Garowe, 25th June 2024 — The Media Association of Puntland (MAP), in partnership with the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), is thrilled to announce the conclusion of a groundbreaking three-day media management training program in Garowe! This high-energy event was meticulously crafted to advance the skills of media managers, with focus on ethical practices, legal insights, and strategic planning.
From June 23-25, 2024, 25 media managers drawn from across the Puntland regards converged in Garowe for an intense, hands-on media leadership bootcamp. Over three action-packed days, attendees dove deep into essential topics like ethical journalism, media laws, and strategic goal setting, emerging with the tools and confidence to navigate today’s fast-paced media landscape.
The inaugural session was honored by the presence of the Puntland Minister of Information, Honorable Mohamud Aided, accompanied by the Director General of the Information Ministry, Engineer Mohamed Isse, alongside Jama Deperani Spokesperson for the Puntland President, H.E Saed Abdulahi Deni. Attendees were warmly welcomed by Mohamed Dahir Warsame, the Chairperson of the host organization MAP, who elaborated on the objectives of the three-day course.
Esteemed Honorable Mohamud Aided and distinguished guests, thank you for joining us at this groundbreaking media management training. Today, we unite the trailblazers from Puntland’s leading media outlets to empower, educate, and engage. This training is designed to equip our media leaders with the tools and knowledge they need to navigate the dynamic media landscape with integrity and accountability. Let’s embark on this transformative journey together! – Mohamed Dahir Warsame, Chair of MAP.
Government officials addressed several key issues, notably the revival of the local democratization process, including the recent agreement between Puntland authorities and political parties have reached an agreement to finalize the pending municipal elections in three districts of the Nugaal region and showed interest in the Media role. Officials commended the media’s significant role in the last elections and expressed hopes for a similar level of contribution in the upcoming elections. They also called on media executives to enhance their management practices, emphasizing the need to respect labor rights and ensure accountability for any violations.
During the opening remarks, feedback from MAP’s persistent advocacy for the establishment of the Access to Information Act was highlighted in the speeches. For the first time, government officials publicly acknowledged the importance of this act and expressed their willingness to engage in its development. Honorable Mohamud Aided and Director General Mohamed Isse stressed the importance of media access to information and confirmed their commitment to working with stakeholders to establish this act, in accordance with Article 17 of the Puntland Media Law 2016.
Engineer Mohamed Isse, in his remarks, spoke on the responsibility media managers hold regarding working conditions and called on them to uphold those responsibilities. He noted that ensuring media executives and owners take these responsibilities seriously is among the government’s top priorities. Engineer Isse also supported MAP’s quest to establish the Access to Information Act.
“As part of our efforts, we will hold media executives accountable for how they protect the labor rights of their workforce. Additionally, we look forward to working with relevant stakeholders to establish the state’s media law and information act, as we believe it will contribute to transparency in the governance system and serve the public interest,” said Engineer Mohamed Isse.
In his address, Puntland’s Minister of Information, Mohamud Aideed, expressed his appreciation for the pivotal role played by the media during the last local government elections. Looking forward to the upcoming elections, he anticipates the media’s continued significant contributions. He highlighted the importance of access to information, urging journalists to coordinate with their managers and conduct thorough research before requesting data from the government.
Additionally, Minister Aideed stressed the necessity for media outlets to comply with legal requirements, such as paying their operational fees, to avoid any disruptions. Concluding his remarks, he extended his best wishes for a successful training session to the assembled media professionals.
Led by a veteran Somali Journalist, Burhan Ahmed, once a media manager himself, and now a seasoned professional trainer and mentor, the training sessions buzzed with energy and expertise.
His dynamic guidance and insightful discussions were instrumental in helping participants grasp and apply the practical aspects of the concepts covered. The interactive format fostered vibrant discussions, shared experiences, and a wealth of learning.
The training provided a comprehensive exploration of the challenges inherent in Puntland newsroom dynamics and underscored the importance of collaborative efforts, adaptive strategies, ethical leadership, and professional resilience in navigating these challenges effectively. By addressing these insights, participants were equipped with actionable strategies to enhance their contributions within dynamic newsroom environments.
Among the efforts of Grant-1299 is to mobilize state and non-state actors in establishing the information act. However, political instability, particularly the 2023 election disputes in Puntland, has challenged the development of this act. Speaking at the weekly internal meeting at the MAP Headquarters, Chair Mohamed Dahir and the team viewed the public statements from government officials on the act as a major milestone, confirming their efforts are paying off and a great start for the next phase of the campaign.
In the past, the National Endowment for Democracy has thankfully supported one of MAP’s critical policy reform campaigns, which took two and a half years to reform the ambiguous media law that was finally passed in 2016.
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