THERE WILL BE INK - Initiative for Policy Dialogue

had learned abroad in the Uganda media environment. One editor described a field trip to a powerplant in Berlin. The plant was designed to be quiet enough to be located near apartments andoffices. The plant “blew [him] away,” but the trip was “useless” as an educational tool because “itwill be years for [Ugandans] to have something like that.” 188Program DesignSeveral participants reported feeling overwhelmed by the amount of information they were expectedto digest during the training program. One reporter at a daily paper said she needed more time toprocess and practice what had been taught and that some colleagues were just “copying and pastingfrom the Internet” to complete their training assignments. 189 An editor from an independent weeklyagreed, “The course is big and it is compressed in a very short period of time.” 190Participant Selection and CostOne broadcast journalist said he believes training is the best way to overcome the challengesbusiness and economics journalists face, but he cautioned that the Ugandan government is currentlysponsoring a number of loyal reporters to go to trainings. These journalists return from the trainingsand are hired for editorial positions over those who have had less training but are perhaps, in hisview, more impartial journalists. 191 Cost can be a major obstacle to training, particularly for smallermedia organizations, and it is important to make sure that those who are sponsored by thegovernment are not the only ones who can attend international training programs.Some journalists also expressed a need for a better vetting process for training program participants.Several reported that many of their colleagues returned from trainings and failed to utilize the skillsthey had learned abroad. These journalists were frustrated and asked for more follow-up by trainingorganizers to ensure that those selected to attend make use of the trainings in their daily work.188 Ugandan Interviewee #19. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 14.189 Ugandan Interviewee #15. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 12.190 Ugandan Interviewee #13. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 10.191 Ugandan Interviewee #6. 2009. Interview by Rebekah Heacock. Kampala, Uganda, January 6.– 68 –