Editors get opportunity to better understand oil, gas industries

The training, 'Oil and Gas Training for Senior Editors', is scheduled to take place from 18-19 September 2012 at the Kampala-based ACME office. The media centre has a line-up of speakers from the Petroleum Exploration and Production Department under the ministry of energy and mineral development, oil companies including Tullow, the National Environment Management Authority, donor agencies, parliament, and civil society organisations to inform the editors.

The rationale behind the seminar is good governance of oil, gas and mining (extractive) resources and revenues requires effective oversight, according to ACME the organising institution.

"A knowledgeable and active media is critical to having an informed and engaged public, civil society and parliament that can especially hold the government to account," ACME said in a statement.

The inability to report on extractives-related issues

The institution argues that in many resource-rich countries, journalists often lack knowledge, skills and resources to effectively report on extractives-related issues.

"It is in this regard that the Revenue Watch Institute, based in New York, is funding a three-year training programme for a select group of journalists in Uganda and Ghana to report better on extractives, with a special focus on oil and gas."

By the end of the programme, journalists will have been trained to cover the petroleum sector from an informed standpoint. Over time senior editors have requested ACME to organise a training workshop for them so they are in a better position to supervise reporters who have benefited from the longer training.

"We are answering that request, and we hope that at the end of the two days, editors will be able to outline key issues in Uganda's emerging oil and gas sector," ACME added.

To apply, applicants were requested to write two paragraphs. The first paragraph should say who you are professionally, and the second paragraph should indicate why you want to participate in the training. Deadlines for applications close today, Wednesday, 12 September 2012, and should be sent to gro.gu-emca@ofni with a copy to gro.gu-emca@eriabatb.

For more, go to Oil and Gas Training for Senior Editors