Vertical Gondar Challenges Foolish Flatlander

(Gondar, Ethiopia)—Before I came to Gondar, I heard that it was hilly. As a graduate of the University of Kansas, and long-time professor at Park University, I took this news smugly, since both of my universities are known for their hills. I naively believed my KU and Park experience had prepared me for any vertical collegiate challenge.

I could not have been more incorrect.

First, the hills here aren’t hills, they’re mountains. Gondar itself is up in the mountains, and surrounded by larger mountains. In the city, the highest point is, you guessed it, the University of Gondar (UoG). Thus, approaching from either direction, one takes a nearly vertical tack to reach the university’s main gates. To avoid a coronary, I usually take a bajaj (a small three wheeled vehicle for hire) up to the gates.

Tragically, the gates are only the halfway point. The highest point on Mount UoG is the building housing the journalism department. From the entrance gates, it takes an exhausting 10 minute hike, again seemingly straight up, to reach the journalism building. But wait—there’s more. The journalism department is on the fifth floor, and, you guessed it, there is no elevator.

Steps of Eternal Peril & journalism building (top),
as seem from my apartment

An alternative route is around the back side of campus. One starts with a slight uphill climb along a road being constructed and aside the soccer field. The climb gets more pronounced as one reaches the dorms. Making a left after the dorms, one is left gape-jawed and breathless at the sight of the doom that awaits, which I have dubbed the Steps of Eternal Peril. The sadistic  Steps of Eternal Peril features 216 stairs (I counted) seemingly arrayed at a 90-degree angle. My first stab at the Steps of Eternal Peril, on my first day in Gondar, I had to stop three times on the way up. Now, I’m in reasonably decent shape, and was surprised at having to stop at all. The second attempt, I had to stop only once, halfway. On the third try, I made it 140 steps, 2/3 of the way, without stopping. 

Steps of Eternal Peril, Univ. of Gondar

Even after having conquered the Steps of Eternal Peril, one is still faced with a steep, five minute walk to the journalism building. Then, of course, there’s the stairs up to the fifth floor.

Another issue is the elevation. Gondar’s elevation is 2850 meters (9350 feet), about the same as Bogota, Colombia and Quito, Equador, and only 600 meters lower than Lhasa, Tibet. (The highest point in Missouri, where I live, is 1645 feet). I noticed the altitude immediately as I huffed and puffed my way around campus. Again, being in decent shape, gasping for air has been a new experience for me. Thus, in Gondar, not only does one battle the Steps of Eternal Peril and the staircase up to the fifth floor, but the altitude as well. I’m slowly acclimating, though I still find myself breathless at times.

The good news, of course, is that this is a great place to get in shape. I can almost see the pounds melting off. The Steps of Eternal Peril are the world’s best workout facility. Once I make it to the top without stopping, I’ll work on picking up the pace, and perhaps mount the steps while carrying some weight in a backpack.

At the end of the day, once I’ve hiked around the Matterhorn/UoG campus, I make a leisurely stroll downhill to my apartment, which is located on the fifth floor. Predictably, there is no elevator.

Gondar University Community School

7^th graders eager to begin newspaper production

(Gondar, Ethiopia)-The best question, from the only young lady in the class, was indicative of the eagerness of all the students: “When can we get started making our newspaper?”

I understand their impatience, and love their attitude.

The youngsters, 7^th graders at the University of Gondar Community School, seemed to understand my response, even though they weren’t thrilled that I was peddling patience. I told them simply that they had to learn some basics of journalism and reporting before they dove into producing a student newspaper, which will be the school’s first. I told my charges they should be able to begin the production process in 4-5 weeks.

Habtie,  helping students

Today, on the first day of our short course, we discussed what makes a story newsworthy, as well as news elements like proximity, prominence, drama, timeliness, and so on. The students also learned a bit about peace journalism. The session finished with an exercise where the students evaluated the newsworthiness of four stories. Based on their responses, I’d say the first class was a success.

These youngsters are all members of the school’s English club, which is ably directed by Peggy Landers, who is teaching English at the community school this year. Peggy and her colleague Habtie helped to organize the journalism course, the first of its kind at the community school.  

