Liaison with Beneficiaires
The ECCF conducts needs assessments which are carefully analysed to develop adequate interventions aimed at capacitating local independent media organisations. We regularly share information with local media relating to relevant conferences, awards, bursaries, media events and releases and specialised training.
On-site training
According to the results of needs assessments, on-site training is prepared for selected media organisations. The ECCF identifies suitable service provider to respond directly to the needs of the media organisations and to address challenges as they are experienced. They provide hands-on support by directly interacting with the journalists and managers on site. Service providers continue with mentoring support depending on the needs of the organisation. The ECCF also provides support for equipment if a need is identified and depending on the availability of funding.
Workshops
According to the results of needs assessments, the ECCF plans relevant workshops for local media organisations and civil society organisations (CSO). The ECCF liaises with strategic partners to ensure that the most relevant service providers conduct the workshops. Some workshops are targeting both print and broadcasting as well as CSOs while others are specifically designed for one of the media sectors. In 2011 for instance, the ECCF organised and implemented a workshop on “Financial Management and Advertising” (September 2011) and a workshop on “HIV/AIDS Content Development”. Please have a look at the following reports for further information:
Community Mobilisation
The ECCF interacts and shares ideas with local media organisations in order to plan interventions that involve communities on various topics such as HIV/AIDS, service delivery, human rights issues, etc. Communities become more aware of local media and thereby better understand and utilise it. At the same time they are being informed and educated on specific topics and learn to participate in the media available to them as well as in the development of their own community.
Media Hub
The media hub houses the ECCF. It offers services to budding and existing journalists who need advice and/or assistance in establishing and/or sustaining their newspaper, radio station or other media related projects. It consists of a training venue, board room, a library for local independent newspapers and a resource centre that offers material which is of relevance to media organisations. The media hub also serves as a one-stop agency for government, business and civil society organisations to liaise with the media as well as to receive training in media and communication related activities. As this one-stop agency, the Hub also functions as a gateway to the indenpendent media sector in the Province. The ECCF is actively involved in the exchange of information and sharing of resources for the development of community media. Contacts have been established with local, national and international media support organisations. In this regard, the ECCF is interested in assisting researchers in the field of media studies and the local independent media sector to get access to relevant sources in the Eastern Cape. Are you interested? Please have a look at our info sheet on the Research Opportunity on Local Media for further information. Feel free to contact us!
Student News Agency
The ECCF assists in the further development of the Student News Agency (SNA) to serve understaffed newsrooms of independent publishers. Local newspapers benefit from the weekly distribution of articles produced by 2nd year journalism students from the Department of Media Studies at Walter Sisulu University. Students benefit by improving their journalistic writing and gaining a sense for issues-focused journalism which is relevant for community development.
