Journalists from Burundi, Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo will gather together in Ngozi, Burundi, this week to discuss the unique role that journalists and media must play in the politics and societies of developing nations. 

The conference, which will bring together approximately 20 veterans of Africa's news industry, marks the third event the The Media Project has sponsored in the region, including a Burundi national conference in 2008 and a joint seminar in Rwanda in 2009.

The previous conferences addressed Burundi and Rwanda's sad history of genocide in the mid-1990s, which claimed hundreds of thousands of lives and which swept up media and religious institutions into the brutal violence.

This new conference will rather look ahead to the future of these nations still shaking off the legacy of the genocide years.  The conference will evaluate elections, past and upcoming, in the participants' countries, as well as the impact of media and elections on society.

Scheduled presentations at the conference in Ngozi include:

• “How do media impact on public life in the period ahead of elections?  Case of Rwanda,” by Aimable Twahirwa, Rwanda.

• “The media activity in post-election Burundi: Understanding the challenges subsequent to 2010 elections” By Gorgon Sabushimike, Burundi.

• “The role of and challenges to media in preparing people for peaceful elections in DR Congo”.

• “Can Good Journalists Learn from the Bible?” by the CEO of The Media Project, Arne H. Fjeldstad.

The key facilitator for the regional conference is Mr. Deogratias Ndayishimiye (pictured) from Burundi, a veteran radio journalist.  Mr. Ndayishimiye expects the conference will bring a wider discussion of the need and desire for a international network in the region.

Summaries and full-text documents from the conference will be posted at the conclusion of the confererence.