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Mrs Etta Touré giving training materials to the GEPCI'S President

US Embassy Presents Training Materials to Ivoirian Newspaper Publishers

The Deputy Director of the American Cultural Centre, Etta Touré, presented on October 2, 2007 a wide range of materials to the Newspaper Publishers Association of Côte d’Ivoire (GEPCI). Mrs Touré was meeting the Ivoirian newspaper publishers for the first time since she assumed duty five weeks ago.

The items include 60 copies of a book entitled: "The Handbook of Independent Journalism", 60 copies of "A Responsible Press Office: An Insider’s Guide", and 60 copies of CD InfoUSA 2007-2008. The CD InfoUSA, which provides a range of resources on US business, education, government, media, and culture, is designed to promote understanding of the principles and institutions that shape American values and people.

The ceremony was part of the US Embassy’s efforts to work with Ivoirian journalists, to encourage them to do their job according to basic journalistic rules and ethics, and to promote democracy throughout freedom of the press.

The journalists discussed various issues concerning the difficulties they face in running their newspapers, which on many occasions, have been subject to attacks. They also said that many cases involving journalists are pending before the courts, as they are usually pursued for their publications.

Mrs Touré used this opportunity to emphasize the importance of free press in the consolidation of democracy. She also expressed concerns about the inflammatory reporting in some Ivoirian newspapers, especially at a time Côte d’Ivoire is preparing for general elections. She therefore invited the news publishers to become more professional by cross-checking any information before publication.