By: Latifa Yusuf Masai
HARGEISA (Somalilandsun) – The Somaliland fourth estate has committed to revolutionizing the sector within a span of three years.
This follows panel discussions at an ongoing three days’ workshop hosted by the Somaliland Journalist Association-Solja in Hargeisa where participants have the objective of validating the organizations draft 3 years strategic plan.
The validation workshop whose participants are pooled from various Somaliland media institutions, government, private sector and Civil society organizations is under facilitation by veteran journalist Younis Ali Nuur, Abdilahi Aden Omar ‘Wayab’ and Feisal Mohamed Abdi ‘Fadfadle’, has been made possible by the Academy for Peace and development-APD and Interpeace
According to the chairman of Solja Mahmud Abdi Jama ‘Huto’ the three years strategic plan drafted by his organization requires input by all media stakeholders in the country thence an all-encompassing design before implementation.
Slated for actualization from July 2015 to July 2018 the strategic plan has three main goals that are geared towards facilitating a robust public information disbursement mechanism namely:
I. Improved Regulatory and Policy environment conducive to pluralistic and diverse media work
II. Increased skill based capacities for media houses and individual journalists and
III. Establishment of effective Internal Structures Policies and Procedures-ISPP within the Solja hierarchy Vis ‘a’ Vis its affiliate organizations and individuals.
From the above major goals that Solja intends to achieve within the lifespan of the strategic plan members and institutional capacity building as well as putting in place an effective code of conduct for stringent self-regulatory measures are supreme.
The lead facilitator of the SOLJA strategic plan validation workshop and former BBC Somali service anchorman Younis Ali Nuur told participants that “while improved journalistic skills are of import to your work that has governing laws approved by parliament more important is the availability of a code of conduct which is an internal process by relevant actors”
Stressing on the importance of the Code of conduct the veteran journalist who is currently a media training consultant for both Solja and the Somaliland ministry of information in Hargeisa said that availability and proper adherence to such a process shall go a long way towards reducing friction with the government.
The three days Somaliland Media development Strategic plan Validation workshop runs from 2nd to 4th July 2015.
The Somaliland Journalist Association –SOLJA was established in 2003 with the purpose of “Defend and Promote” the rights of the media in the country.
SOLJA which aspires to ensure that the local Media realizes its capacity in executing its activities within its ethical norms hence exercise freedom of expression in a fearless atmosphere is indebted to its main sponsor the National Endowment for Democracy-NED and others for supporting its Mission of Empowering Somaliland media in its field of expertise hence safeguard its professional rights to Guarantee ethical journalist. For more visit http://www.ururkasolja.org/
Keep watch of this site for workshop results
