Introduction

Latin America has been championing Refresher Programmes in the last years and the number of requests for organising this highly wanted ongoing learning programme have been on the increase.

It is the first time such an event was organised in Paraguay and it was highly important that the event took place in Asuncion where all basic and professional needs are badly wanted.

There have been various requests to organise this programme in Paraguay since 2001. And the realisation of the event in July 2006 was a dream come true for many journalists and other media professionals and experts.

Paraguay is in the Mercosur, a common market in Latin America comprising Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile and Paraguay. And Paraguay at present is the only country in the Mercosur without a successful coalition or plan for government or elections. Besides its relationship with its big neighbours is not always in the best conditions especially in the field of trans-border trade and debt contracts.

The timing of this formation programme at Asuncion coincided well, as several Latin American journalists participated in the refresher programme held in Moscow in Russia one month earlier. Moscow has been classified as the costliest city in the world, while Asuncion was ranked the cheapest city and thus poor. Though such classifications may not have much sense, they give some idea of living standards of people. Ten years ago in 1996, eleven international airlines used to serve to Paraguay’s capital, Asuncion; now there are only two of them more or less interested!

Besides, Latin America has been going to the “left” in these last years, inspiring from socialism, anti-capitalism, and anti-globalisation. But does this help Latin America or push Latin Americans to the status of second-class citizens of the globalised world?

As journalists who care for values, convictions and ethics, the refresher programme tried to analyse these realities for awareness and thus better decisions and judgements.

Theme and keynote addresses

The theme “Journalism, Communications and Leadership” challenged journalists as well as political leaders and “left- and right-wing” activists. The resource persons and participants explored the multifaceted theme through diverse presentations, debates and working groups. In recent years, there has been a substantial shift ? what many call a shift to the “left” ? in the leadership of Latin American countries: Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, Chile, Venezuela, Bolivia and possibly Nicaragua and Ecuador by the end of the year 2006.

The refresher programme was a unique opportunity to evaluate the role of journalists and other communication activists in shaping new leaders and guiding nations. The event also explored the question: Is the shift to “left” the solution for the continent in the years to come? The keynote speakers and participants together considered the question that journalists have the responsibility to uphold values like the option for the poor, the promotion of democracy and finding solutions for all parties rather than simply eliminating the opponent through conflicts and war.

The gathering noted that the new leaders, like their predecessors, have fallen victim to the rush for money and market dictates and have not taken an interest in promoting solid values, such as the dignity of the human person, family, and a right to just standard of living. The formation event emphasised that, by exercising their profession, journalists always play the role of leaders in society. They are leaders by the nature of their profession and by vocation and people look to them at all times ? good and bad. And, in cooperation with the Journalism Department of Asuncion University, the gathering also analysed the increasing defects in the traditional university formation of journalists and proposed alternatives that can ensure a better and comprehensive formation.

Findings, conclusions and recommendations

Through this report, we are happy to bring to you the main findings, conclusions and recommendations of the refresher programme:

Are journalists leaders?

The unanimous answer was “yes”. It was emphasized that they hold even greater responsibilities in times of confusion, conflict and absence of true leaders.

Their leadership is necessary all the more in Latin American societies where there is more and more “enterprise-oriented existence” that makes individuals and institutions dependent upon business or political enterprises forever.

The concept of “earning one’s own living” is slowly erased from the plans of majority of peoples. On the contrary, the enterprises provide facilities for recreation, sports and other activities that are supposed to be intimate part of one’s private and family life. Many enterprises in Latin America have this type of “family or human person oriented” activities for which part of one’s earnings are kept by the enterprise. This is, as if former communist ideologies freely transferred into money-making enterprises. Such activities are common in former and present communist-capitalist countries where human persons are one way or other tied up with the state or private enterprise.

Thus more and more evenings, weekends, holidays and festivals including religious feasts that impart considerable spiritual resources are turned into enterprise leisure and party.

In such conditions, it is almost impossible for individuals to have “one’s own time and disposition” to reflect, evaluate and think in order to serve human persons and their social, political, natural, scientific environments.

It is true that an advocate, a medical doctor, or another professional may work for a certain enterprise, individual or society. But journalists are called to exercise their profession for the benefit and welfare of the whole society, the whole nation and the whole world. Like advocates in these days, journalists should not work for opposing parties, but for the benefit of all.

