|
| |
Contact:
Rose Marie Harris
Thursday, 04 September 2008 – Journalists from the Caribbean and other
regions of the Commonwealth will join their counterparts in Saint Lucia for a
one day training workshop on reporting the current rise in food and fuel prices
ahead of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting (CFMM) to be held in Saint
Lucia next month.
According to Julius Mucunguzi, a Communications Officer with the Commonwealth
Secretariat in London, the objective of the workshop which will take place on
Sunday 5 October 2008 will be to enable journalists from different parts of the
Commonwealth share experiences on how the story of two twin crises-food and fuel
prices can be best reported to inform and influence public policy on the issue.
The workshop will be organised by the Commonwealth Secretariat in conjunction
with the Government Information Service of Saint Lucia.
The CFMM is taking place from 6 to 8 October 2008. "This is in line with the
theme of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers meeting which is on: implications of
high fuel and food prices on national economies," Mr Mucunguzi said. He added
that: " It is important that the media understand that the way they report such
an important development will greatly impact how public officials will formulate
policies to address the challenges."
The journalists will also have an opportunity to be briefed by officials from
the Commonwealth about the role finance ministers can play in alleviating the
challenges of high energy and food prices, as well as the objectives and
expected outcomes from the finance ministers meeting.
"We also believe this forum will enable journalists to gain a better
understanding of the Commonwealth Finance Ministers Meeting and that this will
hopefully be reflected in their reporting immediately and in the future."
Facilitators for the workshop will be drawn from Saint Lucia, London and other
parts of the Commonwealth.
|
