The book is entitled ‘Enhancing Democratic Systems: The Media in Mauritius. A Dialogue Session’. It is a collection of papers presented by the panelists which come from the media industry, regulatory agencies, political parties, civil society and academia.

The ceremony will take place on Tuesday 23rd August in ELT1 at the Engineering Tower of the University. It is open to journalists and to anyone interested in media issues such as freedom of the press, media regulation and policies, training and professionalism and new trends in the media.

Venue: University of Mauritius – 16 & 17th September 2010

Day 1: Thursday 16th September (ELT2 – Engineering Tower)

Opening Ceremony
13.30 – 14.00 Registration
14.00 – 14.05 Welcome Remarks – Dean FSSH
14.05 – 14.15 UNESCO Representative
14.15 – 14.20 Ag Vice Chancellor, UOM
14.20 – 15.00 Keynote address: Mr Amadou Mahtar Ba – CEO African Media Initiative
15.00 – 15.15 Floor Discussion
15.15 – 15.30 Tea Break

Session 1: Freedom, Media and Democracy
Chair: Ibrahim Koodoruth, UOM
15.30 – 15.45 Constitutional and Legal Frameworks: Opportunities and Constraints for the Media Industry – Maneesh Gobin
15.45 – 16.15 Freedom and Transparency: A Journalistic Appreciation – Subash Gobine and Gilbert Ahnee
16.15 – 16.30 Enlarging the Mauritian Democratic Space: Creating an Informed Citizenry – Catherine Boudet
16.30 – 17.00 Floor Discussion

Day 2: Friday 17th September (LT1 -NAC)

Session 2: Media Systems and Policies
(i) Chair: Amadou Mahtar Ba – African Media Initiative
9.30 – 9.45 Integrity of Public Institutions: The Case of the MBC – Dan Callikhan
9.45 – 10.00 Private Radio: Serving Public or Commercial Interest – Striking the Right Balance – Abdoollah Earally
10.00 – 10.15 21st Century Broadcasting: The Need to Revisit and Reinvent Established Systems – Roukaya Kasenally
10h15 – 10.30 Floor Discussion

(ii) Chair: Roukaya Kasenally – UOM
10.30 – 10.45 The Role of Regulation – Gilbert Ithier – IBA
10.45 – 11.00 Experiments in Self Regulation: The NEPA Code of Conduct – Lindsay Rivière
11.00 – 11.15 State or Self Regulation: The Search for Common Ground – Christina Chan-Meetoo
11h15 – 11h30 Floor Discussion
11h30 – 11h45 Tea Break

Session 3: Media, Politics and Democracy
Chair: Sheila Bunwaree – UOM
11.45 – 12.15 Mainstream Political Parties and the Media: Cehl Meeah (FSM ), Steven Obeegadoo (MMM), Nita Deerpalsing (LP)
12.15 – 12.35 Extra-parliamentary Dynamics and the Media: Ashok Subron and Nilen Vencadasamy
12.35 – 12.50 The Media and the notion of ‘Free and Fair’ Elections – Mayila Paroomal
12.50 – 13.10 Floor Discussion
13.10 – 13.40 Lunch

Session 4: Citizens and the Media
Chair: Caroline Ng Tseung Wong – UOM
13.40 – 13.55 New Spaces, New Challenges: The Relevance of Regulation – Trilock Dwarka
13.55 – 14.15 The Advent of Digital Content: Experiences in Online Journalism – Rabin Bhujun and Avinash Meetoo
14.15 – 14.30 The Emerging Digital Environment: Opportunities and Constraints – Azhagan Chenganna
14.30 – 15.00: Floor Discussion
15.00 – 15.15: Tea Break

Session 5: Challenges to the Journalism Trade: Training and Professionalism
Chair: Christina Chan Meetoo
15.15 – 16.15 Round Table: Kiran Ramsahye, Jean-Claude de L’Estrac, Henri Marimootoo, Axcel Cheney and Jean-Luc Emile
16.15 – 16.45 Floor Discussion

16.45 – 17.00 Concluding Remarks and Vote of Thanks

The objective is to allow key stakeholders to:
- Take stock of the existing battery of legal and regulatory framework with respect to the media in Mauritius.
- Revisit the various debates / exchanges about the changing role of the media in a democracy.
- Examine the relationship between the media and the different institutions such as the government, regulatory bodies and civil society.
- Explore the good practices available in the area of media regulation / self regulation.
- Engage into dialogue with key stakeholders in relation to the above and ensure a way forward for its prompt implementation.

For more information, read the concept note.

The opening ceremony will be held on Thursday 17th September at 2 p.m. in ELT2 (Engineering Tower). Mr Amadou Ba, CEO of the African Media Initiative will give the keynote address. His profile can be found here.

