Our project, “Protecting journalists in Haiti and confronting dis- and misinformation during a pandemic” begins tomorrow with a virtual workshop for Haitian media professionals! 

From 2-3 March, 31 Haitian media professionals will be trained by local experts in the areas of ethical journalism, journalist safety, and combating disinformation. The project’s objective is to produce a code of conduct on crisis management to strengthen the Haitian media landscape. Originally planned for November 2021, the project was shifted to an online format due to the COVID-19 pandemic and security challenges in Haiti.  

The lead trainers for the workshop are Jean Claude Louis, Country Coordinator of the PANOS Institute Caribbean, and Joseph Celicourt, a specialist in the development and design of materials for social and behaviour change (SBCC) and mass media. Several guest experts will also take part in the workshop and share their expertise and knowledge.  

The workshop will be followed by two in-country events in Haiti.  The first — to be held on Sunday 6 March — will be a prelude to the celebration of International Women’s Day, organised by our local partner Panos Caribbean. Under the theme “Digital safety: issues and solutions for women journalists in Haiti”, this meeting will discuss solutions to the physical and digital safety challenges faced by female journalists in Haiti, particularly during times of crisis and violence. The meeting will also discuss measures to combat digital violence that primarily target women in Haiti.  

The second event will be a one-day workshop on press coverage and risk control during protests or in conflict-prone environments. Scheduled to be held in Port-au-Prince for 20 journalists, this event is in partnership with Association Nationale des Medias en Lignes (AHML). 

This project is implemented by Public Media Alliance (PMA) and our local partner Panos Caribbean. We would also like to thank Association Nationale des Medias en Lignes (AHML) and Solidarite des femmes haitiennes journalistes (SOFEHJ) for their input and UNESCO Haiti and the Rapid Response Mechanism of the International Program for the Development of Communications (IPDC) for their support. 

Header image: 2017: Attendees developing social media guidelines at the UNESCO supported PMA workshop in the Caribbean. Image credit: Shobha Myers