Producer : Equal Access Nepal
Language : Nepali and English
Location : Kathmandu, NEPAL
Contact : bguragain@equalaccess.org
DESCRIPTION
MEDIA Initiative (Media Empowerment for Democratic Information
Access) is a project started by Equal Access Nepal to strengthen the
capacity of the independent media to play an effective role in Nepal's
emerging democracy through innovative applications of online and
mobile phone based social networking software and tools; media
monitoring mechanisms; the production and distribution of content
to educate the public about independent media issues; a media defenders
legal support fund; and training thousands of media workers
on media law and rights and working in conf lict-affected environments.
By combining these innovative interventions this initiative
aims to strengthen the capacity of independent media to resist
threats, to earn public and government respect by acting in the public
interest and to reinforce the media’s role as a strong foundation for
Nepal’s fragile democracy. The MEDIA initiative intends to train more
than 2,000 media workers, set up Nepal’s first ever legal resource facility
for journalists under threat or who have been victims of violence
or corruption, and educate millions of Nepalese on media rights
through dozens of print articles, national radio program episodes and
a national television documentary.
EVALUATION
The Jury observed that the MEDIA initiative has established two social
networking based websites, with a member base of 500 Bloggers and
Journalists. It was further observed that nearly 1000 Journalists have
got trained through this initiative and 3 million plus people in Nepal
are listening to weekly radio program via national and local radio station
that deals with issues in relation to media, safety, security, new
media and why media has to promote right to information.
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