Read the detailed programme for both days here. Note that the first day (Thursday 16th) will be in ELT2 whereas the second day (Friday 18th) will be in ELT3 Lecture Theatre 1 of NAC.

Please drop me a line if you are interested in attending. Entrance is free and open to everyone and you can attend any number of sessions on any day. Feel free to disseminate.

Latest episode in the saga: the Sentinelle vs. Government tug of war with the decision by Pravind Jugnauth (DPM, Minister of Finance and MSM leader) to bar access from his press conference in the government house to all journalists from L’express and 5 Plus Dimanche (of the Sentinelle group) and from Radio One (of Viva Voce company which is partly owned and managed by La Sentinelle).

There has been an avalanche of articles in L´express which have traced back the punitive actions against the media group to 2006, with the advertisement boycotts from government and parastatal agencies, then with the tense relationship with the MSM which is now in alliance with the Labour party, then with the coverage of elections this year. It is a very complex affair which intertwines personal conflicts (Jean Claude de L’Estrac and Raj Meetarbhan vs. Navin Ramgoolam and Pravind Jugnauth) together with institutional (Sentinelle vs Government and its agencies, private sector vs government) and national inter-ethnic dimensions (Franco/Creoles vs. Hindus). This is where it becomes dangerous as we ordinary people are called upon to take sides without being given the full picture.

What is it that went sour in the relationship between the boss of L’express and the PM? In fact, how come they had such an intimate relationship at all? Why is the MSM so angry against JCDL and what does JCDL have to hide about the Jugnauths? There are so many questions to be asked and it looks like we will not be getting answers soon.

Personally, I am not taking anyone’s side. Rather I am taking the side of democracy. And I feel that both parties have done wrong to our democracy. On the one hand, L’express did not provide neutral and independent coverage of elections (just like Le Matinal and Le Dimanche). On the other, the Labour Party/MSM alliance has used its authority to try to stifle the private press (just like the MMM did in the past).

But, government has gone too far this time. Banning journalists from a press conference is a direct attack to press freedom. I hope this does not go any further and that they will recollect their senses and stop this escalation…

Hereunder a collection of links to articles which were published in the written press recently:
- Ce que je sais by Jean Claude de l’Estrac
- Ramgoolam, pile et face by JCDL
- Délits d’opinion by JCDL
- Faux démocrates by Raj Meetarbhan
- Boycott de la presse : Navin Ramgoolam répond au Dr Philippe Forget
- Cette grande presse partisane… by Subash Gobine
- Maladresses by SG
- Boycott ? by Kiran Ramsahaye
- Le Mauricien Opinion: Nous condamnons…
- Week-End Opinions : Délire liberticide et Ça sent la banane…
- Mauritius Times: Freedom of Expression and Media Censorship
- NewsNow: Did I hear you say Mobutu? by Sydney Selvon

Addendum: list of publications whose editors/columnists have condemned the press conference ban (please let me know if the list is incomplete):
- Le Mauricien
- Week-End
- Samedi Plus
- Business Magazine
- Mauritius Times
- Le Défi

Check Elections.mu, the new blog about politics in Mauritius.

Surprise Number 1: Elections are scheduled for 5th May, i.e. one day before the UK elections. On 3rd March, the PM had stated that the elections would take place after the UK elections (see articles in L’express and in Le Défi Plus).

Surprise Number 2: The Labour Party is partnering with the ‘loyal’ opposition party MSM and keeping PMSD (already in its governing Social Alliance). Only a few weeks before, the possibility of an alliance of the Labour Party with the ‘momentarily loyal’ opposition party MMM, was still making the news (see L’express and Le Mauricien)

Spinning the communication
The first announcement was made around 7.30 p.m. by Ramgoolam at the Treasury Building. It was initially scheduled for 7 p.m. but started later, officially because the Camp Thorel inauguration was delayed (by the organisation of photo shoots with Pravind Jugnauth?). Admittedly, it looks like this was done deliberately to keep the journalists on their toes and especially to coincide with the peak news bulletin on the MBC TV. The TV station’s director, Dan Callikhan, is also the communication mastermind for the PM (he was formerly communication adviser at PMO).

I could personally sense that the speech had been written and formatted by a communication person. Although the PM delivered quite well, he did not re-appropriate the speech to make it his own as he repeatedly looked at his paper to deliver. The key words ‘Unité’, ‘Egalité’ and ‘Modernité’ are apparently taken from his previous campaign, yet their utterance did not quite sound convincing enough for me but I can imagine that people were impressed by the simplicity and strength of the concepts. To his credit, the PM appeared quiet, calm and serene during the address.

Obviously, one would have to adopt a comparative approach. If other contenders are similar or less good, Ramgoolam is likely to come through as a great communicator and leader. Staunch partisans will celebrate the wonderful communication skills of the PM whereas staunch opponents will have a completely opposite reading. As did the MMM leader Paul Bérenger who interpreted the PM’s body language as utter panic and used foul language to describe the situation.

