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The aim of this four-week leadership program was to give 12 Nepalese journalists and media advocates professional skills to advance the position of Nepal’s Dalit community.
Particular goals were to help the group produce more effective Dalit news and current affairs media, and be more effective in advocacy work directed at getting mainstream news media in Nepal to take a more socially inclusive approach to the coverage of minorities, including Dalits and women.
Nepali Dalits, or “untouchables” as they are commonly known, occupy the lowest rungs of the Hindu caste system’s rigid hierarchy and have endured centuries of discrimination, violence and social exclusion.
Despite government policies against caste discrimination and the fact that Dalits are nearly one-fifth of the population, they continue to suffer reduced social, political, religious, and economic rights and many remain in dire poverty.
The APJC ran the program in partnership with Kathmandu-based Jagaran Media Centre (JMC). The program was supported by AusAID as part of its Australian Leadership Awards (ALA).
The program began with sessions on Australian society and media, and human rights issues in the region. This was followed by a workshop on personal communication skills, professional visits in Melbourne, Canberra and Sydney to media, advocacy and government organisations, and a workshop in media skills and advocacy. Participants ended the program with a professional attachment with either a media or advocacy organisation.
Journalism fellows:
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Mr Rem Bahadur BK (Tomata), chairperson Jagaran Media Centre
Ms Kamala Bishwakarma, secretary Feminist Dalit Organisation
Ms Urmila Bishwakarma, secretary Jagaran Media Centre
Ms Bidhya Chapagain, senior producer BBC World Service
Mr Laxman Darnal, producer Katwal Radio
Mr Suvash Darnal, director Samata Foundation
Ms Uma Paudel, regional coordinator Jagaran Media Centre regional office
Mr Prakash Chandra Pariyar (Darji), senior reporter Kantipur TV
Mr Govinda Pariyar, senior reporter Nagarik
Mr Bhola Paswan, reporter Naya Patrika
Mr Chhatra Bahadur Sankar, reporter Sagarmatha TV
Ms Madhu Shahi, reporter Kantipur
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Instructors, journalist mentors and support staff were:
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Ms Juliet Fox, special projects manager 3CR Community Radio
Ms Alex Kennedy, APJC project officer APJC
Ms Helen Musa, APJC tour leader Canberra and Sydney
Mr Torrey Orton, psychologist
Ms Sally Pannifex, APJC project officer
Mr John Tidey, former senior editorial executive The Age
Associate Professor Stephen Quinn, journalism lecturer Deakin University
Ms Alexandra Wake, freelance journalist, lecturer and PhD candidate
Mr John Wallace, APJC program director
Mr Jack Waterford, editor-at-large Canberra Times
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The following Australian individuals and organisations and individuals contributed sessions to the program:
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Mr Rajish Aryal, journalist Special Broadcasting Service (SBS)
Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islanders Studies
Australia-Nepal Friendship Society
H.E Mr Yogendra Dhakal, Nepalese ambassador
Care Australia
Ms Stephanie Cauchi, senior advisor Human Rights Legal Unit, Victorian Human
City Council
Ms Melissa Cranenburgh, deputy editor The Big Issue
Ms Fabienne Balsamo, social justice unit Australian Human Rights Commission
Ms Angela Bates, executive producer National Indigenous Television
Ms Diana Beaumont, programmer and volunteer 3CR Community Radio
Mr Andrew Beswick, campaigns manager Amnesty International
Ms Nelum Buddhadasa, diversity officer Moreland City Council
Mr Laurie Ferguson, Member for Reid in the Federal Parliament, parliamentary secretary for Multicultural Affairs and Settlement Services, member of the Australia-Nepal Parliamentary Group
Mr Bruce Francis, campaigns coordinator Oxfam
Mr Angelos Frangopoulos, Sky News
Dr Debjany Ganguly, head of Humanities Research Centre Australian National University, author “Caste, Colonialism and Counter-Modernity”
Geelong Advertiser
The High Court of Australia
Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission
Ms Sarah Hunt, communications officer Ethnic Communities Council of Victoria
International Women’s Development Agency (IWDA)
Ms Libby Jamieson, station manager 3CR Community Radio
Ms Paula Jorgensen, community development programs coordinator Moreland
Dr Malcolm Kennedy, historian and lecturer Monash University
Mr Laurelle Keough, media coordinator advocacy and campaigns Oxfam
Ms Rachel Kirby, volunteer coordinator 3CR Community Radio
Ms Jessica List, international projects Australian Broadcasting Commission
Mr Phil Lynch, director Human Rights Law Resource Centre
Mr James Massola, journalist Canberra Times
Mr Narayan P. Mainali, first secretary Embassy of Nepal
Members of the ACT Office for Women and Women’s Information and Referral Centre
Mr Mike McCluskey, international projects Australian Broadcasting Commission
Mr Andrew Meehan, indigenous rights advocacy coordinator Oxfam
Mr Pier Moro, Asia Pacific Currents programmer 3CR Community Radio
Ms Deborah Muir, project manager International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)
National Film and Sound Archive
Ms Loretta O’Brien, office coordinator 3CR Community Radio
Mr Paul Oliver, director of public affairs Australian Human Rights Commission
Dr Michael Pickering, director Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and Repatriation Program, National Museum of Australia
Ms Marianne Pinnington, coordinator of projects and partnerships Reconciliation Australia
Ms Padma Raman, executive director Australian Human Rights Commission
Ms Gabrielle Reade, current affairs coordinator 3CR Community Radio
Mr Heath Rickard, grants administrator Community Broadcasting Foundation
Ms Deborah Steele, director Asia Pacific News Centre, Australian Broadcasting Commission
Ms Danya Sterling, coordinator The Big Issue
Ms Kylie Thompson, public affairs manager Reconciliation Australia
Ms Catherine Vero, publicist National Museum of Australia
WIN Television, Ballarat
Women’s Information Referral Service WIRE
World Vision
Wurundjeri indigenous people
Mr Bom Bahardur Yonzon, president Nepalese Association of Victoria
Mr Chandra Yonzon, honorary Nepalese Consul to Victoria
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Australian Leadership Awards Fellowships: Strengthening Dalit media in Nepal