US Embassy Marks World Press Freedom Day

Participants watching a video during training (Photo: U.S. Embassy Niamey)
Participants watching a video during training (Photo: U.S. Embassy Niamey)

The U.S. Embassy’s Public Affairs Section (PAS) invited Paris-based Speaker Elizabeth Bryant to conduct a three-day workshop for local journalists/editors at the American Cultural Center in Niamey. The theme was “Press Freedom and Ethical Challenges for Journalism in Niger: Media Coverage during the Elections Period.” PAS took this opportunity to focus on this topic to help better prepare journalists to cover the upcoming presidential elections in early 2016.  Dr. Boubacar Hassane, a local educator and specialist in Constitution matters and electoral code, was also invited to conduct a two hour session with the participants to reinforce Ms. Bryant’s training as well as shed more light on matters related to the Constitution, electoral code in an effort to better educate the journalists in these aspects. Deputy Chief of Mission, Richard Bell, delivered Welcome Remarks and handed out certificates of completion to the participants at the Closing Ceremony held on May 6. The workshop was done in collaboration with the U.S. State Department/Africa Regional Services office located in Paris.

 

Group Photo of the DMC Richard Bell with the Participants
Group Photo of the DMC Richard Bell with the Participants