In my journalism class next week, I’ll launch into some newswriting basics, and give the students plenty of time to practice their writing. Also next week, and in each subsequent week, I hope I get asked again when production begins on the newspaper.

Budding journalists at the community school, Gondar

School project starts tomorrow
I can't wait to meet my new students, 7th and 8th graders studying English at the community school here in Gondar, Ethiopia attended by children of university faculty and administration. I won't be teaching English (at least directly). Instead, I'll be meeting with them weekly to teach the basics of journalism and peace journalism. After the instructional phase, I'll work with the kids to produce the school's first school newspaper.

I hope the students are as excited as I am. More details soon.

Language of disaster

(Gondar, Ethiopia)--When should an event be called a crisis, disaster, or catastrophe?

I had an interesting discussion with my Fulbright colleague Tim and one of his PhD students in public health at Gondar University about the power and importance of language for anyone communicating with the public. As peace journalists, avoiding inflammatory language is a fundamental tenet. I told my companions that peace journalists search for precise language that properly conveys a situation without sensational or emotional baggage.

I recommended the same caution for public health officials, beginning with carefully and consistently selecting the terms they use to describe a public health issue. My suggestion was that public health officials team with government officials and NGO’s to develop a public health alert system that describes events precisely using a graduated scale ranging from mild to emphatic. I think it’s important that all officials are using the same terminology, since it would create confusion to have the mayor using the term “crisis” while the public health office are calling it an “alert.”

Our lunch meeting was a reminder for me that precise, non-inflammatory language is important for many professionals, and not just peace journalists.

Logistics and preparations at Gondar University

Gondar U; rear entrance under construction

As I prepare for the upcoming semester, my appreciation of the work done by my colleagues at Gondar University to facilitate my stay here continues to grow. Finding a suitable apartment was task one. My place is small but nice, near the university and my American Fulbright colleagues. I have my classes lined up as well—Broadcast and multimedia writing, and Development communication. Both will be infused with a heavy dose of peace journalism. I’ll also be giving PJ lectures at Gondar University.

Dorms, Gondar U.

Now, I’m doing the lesson planning for my courses, and preparing content for an upcoming two day peace journalism workshop in Bahir Dar, about two hours away from Gondar by car. I’ll return to Bahir Dar in March to attend and speak at an international communications conference.

Kenyan situation highlights need for PJ

(Gondar, Ethiopia)—In a move that underscores the need for peace journalism, the Kenyan government this week shut down three TV networks, including the powerful and popular NTV. The shutdown was overturned by a Kenyan court, though the networks were still off the air 24 hours later.

The stated reason for the shutdown was fear that a broadcast planned by the networks would incite violence. The broadcast in question was a live feed of the faux inauguration of Raila Odinga, who finished second in two disputed presidential elections last year.

The showdown blatantly violates Kenya’s constitution, which unequivocally guarantees press freedom. NTV and the others were well within their rights to broadcast Odinga’s event, which is clearly news.

Was the Kenyan government truly concerned that broadcasting Odinga’s protest inauguration live would inflame violence, or instead was the move simply political, designed to marginalize a political opponent?

If there is genuine fear of violence, those concerns are no doubt fueled by the awful events of 2007-08 when several Kenyan vernacular language radio stations stoked inter-ethnic violence that claimed 800-1000 lives and displaced 250,000. Had radio stations practiced peace journalism, the 2007-08 violence would have been avoided or mitigated, removing an excuse for the government to harass and censor the media.

At the end of one of my recent seminars in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, one young reporter asked me, “If reporters practice peace journalism, can we avoid censorship?” My answer was that good journalism, especially peace journalism, is harder to censor, whereas irresponsible, inflammatory, sloppy journalism makes tighter control easier for authorities. Unfortunately, this is what we are seeing unfold now in Kenya. It’s no telling how long Kenyan journalists will be made to pay for the transgressions of some of their colleagues a decade ago. 

All fine in Gondar

Prior to the start of the semester, I'm hard at work here on lesson plans, meetings with my dept chair and other faculty, etc. I'm also planning for an upcoming two day seminar in nearby Bahir Dar. Also, I'm moving today from a hotel into my apartment. Will post pictures soon, if I can. The internet here is terrible--very slow and unreliable.