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Search for Common Ground (SFCG) is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that operates in the field of conflict prevention and resolution, meaning the pursuit of peaceful methods of dialogue and negotiation to curb present or potential violent/non-violent conflicts. The SFCG has been working in conflict prevention and conflict resolution since 1995. It uses both classic methods of conflict resolution such as facilitation and mediation as well as innovative ones such as radio soap opera and T.V. shows. Together with Common Ground Productions (CGP), the media division of ist Brussels Offices, Search for Common Ground (SFCG) creates innovative television, radio, and Internet programming for the reduction or prevention of conflict. The CGP’s role is to provide support to all domestic and international Common Ground media initiatives, as well as undertaking projects unique to CGP. Search for Common Ground Media Training Common Ground media trainings, lasting one to five days, are designed for both seasoned journalists, challenging them to look through a different lens, and for conflict resolution practitioners who don't have a media background but who want to use media in their programs. The trainings introduce participants to a range of conflict resolution tools in order to develop their interviewing, reporting and/or moderating skills on contentious political and social issues and in conflict situations. The purpose of CG media trainings is not to impose a methodology, but to extend the range of useful tools and skills available to media professionals and others as they go about their work. The trainings include: * Defining objectives: understanding the media spectrum * Research: distinguishing positions and interests; issue mapping * Facilitation: listening and paraphrasing skills; questioning assumptions; re-framing answers etc. * Formats: styles of writing, and tried and tested radio/TV program formats * Pre-testing and evaluation: testing if objectives (intended outcomes) are being met In the past 18 months Common Ground trainers have given media trainings to press, radio and TV journalists and producers in the Middle East, Nepal, Venezuela, and the Great Lakes region of central Africa, as well as to an international mix of journalists and producers at the Radio Netherlands Training Centre in Hilversum, and at the European Journalism Centre in Maastricht. For more information about the Search for Common Ground Media Training, please contact Francis Rolt, Radio Director for Common Ground Productions in Brussels, francis.rolt@sfcg.be or Carole Frampton, Director for Outreach and Training in Washington DC, cframpton@sfcg.org. The SFCG Website proposes PDF documents on each of their programmes as well as - under the "resources" section - a series of documents (18) produced by Search for Common Ground or from sources affiliated with Search for Common Ground. Republication of any materials that are not copyrighted, is authorized as long as attribution is given to Search for Common Ground. SFCG has collaborated with the European Centre for Conflict Prevention (ECCP), in the publication of the book, "The Power of Media: A Handbook for Peacebuilders": see presentation and link in our section "Resources/Bibliography". |