Journalism is the profession that has to be exercised considering the ultimate truth and the welfare of all. And in the deeper analysis of realities, journalists lead all to the truth and thus form the electors and the elected.

Does true journalism exist?

In a world where individuals and institutions are more and more after money not only for their existence but also for their visibility, journalists too are dragged to sides that are greener pastures.

And as they take more and more sides, journalists in them disappear. This is a common tragedy we see in today’s reports worldwide where all reports take one side or the other. There are journalists for such and such nations, communities, races, but seldom there are journalists who go beyond these “little identity crises” to reach the far greater universal status of human dignity.

In Latin America, the situation is more sensitive as the majority of the continent has been made up of immigrants from various nations, communities and races. Therefore the tendencies to take sides are even bigger like in other immigrant nations such as USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand.

Besides there is a trend to help escape from one’s journalistic responsibilities by giving generalised designations such as public relations or communications officer, or simply communicator, though by nature all are communicators.

The participants and keynote speakers unanimously affirmed that there is a need to re-invent journalism in Latin America not only for the saving this profession in the process of extinction but also to bring back to Latin America its body and soul in the context of unhealthy globalisation.

Where should journalists intervene as guides and leaders in today’s Latin America?

The refresher programme proposed various areas where journalists have to intervene with force, conviction and determination:

- Though Latin America is more and more on the road to democracy, the people of Latin America are not well aware of realities or well equipped to choose their leaders. It is especially the case where more and more people are dependent upon enterprises even for their private, religious and spiritual life.

- The gap between the poor and rich have become bigger. The shift from right to left in several Latin American nations helped give a few pesos, reais or dollars to the poor making them smile and shape politics. It did not really change the lives of the poor or their destiny. In this “political hypnotism”, rich people became richer and most of the middle class became poor and few from the lower classes made some fortunes.

- The phenomenon of shrinking or gradual absence of the middle class has much greater consequences. It will gravely affect the centre of gravity, as they are the “middle” or “centre” of the society. As a housemother put it, our children would never be able to go away from our homes and we are forced to make a room next to ours. If young people are not able to have their time and space to blossom, they end up before they see the light.

- Activities of social workers, anti-globalisation activists and other civil societies are still looked upon as marginalized even by those leaders came out these backgrounds. There is a need to valorise their initiatives and efforts by taking them out of their “untouchable’s status” and bringing them to the rank of “essentials” to societies and nations. Civil societies must be helped to civilize what is rotten by capitalism, socialism, fundamentalism and extremism in the civilized world.

- There is less and less fear and blind reverence to religious authorities in Latin America. But the continent has still a lot to do to promote more healthy and equal relationship between common people and religious authorities. In order to sit around a table as equals and partners in common projects for the welfare of all, both sides need greater awareness, resources and access.

- Another important area in this domain where journalists have to play the role of leaders is inter-religious co-existence and initiatives especially when the world is more and more divided after little differences. There is no need to import such divisions to Latin America though it is not completely unavoidable in this globalised world.

- Future of Latin America lies in its children. Who should bring the problems of Latin American children abandoned on roadsides, in slums, under bridges or working in subhuman conditions in factories, hotels and markets to the front pages of the main-stream media, to the urgent political debates or to top priority national and continental planning.

- If the children are not well taken care of, the problems of youth gang killers, drug-traffickers, robbers and other delinquents or problems of families can find no answers or solutions.

Journalists are leaders in all walks of life forever by their vocation of journalist and their concern for the welfare of all.

Specificities and advantages of journalist leaders

The first specificity of role of journalists as leaders is that the relationship between them and the people have to be always “horizontal” and never “vertical” like in the case of most of the political, religious or business leaders. And this dimension is extremely important to play the role of a true and effective leader. Paraguay is an excellent example for this horizontal leadership dynamics as the nations 60 per cent of the people are less than 30 years old.

Another important aspect of journalist leadership is “informality”. Journalists can get to anywhere deep into villages, mountains and forests with exceptional ease, legendary charm, utmost respect and all the trust of the people, and with such an approach and reception no one else can beat them.

Journalists are leaders “respecting history” and “being just to memory”: journalism and communication through media are spaces and forums for well-founded debates, discussions, healthy argumentation, struggle and confrontation not to eliminate the other or the opponent but to find common solutions for all and forever. Outcomes from these forums are to help grater democracy, ethics, politics and power.

