Yemen: Moving forward through cooperation
Security issues, lack of professionalism, limited independence, financial woes, and political influence over the media. There is no shortage of challenges facing Yemen’s media. In late November, a range of media groups came together in Sana’a to find new ways to tackle them through joint efforts
The one-day partnership meeting in Yemen, brought together IMS partners to identify common challenge and find links and synergies that could help them move forward both individually and as a sector.
Through lively and constructive discussions, brainstorming sessions and exercises, the media groups, academia, and freedom of expression defenders found a need to increase cooperation and information sharing, and implement joint projects and activities.
“IMS and our partner organisations were very encouraged by the spirit of collaboration at the meeting and the many initiatives to strengthen the Yemeni media sector which were shared as possible joint activities”, said Andreas Sugar, IMS’ Programmer Manager for Yemen.
“What became clear to participants at the meeting was the benefits of partnerships, of working together and pooling resources, human as well as financial, to achieve greater gains in a media environment facing enormous challenges on everything from the financial to the professional level.”
By outlining their goals, plans, and contributions to the sector the seven partner organisations laid the ground for future cooperation, giving birth to new ideas for collaboration, agreements and commitments.
“This meeting has given me the opportunity to see an overall picture of all IMS projects in Yemen and how we can make synergies and make use of each other,” said Khair Aldin Al-Nsour, Executive Manager of Yemen 21 Forum.
“I especially liked it when we on the spot were able to create initial agreements with other organisations and how we found that we can work together for a common goal instead of individually having to search for funds to establish those partnerships.”
The meeting also covered specific areas of interest to IMS and its Yemeni partners, including investigative journalism, which is a relatively new field in Yemen, but one which generates a lot of interest and enthusiasm.
Internships in investigative units for university students and the establishment of a network for investigative reporters were areas identified for further cooperation. Training and education was also discussed as another an area where cooperation would make a lot of sense, and agreement was made to meet in the near future to discuss it in more detail.
With journalism still a risky occupation in the country, participants also agreed on the need to establish a safety committee charged with protecting and assisting journalists who have been attacked, threatened or harassed.
IMS had called upon Eva Jakobsen from the Danish Union of Journalist to help facilitate the meeting through exercises and away from the constraints of a conference table.
“The informal nature of the meeting brought partners closer together, which made a big difference. There were real moments of beauty when the participants were standing and exchanging cards stating things they were offering to and needing from others,” said Eva Jakobsen.
IMS has spent the past two years re-engaging in Yemen after much of the programme came to a halt during the unrest in 2011. Over the past year, old partnerships have been revived or reinforced and new ones established.
The focus continues to be the promotion of freedom of expression and helping the media sector play a constructive role during the ongoing and difficult political transition period. The meeting helped reveal that, while each organisation has its own priorities and areas of expertise, the partners share common goals and dreams for Yemen and its media sector.
