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"Seated on a bench of gold"
Media Advocacy Project

The medium is the message
The media is a powerful tool that can help bring our message to the policy-makers and bureaucrats that shape the laws and regulations governing our lives. But how can we interest those frazzled, impatient and seemingly heartless creatures known as ‘journalists’ in our cause?

Guarango is made-up of many such ‘journalist’ and former ‘journalist’ creatures, and we know from first hand experience what makes these difficult beasts sit up and take notice. We’ve also had some success getting our own films noticed by the Peruvian and international media and would like to share some of our humble tricks with the activist and non-profit community.

So, deep in our darkest dungeons we’re hard at work designing training sessions, manuals and guides to fit the diverse needs of mining communities in Peru. In Choropampa, for example, where most of the population is without electricity and must share three public telephones, we have provided internet training for 4 ‘messengers’ in the nearby capital city of Cajamarca.

These youth, elected in a formal public assembly, are charged with communicating the town’s demands for health care and compensation with legal aid organizations, media, health professionals and activist groups working on their cause. The training sessions were based on a booklet we prepared with REAL contacts: organizations and journalists that have already expressed a desire to help the villagers but, until recently, had no way of contacting them.

In other regions where internet is already common fare, Guarango’s workshops will focus on skills such as: writing press notes, preparing media lists, giving television and radio interviews, writing opinion articles and getting in touch with international activist networks.

Contact: Ernesto_Cabellos and Stephanie Boyd, coordinators.

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