Free and fair elections are not only about casting votes in proper conditions but also about having adequate information about parties, policies, candidates and the election process. As events where the competition for power is at stake, elections may, however, catalyze conflict rather than prevent it, particularly in cases where there is a disproportionate access to power coupled with impunity and weak justice systems. The media is now well-recognized as a critical influence in whether societies resort to violent conflict or not. Increased media professionalism has a powerful ameliorating influence on violent conflict. With the growing influence of new media the monopoly of professional journalists on the publication of news and views has gone forever. Weblogs, podcasts, web-videos, mobile reporting generate an information flow and enhance network reporting that has the potential to challenge close-door politics. The workshop examines the impact of new media on election reporting in various conflict-related settings with focus on Sub-Saharan African countries such as Ghana, Kenya, Zimbabwe, South Africa. If you like to obtain some background information ahead of the workshop, please visit the IIJ website: http://2009.inwent-iij-lab.org/

Hosted by the International Institute for Journalism of InWEnt - Capacity Building International, Germany

Discussion with:

Astrid Kohl, Head of the international institute for journalism (IIJ) 

Prof. Harry Dugmore, MTN Chair of Media and Mobile Communication at the School of Journalism and Medias Studies at Rhodes University, South Africa  

Mildred Ngesa, Member of Peace Pen Communications, formerly special projects writer with the Daily Nation, Kenya

Halifax Ansah-Addo, Political editor at the nationwide newspaper Daily Guide, Ghana

 Thursday, 4 June 2009, 11:30 a.m., Annex