ONLINE AT:
HTTP://JOURN.RU.AC.ZA/STAFF/GUY/SADC/
1. The vision of the Southern Africa Media Trainers
Network (SAMTRAN) is to achieve high quality media training that responds to the
needs of society, media organisations and practitioners; helps to build free,
fair, and vibrant media as well as a strong regional identity.
2.
This will be achieved through:
q
Developing
and sustaining an inclusive regional network of trainers with agreed values.
q
Creating
and maintaining a database of media trainers and training institutes and
courses on offer in the region.
q
Encouraging
and facilitating the production and distribution of regional study materials
for media.
q
Identifying
partnerships for innovative regional pilot projects.
q
Developing
collaborative initiatives on curricula and training methodologies.
q
Developing
and coordinating relevant continuous learning for trainers.
q
Facilitating
the sharing and publication of best practices.
q
Generating
and monitoring standards for media training in the region.
3.
Members of the network subscribe to the following values:
q Freedom of expression.
q Media freedom.
q The importance of probing,
critical media with the highest ethical and professional standards that
entrench democracy and safeguard human rights.
q The right of all citizens to
access information.
q The importance of both media
entrepreneurs and community media.
q
Equality
of all persons regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation,
disability or any other distinguishing factor.
q
Commitment
to building Southern Africa into a strong, democratic, economically vibrant and
coherent regional entity.
Membership
4.
Membership is open to all media trainers at both individual and institutional
level. The following specific institutions/persons are eligible for membership:
q
Tertiary
institutions.
q
In
service trainers
q
NGOs
q
Community
media.
q
In-
house training departments of media institutions
q
Commercial
media training institutions.
q
National
media training associations and networks.
q
Independent,
freelance trainers.
5.
Membership of the SAMTRAN is by annual subscription.
6.
Members may be deprived of their membership through a two- thirds vote of the
AGM for:
q Failing to pay their fees;
q Failing to subscribe to the
values of the SAMTRAN;
q Non participation;
q Incapacitation;
q Change of occupation.
7.
Participants at the Southern African Media Trainers Seminar held in Grahamstown
from 8-9 September 2001 constitute the founding members of the SAMTRAN. They
have until 31 March 2002 to pay their membership dues, if they wish to remain
members of the SAMTRAN.
8.
Membership shall be approved by the Interim Steering Committee (ISC) subject to
final approval by the AGM.
9.
The ISC shall determine membership fees based on the following principles:
q Two tier rates for
individuals and institutions.
q Sensitivity to exchange
rates and other difficulties that potential members might face in joining the
network.
10.
An Annual General Meeting (AGM) shall be held by September 2002. It shall
review among other things the Interim Constitution and agree on a Constitution
for the network.
11.
As far as possible, AGMs shall be held in tandem with regional events of
relevance to SADC trainers and include a training/capacity building/
information- sharing component.
Interim
Steering Committee (ISC)
12.
The founding members shall elect an ISC. This will consist of one
representative and one alternative representative of each of the following
interest groups, with due regard to ensuring regional, gender and other forms
of diversity:
q Universities.
q Technikons.
q In-service training
institutions.
q NGOs.
q Commercial training
institutions.
q Independent trainers.
q The host institution.
13.
The ISC shall meet twice before the AGM.
14.
The ISC shall be chaired and convened by senior management of the host
institution.
15.
The functions of the ISC shall be:
q To serve as the working
committee of the members
q Act as an advisory body to
the Coordinator of SAMTRAN.
q Advocate and lobby for the
SAMTRAN.
q Undertake a membership
drive.
q Approve membership.
q Oversee the implementation
of the Plan of Action (POA).
q Assist the host institution
to fundraise on behalf of the SAMTRAN.
Sub
committees
16.
Sub- committees shall initially be formed around the different types of
training represented by the ISC. The ISC shall decide on the operation of these
sub- committees during the first year of the SAMTRAN.
17.
Theme sub- committees shall be developed around the POA as the need arises.
Secretariat
18.
The Secretariat of the SAMTRAN shall be based in an existing training
institution. Initially this shall be the NSJ. The location of the Secretariat
is subject to review by the AGM from time to time.
19.
Staffing shall be determined by the host institution, and approved by the ISC,
consistent with work- load and resources.
Sustainability
20.
Funds from membership fees and services shall, as far as possible, cover the
core costs of running the SAMTRAN.
21.
Donor resources shall be sought for the initial hiring of a coordinator,
creation of data- bases and other immediate activities envisaged under the POA,
as well as ongoing programmatic work.
Grahamstown,
9 September 2001