2006 Annual Report

Sharing knowledge to improve media reporting for Guyana

In Guyana, ethnic tensions during election periods present serious challenges to objective reporting for the local media. Prior to the 2006 elections, UNDP was approached by the Government and the private media to help create a more constructive media environment in the run-up to the polls. Chris Spies, Peace and Development Advisor and Mike James, programme Officer at UNDP Guyana placed a query through the knowledge networks and received 22 responses that highlighted experiences from a number of countries, including Cambodia, Indonesia, Iraq, Kosovo, Mozambique and Pakistan. One of the most useful responses came from Trinidad and Tobago, where a code of conduct on the behaviour of the media during election time proved of particular interest. “I found that consulting the global knowledge network provided a good balance and gave a broad perspective” said Mr. James. According to Mr. Spies, “the network gave us a stronger sense of community as we were able to feel that you can receive information from the network and feel a sense of solidarity.”