The 11th IREN Eastern Africa Media Forum

Theme: Indian Ocean Rim: Gateway to Eastern Africa's Prosperity

Date: May 1-4, 2013

Venue: Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

The Indian Ocean is a strategic heart of the world and East Africa. An estimated 50% of the World’s container traffic and 70% of petroleum products travel through the Indian Ocean. Oceans are like a highway that connect people and move goods to the market. The Indian Ocean has been a lifeline for World trade for centuries. There is renewed interest in this ocean by emerging and developed countries. What socio-economic and political opportunities and threats does the Indian Ocean portend for Eastern Africa? Are East Africa journalists prepared?

Objectives

•To assess how Eastern Africans can exploit their proximity to the Indian Ocean for prosperity.
•To discuss the opportunities and threats posed by the renewed interest of emerging and old powers in the Indian Ocean.
•To discuss the role of the media in driving awareness and debate about new prospects the Indian Ocean offers East Africans.

How to Participate

This event is open to journalists working/reporting in the development field from Eastern Africa. Interested participants should submit one pager bio-data indicate area of specialization and media house affiliated to by April 12, 2013 to zaina@irenkenya.com or events@irenkenya.com.

Selected applicants will be notified by April 19, 2013.

Background

The IREN Eastern Africa Media Training is one of IREN’s key forums that targets media practitioners for annual brainstorming sessions on various issues that affect Eastern Africa.

For the last ten years, IREN has trained over 500 journalists and communicators from Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zambia and South Sudan who cover business, governance and other developmental issues. The IREN Eastern Africa Media Training aims at exposing media practitioners to factors that influence events in the world and to principles of wealth creation.

Previous Media Training Themes

(2012) Harnessing Digital Revolution to benefit Africa

(2011) Is Eastern Africa Ready for China-India and Europe? 

(2010) The Billionth African

(2009) Africa Resources Conflict: Whose Interest does the Press Serve?

(2008) The Role of the Media in Positioning Africa in the 21st Century

(2007) Turning Africa’s People into a Resource

(2006) Conquering Poverty through Business in Eastern Africa

(2005) Property Rights in the African Context

(2004) Business and International Trade

(2003) World Trade Organization and Africa.