Duval’s face reveals discontent
As for the second announcement, it was made at around 8.30 p.m. at the Labourdonnais Hotel. Navin Ramgoolam spoke first, followed by DPM Rashid Beebeejaun, VPM Xavier Luc Duval and finally MSM leader Pravind Jugnauth. Again, the PM kept reading from his prepared speech but did reasonably well. Beebeejaun was obviously happy and delivered naturally his speech but Duval pulled a long face during his speech. There was a shot during Jugnauth’s speech which was quite telling: Duval was looking very glum and seemed to force himself to nod at each emphatic declaration of Jugnauth. The ticket allocation did not seem to make him happy of course (8 for his party). Jugnauth, who had never struck me as a very charismatic speaker, was the most comfortable and natural of all in his speech delivery, presumably as he was feeling elated at having secured 18 tickets in the alliance.

Of course, none of them said anything significant beyond the to-be-expected simplistic rationales for the alliance. You wouldn’t expect that, would you?

Hier après-midi, le PM a animé une longue conférence de presse retransmise en direct par les stations de radio (ce qui a visiblement chamboulé leur programmation).

Qu’ai-je donc retenu de cet exercice?

D’abord, le PM est confiant, très confiant. Il paraît qu’il a commandé un sondage (ce qu’il a confirmé en disant même que l’échantillon est plus grand que celui de Sofres, donc plus fiable mais il n’a pas parlé du type de questions posées…) et que les résultats démontrent que son parti recueille une majorité de plus de 55%. Il joue donc avec l’assurance d’avoir les atouts pour dicter les règles du jeu. Il fait durer le suspense. Ira-t-il seul aux élections ou fera-t-il alliance avec le MMM et le MSM? Il s’est permis de fustiger tous ceux qui spéculent (la presse) et ceux qui veulent faire basculer en leur faveur le jeu des alliances y compris au sein de son parti et de son cabinet. Il ne s’est pas privé pour égratigner ses propres ministres (Tang par exemple) et ses fidèles (Sidaya).

Il sait que tous ses membres de parti lui prêtent une allégeance sans bornes, au point de se comporter en groupies aveugles et hystériques riant bêtement de ses blagues et applaudissant fièvreusement ses propos pour se faire bien voir. L’adoration du leader suprême est ici à son comble (et les autres partis sont aussi victimes du même phénomène).

Sa confiance est telle qu’il utilise un langage cru, voire grossier avec des termes peu dignes tels que ‘couyonade’, ‘mone amerdé’, ‘bézé’ et j’en passe et aussi des anecdotes qui blessent, un argumentaire proche de celui de la rue, voire des quartiers mal famés. De deux choses l’une, soit cela va rebuter les gens car cela manquait de finesse et de dignité, soit les gens se réjouiront que le PM parle le langage de la rue. Avinash et moi n’avons pas manqué de lever des sourcils sur les expressions, les anecdotes et le manque de direction dans un discours premier-ministériel qui ressemblait plutôt à un discours de chef de parti en meeting populaire à la sauce floklore locale. Mais bon, nous sommes peu représentatifs de la population, je suppose.

L’annonce en faveur du rétablissement de la peine de mort nous a fait bondir. L’argumentaire était pauvre sur ce sujet. Il a commencé par parler de la nécessité de durcir les lois pour punir les témoins dans les affaires de drogue (en référence à l’affaire Cindy Legallant et Sada Curpen) pour justifier cette décision applaudie par les aficionados du parti. Curieuse logique, n’est-ce pas?

Enfin, logique de la rue, de la foule hystérique, donc populaire. Il sera forcément reconduit à son fauteuil grâce à cela et grâce à l’imbécile attitude des partis d’opposition qui quémandent une allaince avec le PM. Ce sont eux les perdants dans tous les cas.

Nou, nou bizin continié manze pistas guetté ek subir sa cinéma ki de mové kalité la…

PS: Une décision mérite d’être saluée, celle de rendre obligatoire la présentation de la carte d’identité pour pouvoir voter. Il était temps!

The paper’s title is ‘Young Adults & Social Networking Sites in Mauritius’. Deepa Rathacharen, who did her dissertation under my supervision last year, is the co-author.

Here’s a copy of the paper.
Young Adults & Social Networking Sites

Voici la table des matières:

Et ma communication
La représentation de la femme dans les médias mauriciens. De la discrimination subtile aux stéréotypes flagrants.

Le livre ne sera pas mis en vente. Pour l’obtenir, il faut contacter SOS Femmes en leur envoyant un message sur sosadmin@intnet.mu

Also posted on http://comstudies.wordpress.com/