Training parliamentary journalists in developing countries.

• Author: Cobb, Chris
• Position: Essay

The most stable, thriving democracies share at least one common trait: A free and independent news media and journalists who enjoy decent salaries, basic job stability and a recognized and respected place in the political business of the nation. Not so in much of the developing world. This article looks at the experience of one Canadian journalist who has participated in training programmes for journalists in various developing countries, particularly those who cover parliamentary institutions.

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It was in the Nigerian capital Abuja, several years ago, where I first showed journalists video from Canada's Question Period and the unique experience of post-Question Period scrums. Art Eggleton was Liberal defence minister and taking heat for some now-forgotten tempest.

After taking a battering in the Commons, Mr. Eggleton emerged from the Commons to face the press pack and was subject to some harsh and not always polite interrogation. In the simple Abuja meeting room, I was watching the participants in my workshop as they watched events unfold on the TV. Occasionally, I stopped the VCR to explain the process, explain who was who and answer any questions.

"Excuse me, Mr. Cobb," said one. "But did you say that person is the defence minister--the person in charge of the Canadian army?"

"And the navy and the air force," I replied.

And then they all laughed. I was puzzled.

"Chris," said the same person with deliberate understatement. "We don't think our defence minister would take so kindly to such questions."

Nigeria was taking its first baby steps towards democracy under President Olusegun Obasanjo and the journalists assigned to cover national politics were especially cautious.

And I was taking my first baby steps as a trainer of parliamentary journalists in emerging democracies--supposedly teaching but more often than not learning in equal measure. The conditions under which many dedicated journalists in the developing world practice their craft can be awe-inspiring.

I held my third workshop for members of Nigeria's national assembly press corps in the late fall last year and while their attitude was clearly more confident, the obstacles they face in their day-to-day working lives remain formidable.

The most effective political journalists in developing, or faux democracies often risk everything for little reward. They lose far too much, far too often. Think Sri Lanka and think Pakistan where it has been open season on journalists for at least the last couple of years.

Even journalists working in countries where politicians seem genuinely interested in giving a reasonable facsimile of democracy a fair shot, political...