Note No. 5678

10 September 2001

DPI TRAINING PROGRAMME FOR BROADCASTERS, JOURNALISTS

FROM DEVELOPING COUNTRIES BEGINS AT HEADQUARTERS

The United Nations Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries begins its twenty-first session today at Headquarters, under the direction of the Department of Public Information (DPI).

The Programme was established in 1980 by the General Assembly, which requested the Secretary-General to initiate an in-service training programme for broadcasters and journalists from developing countries.  Twelve junior and mid-level journalists and broadcasters, including three sponsored by the Friedrich Ebert Foundation of Germany, are taking part in the six-week Programme, which ends on 19 October.

This year's participants work for media organizations in Armenia, Costa Rica, Equatorial Guinea, Maldives, the Federated States of Micronesia, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saudi Arabia, the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Tunisia, Colombia, Ecuador and Mexico.  The Programme is designed to supplement national, regional and other international training opportunities.

During the Programme, the participants will:

--Receive in-service training in DPI and take part in the work of the General Assembly;

--Undertake professional work assignments and receive briefings from United Nations officials on issues of priority to the Organization;

--Visit major media organizations in New York, Washington, D.C., and Atlanta to observe their operations; and

--Serve as temporary United Nations correspondents, covering United Nations meetings and activities on behalf of their home media organizations.

The Interim Head of the Department of Public Information, Shashi Tharoor, will welcome the participants and formally open the Programme at 10 a.m. on Tuesday,

11 September, in Conference Room 9.  The Chairman of the Committee on Information, Milos Alcalay of Venezuela, will also address the journalists at this opening.

Participants in 2001 Programme

Following are the countries, names and affiliations of the 19 participants in the 2000 Programme:

                                    - 2 -       Press Release Note No. 5678

                                                10 September 2001

Name of Participant	Media Type	Country	Affiliation
Sponsored by the DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC INFORMATION
(Mr.) Tatul HAKOBYAN	Print	Armenia	AZG Daily
(Mr.) Esteban ARIAS	Radio	Costa Rica	Eco News Radio Station
(Mr.) Jose-Cruz BAYEME	Radio/TV	Equatorial Guinea	Radio/Television Asonga
(Ms.) Moonisa EASA	Print	Maldives	Aafathis Daily
(Mr.) Barry MONKEYA	Radio	Federated States of Micronesia	Kosrae Radio
(Mr.) Jason DAVIS	TV	Saint Kitts & Nevis	ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC)
(Ms.) Manal Faisl ALHIJARY	Print	Saudi Arabia	Al-Watan
(Ms.) Snezana LUPEVSKA	TV	TFYR of Macedonia	A1 Television
(Ms.) Aida SGHAIER	Print	Tunisia	Tunis Afrique Presse
Sponsored by the FRIEDRICH EBERT FOUNDATION
(Ms.) Paola ROMO	Print	Colombia	Cambio
(Ms.) Silvia SANTACRUZ	Print	Ecuador	El Comercio
(Ms.) Sonia DEL VALLE LAVIN	Print	Mexico	CIMAC News Agency

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