Support for Freedom of Expression in Belarus via Independent Broadcasting

The Support for Freedom of Expression in Belarus via Independent Broadcasting project is supported by the European Instrument for Democracy and Human Rights (EIDHR) of the European Commission as well as by United States development agency (USAID) and the Transition Promotion Program of the Czech Ministry for Foreign Affairs.

The first five months of project activity has seen considerable progress: the improved quality of informative programming at European Radio for Belarus (ERB) and a series of specialized radio journalism trainings for young Belarusians at the European Humanities University (EHU) in Vilnius. In addition a new radio training studio has been built and equipped at EHU.              

Trainings for ERB
IREX Europe media experts together with ERB implemented set-up trainings for the producers of ERB programs. In April 2009 a Belarusian trainer gave four intensive trainings for ERB journalists and staff on voice diction and radio presentation skills for DJs and presenters with specific attention to the peculiarities of the Belarusian language. Through May an IREX Europe trainer implemented five trainings for the editors and journalists of “EuroZOOM” and “Forum Belarus” programs, specifically focused on planning and editing, including research methods and materials in and about Belarus and Europe, and in particular, the relations between Belarus and Europe. Both trainings were highly successful according to participant evaluations.

European Humanities University

Over the first five months of the project, the following key project objectives were achieved:

1. set up of a fully equipped student radio studio. This included provision of a venue and its renovation by EHU.
2. Four one-week student trainings conducted by BBC World Service Trust trainers
3. A public lecture was given at EHU by the BBC radio presenter Seva Novgorodcev, a prominent figure in Belarusian radio journalism
4. Four pilot student radio programmes have been produced by EHU students.

Public lecture & workshop by Seva Novgorodcev (April 3)

The BBC World Service Trust and EHU facilitated a special lecture by BBC radio presenter Seva Novgorodcev. The title of his public lecture to all EHU students was “BBC, Russian Service: evolution of broadcasting and music styles” in which he shared his personal experience of work at the BBC and the general transformation of radio broadcasting in the United Kingdom over the last 30 years. After the lecture, Seva Novgorodcev also held a specialized workshop for students giving specific recommendation as regards the role of music radio presenters, its target audiences and the ways to approach complex issues in critical music journalism.

Radio Studio
By May 2009, the radio studio renovation works were completed, equipment was installed and the training on technical skills to manage and maintain the studio was given by an ERB radio engineer. The studio is now ready for future trainings and for the production of a student radio program to be broadcast by ERB.

Student Programmes
To date, four programmes have been produced during the two trainings on radio production. The programmes are pilots and part of the learning-by-doing process, and are not broadcast. Regular student radio productions for broadcast are scheduled to start as planned on August 10.

“This Document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The contents of this document are the sole responsibility of IREX Europe and can under no circumstances be regarded as reflecting the position of the European Union."

Project Partners