CFI has committed to working in Burma to create the nation's first international-standard newscast
At a function in Rangoon attended by the French Development Minister, Pascal Canfin, CFI Managing Director Etienne Fiatte March 21, 2013, inked a partnership with media firm Forever, to support its project to create the first end-to-end production of a newscast in the country.
It was an opportunity for CFI to consolidate its ongoing involvement since the country's turnaround in 2012, and to reveal the outline and aims of its action plan to help Burmese media, in the thick of revolution.
The media is key to issues that Burma needs to address as the country quickly opens up
After 48 years of authoritarian control by a military junta which stifled all attempts at education, circulating information and economic development for the poorest classes (over 80% of the population), the country is now opening up swiftly, roughly, in a state of confusion.
The media is crucial to issues that the nation has yet to address: good governance, freedom of the press, education, and policies to smooth over tensions with ethnic minorities.
The international community is moving to ensure democratic media coverage of the presidential election due in 2015, set to be a decisive moment for the country's development.
" To this end, the French cooperation programme geared towards modernising and fostering professionalism in the media neatly dovetails with our determination to consolidate the opening-up of the country, leveraging French know-how in this sector. This is why CFI decided on extensive, long-term involvement in Burma as from 2012," explained Etienne Fiatte, Managing Director at CFI.
As the top French operator in media development, CFI is involved in the project to produce the first Burmese newscast
Since Spring 2012, CFI has conducted several initiatives to choose the most appropriate partners to embody this cooperation priority, i.e. those who really want to embark on a skills transfer programme rather than substitution or assistance.
After organising three audits and six training workshops in the premises of various TV operators, CFI assessed their assets and drawbacks and finally, decided to work with the media group Forever, which aims to put together the first Burmese newscast based on the production of local news. It is a bold choice, and a risky one, but it gives the firm a "public service" dimension, according to the French view, despite its semi-private status.
Forever has entrusted CFI with the assignment of training new recruits who are to contribute to developing the country via news.
"CFI's 2013 programme in the country will include 150 weeks of training. The scheme will be jointly funded by its Burmese partner.
It will be CFI's most significant programme in 2013, generating joint funding worth €500,000," added Etienne Fiatte.
By late 2013, the newsroom will boast over 100 staff members including 50 journalists and as many technical production workers.
The team's training sessions will be backed up with awareness-raising sessions with a view to producing open newscasts, first aimed at Forever management before being extended to local elected representatives, politicians and Ministers. These messages will be disseminated gradually, relaying efforts by UNESCO and some NGOs, via a set of partnerships with the press (such as the magazine Mzine).
CFI's aim is to harness this initial, hard-hitting experience to then get involved in projects to open the regions up, and to provide education via the media in line with the wishes of the Burmese authorities.
Nay Pyi Taw: training of journalists from media group Forever to cover SEA Games to be held in December 2013
CFI is looking in the long run to provide Burma with support for other media projects
Looking beyond this very intensive first phase, which CFI considers to be the foundation of the group's future development, CFI is examining several projects in Burma with the aim of raising multilateral funding to support their implementation.
CFI intends to rely on this initial investment to put forward the launch of two new channels, one educational, one catering to the provinces, with the aim of serving national development. The production of original content tailored to the specifics of each region is expected to use up considerable resources and may receive funding from backers such as the European Union, UNESCO or Asian organisations.
"This initiative will be conducted in 2013 to increase even further the impact of French government funding, along the lines of what CFI is currently undertaking with many new leads to consolidate its action in the Mediterranean basin and in Africa," Etienne Fiatte concluded.
