Journalists at work in the Baz Lanbi Media Centre in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Photo: Anne Catherine Bajard/IMS

The Baz Lanbi Media Center in Port-au-Prince has become a vital portal through which information is channeled to the Haitian public about the cholera epidemic and recent elections

For Haitian journalists and media associations, the Baz Lanbi Media Center, established by International Media Support after the earthquake in January 2010, is a haven in which to work, cooperate and develop their skills. The media center was recently used as a platform for a unique cooperation between the Haitian authorities and media to channel important health and hygiene information about the cholera epidemic to the Haitian public. In the run-up to the country’s elections on 28 November, the centre also housed a training course for 40 journalists on safety and how to cover elections. The journalists were introduced to conflict-sensitive journalism, a way of reporting on a conflict without adding to it.  

Baz Lanbi Media Center

In the aftermath of the devastating earthquake in January 2010, the Center was set up by International Media Support and three journalist associations in Haiti – the National Association of Journalists in Haiti (AJH), Groupe Medialternatif (GMA) and SOS-Journalistes - as a long-term development investment into Haitian media sector.

The media center houses the abovementioned organisations as well as ”The Humanitarian Information and Facilitation Center.”

The results of the media support efforts at the Centre are tangible. 250 journalists have been trained in the how to disperse humanitarian information to the public during emergencies – information such as where to find food and water, shelter and medical aid.

Over the space of two months, the National Association of Journalists in Haiti carried out three-day training courses in ten provinces with support from IMS, according to Canadian media consultant Anne Catherine Bajard, the coordinator of IMS’ activities in Haiti.

- The training sessions have equipped the journalists with the necessary skills to obtain information from national and international organisations, and communicate this to the public. In this way Haitian journalists are the link between those with the vital information and those who really need help, she explains.

In connection with the cholera epidemic which has claimed an increasing number of victims in the last month, there is reason to believe that the training is having a positive impact. Anne Catherine Bajard emphasises that the authorities as well as the journalists in Haiti have been quick to produce advice and guidance on how to deal with cholera and disperse this information through their local media, radio and online networks.

Voice of the homeless

The enormous challenges in Haiti include more than one million homeless people who live in camps or on the street. The media has an important role to play in giving the homeless a voice, a role that the Haitian media are taking very seriously.

According to Anne Catherine Bajard, the experience of IMS in Haiti has shown a need for journalists to be trained in how to cover crises in general, no matter what kind of crisis.

- Journalists must be equipped with the necessary knowledge and tools to work safely during crises. Once they have the tools, they can use them again and again no matter what crisis they face, says Anne Catherine Bajard.

IMS’ activities in Haiti are funded by public and private donations from Denmark and Norway.