amdc mining communications 2016 by jessica van onselen
TRANSCRIPT
Lilongwe, Malawi2 June 2016Jessica van OnselenStrategic Communications specialistAfrican Minerals Development Centre (AMDC)UNECA
Reporting on mining:Tips, tricks, approaches and ideas
Presentation outlineI. What is the role of the media?
II. Why is covering mining so hard?
III. Four of the tensions which need to be balanced with communicating on mining
IV. The risks of Groupthink
V. Some tips and approaches to communicating about mining
VI. The Golden Rules for strengthening mining coverage
What is the role of the media?
1) Reporting the news
2) Serving as a watchdog
3) Providing analysis over time to serve society by informing citizens, enabling them to make informed judgements on the issues of the time.
Why is covering mining so hard? Technically, mining processes can be difficult to understand It often involves economics It often involves policy It can be politically sensitive Mining has complex financial flows with many actors
involved Mining takes decades and decades, instead of a few days It’s difficult to capture good visuals of mining Dedicated coverage requires resources and the ability to
travel
When communicating about mining, there exist a number of tensions which need to managed
1: The tension between national and local interests
The Africa Mining Vision highlights the power of well managed reveune and tax streams to drive development (mining income to the government driving the provision of schools, hospitals, roads) – NATIONAL interests
Local communities feel the impact of mining environmentally and on the local economy and want to feel the benefit for having mining on the doorstep – LOCAL interests
How do you balance (and report on) the two?
2: The tension between local & international audiences
Your primary audience is local/ in Malawi But regional and international audiences are watching
developments as well- including other African governments and potential investors
Information has spread more quickly than ever before via the internet, social media and television
This gives the media both the power to give and the power to take away
… means you can’t only write for ‘home’ anymore
3: The tension between long term & short term reporting
Journalism often demands the ‘right now’ But mining’s effects and impact are measured over years
and even decades Long term analysis requires the ability to recognise
patterns, remember promises, and work across years Keeping an eye on policy can take decades Requires longer lead times, more research, more
analysis, and more data Understanding the difference between the urgent and the
important…. requires patience and the long view
This is what can be missed …
Tonn
es
Tanzania: gold production, 1994-2007
If we don’t look nationally and long-term….
2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 20080
200
400
600
800
1000
1200
Tanzania: GDP per capita (US$)
4: What constitutes ‘balanced’ reporting? Few concepts more debated in the world of media right
now – from Donald Trump to South Africa to the Koreas Media ownership also hotly contested Which narrative you choose to highlight carries weight
and significance Putting yourself in other’s shoes one of the simplest and
best tests for balanced reporting Asking tough questions of both sides Don’t only speak to your friends
“Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!” – Mark Twain
There are seldom clear ‘answers’ to these tensions, we can only be aware of them and try to balance them in a
reasonable and equitable way when communicating about mining
The risks of ‘Groupthink’….
Groupthink, a term coined by social psychologist Irving Janis in 1972, occurs when a group makes faulty decisions because group pressures lead to a deterioration of “mental efficiency, reality testing, and moral judgment.” Groups affected by groupthink ignore alternatives and tend to take irrational actions that dehumanize other groups.
… can affect everyone
The risks of ‘Groupthink’….
Don’t be afraid of policy
Policy is for the people If you don’t understand it, ask questions – of everybody! How will policy affect the situation in the short term, medium term
and long term? How much will it cost? How will policy affect different stakeholders?
Government Communities Investors Ordinary Malawians
.
Engage a broad network of different voices …
Communities Subject matter experts (academics or technocrats) –local and
international Government officials Umbrella bodies and organisations Civil society
Cultivate your network all the time. Keep in touch. Stay interested. Ask for their opinions.
… to avoid Groupthink
Bring their perspectives to life….
Spend time with experts Don’t be afraid to ask basic questions – if you don’t understand
the answer, your audience won’t either Build up more knowledge about mining bit by bit Don’t be intimidated Experiment with longer form journalism and pieces In depth interviews are one way to deepen understanding Try your hand at analysis pieces
Through interviews, profiles and human interest stories
Experiment with long form interviews
A great way to build up knowledge is long form interviews and profiles on those people working in mining: if you are unable to access national politicians or civil servants, draw on your experts
This is particularly suited to radio, but it can be used in print too Don’t be afraid of analysis over time: comparing results and
indicators year after year Look to other countries and see what their stories have been:
Lesotho, Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Zambia
… and comparative case studies
Use international resources and the internet International Council of Mining and Metals has a number of excellent
case studies and essays Some Chambers of Mines have good websites Mining specialist publications Mining focussed research centres (the Fraser Institute, the Vale Centre
of Sustainability and Mining in New York, the AMDC, etc) Corporate annual reporting by mining companies
The Golden Rules of covering mining:
• Bear in mind the long term: both mineral policies and their impact can take years if not decades
• Bear in mind national impact as well as local
• Hold governments accountable against that mineral policy and their international commitments (such as EITI)
• If you don’t understand it, your audience won’t either
• Don’t get distracted from the key issues
Thank You & Questions
.
Enabling mineral resources to play a greater transformative role in the development of the continent