Mali au féminin: first radio training session
CFI held a training course for female journalists in Bamako, Mali from 24 February to 1 March 2014. The course on producing radio reports was attended by six journalists, half of them from towns in the north of the country, and marked the first instalment of the Mali au féminin (Mali through women's eyes) project.
Under the direction of journalist and video reporter Florence Morice, the course provided the six trainees with guidance on writing, recording and editing reports, with an editorial focus on local politics and the upcoming elections.
The various phases of creating a report were tackled over the course of the week. These comprised choosing a subject and angle, preparation, location work, interview techniques, capturing atmosphere, writing commentary and broadcasting.
Getting the best from sound and words, in service of the news
Both through its method and though the choice of topics addressed in the news items recorded, the course aimed to extend the journalistic horizons of the women taking part and bolster their indispensible role as opinion formers.
The workshop was marked by a visit from Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, the French
Minister of Women's Rights and government spokeswoman, who volunteered to take part in question-and-answer sessions so that students could record a number of interviews.
Mali au féminin forms part of CFI's drive to discover new African talent and follows on from the L'Afrique au féminin competition launched in March 2013.
The second stage of the programme will be devoted to the production of short video reports.
