A two-day workshop aimed at deepening relations between media operatives and members of the police force opened yesterday at the British High Commission’s Main Street Office.
Sponsored by the United Kingdom, the workshop brought together some eighteen journalists from the various media houses who mainly cover the crime beat and security related events.
Speaking at a simple opening ceremony, the deputy British High Commissioner Malcolm Kirk said that the workshop is designed to help strengthen and build relationships. He said that there is presently a partnership agreement between the Government of Guyana and the UK, stressing that both governments recognize that crime and security must be tackled in a comprehensive way.
According to Kirk, this crime reporting workshop would examine what systems need to be put in place to strengthen relationships with the police force.
He told the reporters gathered that this is also an opportunity for them to improve themselves so that they can better serve the public and urged them to try to reflect the knowledge gained during the workshop in their work.
He opined that the police as well as the media essentially have the same goal which is to serve Guyana.
Meanwhile the facilitator, John Beverley, who retired from the Metropolitan Police in Central London in 2002 after 30 years of service, said that he has some experience working with the media because of his job. He had also worked with Scotland Yard. Beverley told the participants that he first came to Guyana in 2001 to do some work on the police reform process.
He said that the last time he came to Guyana was in 2004 when he facilitated a crime reporting workshop. Like Kirk, he stressed that a good relationship between the media and the police is very important.
At yesterday’s session media operatives dealt in depth with their relationship with the police and how it affects their reporting. Members of the police public relations office will be present today to be part of the discussions.
It is hoped that through this workshop the needs and requirements of crime reporters in their work and relationship with their own newspapers/TV station, and the Guyana Police Force will be identified.
And the personal and organizational obstacles preventing them from improving their effectiveness as crime reporters and workable and realistic solutions to overcome these obstacles will also be pointed out.
Through the interactive sessions, it is expected that the reporters will be able to work together to help each other learn new skills and to pass on their own experiences from the workshop to their colleagues.
When the workshop ends today, the participants will be asked to create a personal action plan that will help them to develop their own skills so as to ensure personal effectiveness in their work.
