SUPPORT FOR THE PRODUCTION, SHARING AND DISSEMINATION OF MEDIA CONTENT
WHAT DOES PIWA DO? ACTIVITIES
This platform puts together various media productions created within the framework of different projects. It is freely accessible to all.
The radio still has its place especially at local level, despite competition from TV and the explosive rise of social media, which is the most popular media: PIWA supports the production of inclusive talk shows and programs (involving marginalised stakeholders like rural women) on at times sensitive topics.
PIWA supported the production of hundreds of episodes of radio talk shows in nearly all ECOWAS West African countries, both at local and national levelS, and in local languages, French as well as in English.
PIWA helped rejuvenate listeners’ clubs format: citizen radio clubs are not only listeners’ clubs but also expression clubs. Citizen radio clubs do not only help information to trickle down to the very local level: they also help ensure that the concerns of specific interest groups in local and even national public discussions are taken up.
PIWA has organized Citizen radio clubs in several countries, essentially French-speaking ones.
Investigative journalism is still in its infancy in West Africa, and particularly in French-speaking West Africa, despite the remarkable participation of a few African journalists in major international investigation campaigns (Panama Papers, Paradise Papers).
PIWA therefore seeks to develop a network of investigative journalists, through pedagogical, technical and financial support to selected journalists, in order for the latter to take their first steps in “in-depth reporting”. PIWA also helped radio and print media journalists to produce reports sensitive to…(migration, the environment, land tenure, etc.) in a number of countries (Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Ghana, Niger, Côte d’Ivoire).
PIWA equally supports the simultaneous production of reports and talk shows on several media, ensuring that actual regional information campaigns take shape (notably prior to international and regional events).
PIWA supports co-production between “mainstream” and “local” media. This co-production helped to give national attention to certain discussions (especially on land grabbing) that used to be limited to the local scale, since they were exclusively covered by local radios..
PIWA has organised coverage for regional events since 2005 (European Union Summits; Francophonie Summit; China-Africa Summit; Africa-India Summit; Sessions of the Africab Commission for Human and Peoples Rights ), or international events of interest to Africans (COP 17; COP21; Earth Summit; World Summit on the Information Society; World Social Forum; African Social Forum; World Land Forum, etc.).
Flamme d’Afrique is produced by a team of journalists belonging to various networks. It is available online and physically in some cases, through a co-production and a print version produced with local newpapers, thanks to partnership with a local radio station.
Flamme d’Afrique provides African audiences with alternative information on the international events and fora covered, and amplifies the voices of African citizens partipating in such events.
Flamme d’Afrique has produced 21 editions since its creation.
PIWA supports forms of journalistic expression: video plays, radio plays, “Rapped Television News”.
These new forms of expression aim at contributing to informing and sensitizing on PIWA's priority stakes (denouncing corruption; holding leaders accountable in a context of democratic governance; or denouncing certain social prejudices and conformism with respect to the rights of women and minorities).
PIWA encourages ownership of these new forms of expression by CSOs and ordinary citizens (for example, through writing workshops); and helps artists to make use of their talents for open discussions on issues addressed by PIWA.
These forms have been used by PIWA in several countries since 2013, especially:
This methodology, inherited from “Oral Testimonies” pioneered by Panos-London, was adapted and given a facelift by PIWA.
Initially, its objective was to give voice to key figures and the aspirations/concerns of a community. These testimonies, produced by radio broadcasters, served as a basis for public discussions. These testimonies are produced today in video form (for example gender-based violence: the testimonies of high school students were obtained by organizations supporting LGBT persons and shared on social media.)
PIWA supports campaigns conducted by CSOs, generally within the framework of training workshops they benefit from.
These brief campaigns are generally organized during one-off events (for instance, the 2017 elections in Senegal; International Women’s Day).
These campaigns are conducted by intensifying the presence of CSOs in the media, and by organizing online events like live tweets.