Journalism leadership is “constructive”. Journalists know that “future is constructed” and in order to ensure a bright future one has to envisage it at a young age. It can be easier for young people to imagine and then construct future. Journalist leaders accompany such buildings of future for the humanity at large.

Basic Formation of Journalists in Universities

This refresher programme made a unique initiative of debates with university authorities in charge of basic formation of journalists. It helped analyse, evaluate and plan for updated and better formation.

There are too many departments of communications without proper vision or orientation. Besides universities function in a completely different environment compared to that of journalism and media, where university graduates have to find a job! And there is seldom market for graduates from the present system.

There is a need to concentrate on journalism instead of beating around the bush with generalised syllabus. As journalism is singled out and given priority, all university courses need to be adapted to the new changes without losing the core and essentials.

In today’s generalised courses, time for ethics and values are reduced and the intensity to these essentials is only one centimetre deep. Universities are entering into competition very often “to prepare human products or robots that should function in the new globalised markets”.

Universities could therefore conceive courses that would mingle “diplomacy and reporting” so that new journalists can share renewal through knowledge and wisdom rather than hatred and partisanship.

They can also update traditional courses inspiring from in-service training and educommunication.

In-service training and EduCommunication

In-service training could probably be the best formation a journalist can get. This training cum reporting approach together with mastering theories exposes aspiring journalists to realities with which they have to work and thus get a better command of the profession at an early stage.

This method of journalism training takes future journalists directly to newspapers, radio and television and other media and enables them to go on reporting to regions, countries and continents where events and policies unfold. They have the privilege and chance to work as journalists under guidance and motivation at the same time they get humanistic, ethical and theoretical formation. By this healthy and enviable blending and theory and practice on spots where events take place, journalists get the taste of almost everything they need to report and get closest to the truth in their pursuit of finding it together.

Such in-service training has been in practice in media enterprises worldwide for many decades and it has given journalists an extraordinary base for the whole lifetime.

EduCommunication ? education for communication ? is another effective answer for updating the activities of journalism and communication departments at universities. It is bringing a bit of editorial rooms of newspapers, radio, television and other media to universities where aspiring journalists can get a solid formation.

It gives extraordinary reach even to kids to discover the journalists in them, as they themselves produce reports and broadcasts. This approach also promoted under media education, citizens’ movements, participation of the public especially children and youth, transformed traditional approaches in the media. Big newspapers in Moscow, Lima, Tokyo, New Delhi, Frankfurt, Sao Paulo, Nairobi, Dakar and in many other places have already instituted special sections for this purpose.

EduCommuication is fundamentally participation of all in all ways in all parts of the world: sharing experiences, information, enlightenments, ideas, visions, and so on.

Special Role of Journalists and the Church in Latin America

Four avenues were explored where journalists and Latin American Church can play an important role: the prophetic role, option for the poor, dynamics among faith, culture, justice and peace and greater communication between the Church and the society.

As both the Church and journalists by nature are value-concerned, ethics-minded and truth-oriented, their first responsibility is to “see things for others”. It is all about the “prophetic role” both of them share and exercise everyday at various circumstances. And whenever Church and journalists joined hands together they could work miracles!

The Church and journalists have given a preferential option for the poor, because they believe that only uplifting of human persons from subhuman conditions can bring true justice and peace. The refresher programme emphasised the need of taking care of “option for the poor” which is “probably the most important issue in Latin America today”. It is this option for the poor that led politicians and societies to move to the “left” though moving to right or left alone does not bring solutions.

It is in this context, the dynamics among faith, culture, justice and peace has been promoted and developed. Refresher programme participants and keynote speakers opined that there is great advantage in promoting the dynamics between faith and culture for better understanding, greater justice and lasting peace.

One of the major hurdles in today’s efforts for welfare and advancement is lack of communication between the Church and society. There is a true need to work together rather than apart especially by sowing the seeds of hatred and conflict. After all both the Church and society aim at the welfare of human persons and their environment.

Future programmes for facing challenges

Thee refresher programme in Asuncion gave further boost to inspirations to realise various programmes in Latin America in the coming years to study some of the themes especially in countries that have forced Latin America to deal with its future with greater reflection, analysis and evaluation. Four formation programmes are in preparation in different parts of Latin America.