MediaCorps Fellowship Program for Young Peace Journalists

MediaCorps Fellowship training program for young peace journalists was recently conducted
by the SDJF from February 6-11,2020 at Goldi Sands Hotel in Negombo. 20 young
journalists (9 Sinhala, 4 Tamil and 7 Muslim; 14 Male, 6 Female) participated in this five-day
residential program that focused on sensitivity to diversity, peace and conflict sensitive
journalism, gender sensitive journalism, social media for journalism and intensive training on
using smartphone for storytelling.
The training began with an inauguration ceremony with the participation of Prof. Padmasiri
Wanigasundera, Acting CEO SDJF, Ms. Sumudu Perera, Program Manager, SDJF. The
participants were officially welcomed by Prof. Wanigasundera, and Ms. Hasarel Gallage,
Senior Project Officer, SDJF introduced the program to the participants. At the end of the
inauguration participants were presented with MoJo (mobile journalism) kits.

The training was facilitated by a panel of well experienced resource persons including Mr.
T.M.G. Chandrasekara, Specialist, Strategic Communications, ICTA Ms. Dharini Priscilla,
Mr. Shihar Aneez, Researcher, Global Press Journal, Mr. Shan Wijetunge, Director
Communications, Sri Lanka Parliament, Mr. K.C. Saranga, General Manager News, TV
Derana and Mr. Mohamed Fairooz, Editor, Vidivelli, Mr. Kapila Ramanayaka, MoJo trainer
and Mohammedu Aswer, Ruwan Bogamuwa SDJF staff. A team of story mentors consisting
of Senior AV experts also provided continuous support to these trainees until they become
competent of producing their own Mojo stories.

On day 4 of the training, the Fellows had an opportunity to practice their class room learning
in the field with their assigned mentors at the Negombo coast. The fellow members
experienced story hunting techniques, interview techniques, taking different types of shots
and sequences, script writing, narration and video editing based on their story. As a result,
they produced 20 MoJo stories featuring the issues faced by the fishermen in the area.

On this day, the Fellows were also visited by a delegation from both local and international
representatives from IREX including the Vice President of Global Program, Ms. Alicia
Phillips Mandaville and Chief of Party IREX Sri Lanka, Ms. Jean Mackenzie who witnessed
the story editing process and observed the panel discussion followed by the editing.
MediaCorps Fellowship is implemented by the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum in
partnership with the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) and the USAID as
a part of the Media Empowerment for a Democratic Sri Lanka (MEND) Program. SDJF has
trained 112 young journalists by February 2020 who have produced over 180 appealing
stories.