CENTER FOR MEDIA AND PEACE INITIATIVE INC
4409 Birchwood Court, North Brunswick Townsh, NJ 08902 www.cmpimedia.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: Communicating innovative, peaceful solutions to global challenges; promoting conflict-resolving journalism based on the highest ethical standards, and pursuit of peace and nonviolent response to conflicts.

In April 2020, the Center formally launched the Journal of Media & Public Policy - a quarterly publication that seeks to serve as a resource for journalists and public administrators around the world.The quarterly peer-reviewed Journal of Media and Public Policy is one of the center's ambitious projects to support a socially responsible media system. Every article we publish has the potential to influence global debate, open minds, increase civic engagement, and strengthen democratic governance. In collaboration with universities and organizations, the Journal of Media & Public Policy examines the interconnection between the media and public policy through research and commentary. The Journal of Media & Public Policy published for an international audience seeks to serve as a resource for journalists and public administrators around the world. In collaboration with universities and organizations, the Journal of Media & Public Policy focuses on the interconnection between media and public policy through research and commentary. It covers the areas of social science such as management, marketing, finance, economics, banking, accounting, human resources management, international relations, law, development studies, history, journalism and mass communication, democratic governance, cross-cultural studies, public administration, psychology, sociology, women studies, social equity and so on. JMPP publishes original papers, review papers, conceptual framework, case studies, empirical research, and book reviews.

May 3, 2020, CMPI organized a virtual conference to mark the World Press Freedom Day. The event was held for journalists and civil society in Sudan. Event agenda follows. Session I: Understanding Sudan's Political Culture Prof. John Gaus in his classic essay "The Ecology of Public Administration" writes perceptively of the 'ecology' of public administration and its relationship to the rise of the administrative state. He recounts how crises and changes in people, place, physical technology, social technology, and philosophy in the past led citizens to place so much hope on government - a situation so true in most emerging democracies. Gaus' analysis reflects the relations and interactions between and among organisms and their environment. In this session, participants will explore past and present political and socio-cultural milieu in Sudan to understand how to navigate the new and future Sudan. Course Content Instructors: Joseph Hammond & Milton Allimadi make presentations Q&A: Participants ask questions, comments Moderator: Nadia Ahmed, Information and Media Specialist, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan Break Session II Journalism and Government Media and democratization are inseparable bedfellows, yet, a cat and mouse relationship best describes interactions between the government and the media in all democratic societies. The relationship is "complex at worst and interwoven at best." However, journalists can be constructive partners to national development by acting as watchdogs and NOT lapdogs. Journalists understand that the institutions and processes of public communication are central and integral parts of the political structure and process. Therefore, journalists in Sudan must address a common question: how well or badly do the various media reflect the existing balance of political forces and the existing political agenda, and with what effect upon political action? A free and independent press is essential for democracy, both to raise timely questions about debatable government policies and to report challenges to those policies when they fail. Balancing the spin of public officials with reasonable challenges can hold government up to the bright light of accountability - which sometimes does help make policies more intelligent and effective. Admitted that the debate on the relationship between public communication and democracy is still dominated by the free press model, usually in the form of Western model or definition of news, the session will explore a redefinition and expansion of what is news in the Sudanese context. If journalists in Sudan "show the light ... people will find their way" - as the motto of one of Nigeria's pioneer newspapers - The West African Pilot - reminded us. Session focus: Africa's third wave of democracy; digital journalism; distinction between watchdog and lapdog journalism, constructive and destructive journalism; and the fake news challenge. Course Content Instructor: Dr. Uchenna Ekwo makes a presentation (10mins) Q&A: Participants ask questions, comments, etc. Moderator: Nadia Ahmed, Information and Media Specialist, Public Affairs Section, U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan Day 2 11:00-12:15 Session I: Policy Analysis Public policy refers to all of the laws, regulations, and other programs developed by governments to solve problems. Trainees grapple with some of society's most urgent issues, such as crime, healthcare, environment, immigration, terrorism etc. The session will give participants the opportunity to learn different methods of understanding and analyzing public and private problems. It focuses on policymaking process, implementation, and evaluation. A number of key criteria govern the evaluation of policy options, including technical considerations: does data collection and technological innovation support a given policy option? Or does a policy choice risk attempting to achieve goals that cannot be met with available resources? The session will examine how to understand and report government plans and actions, including public budgets. Course Content Instructor: Dan Boylan makes a presentation (10mins) Q&A: Participants ask questions, comments, etc. Moderator: Dr. Uchenna Ekwo Break 12:30-1:45 Session II: Public Performance Measurement This session provides strategies and processes to track, manage, measure, and repot performance of public functionaries including elected officials and executives of public corporations. Media professionals will learn how to focus on outcomes and impacts rather than inputs and outputs; learn how to measure efficiency and effectiveness of programs. We will explore current research that highlights the successes and challenges of performance measurement and growing interest in citizen-driven performance reporting and data-driven journalism and best practices in e- governance. Participants will learn about tools for assessing government efficiency and effectiveness. Course Content Instructor: Dr. Marc Holzer makes a presentation (10mins) Q&A: Participants ask questions, comments, etc.

The 2020 edition of the Gershowitz Conference on Media and Democratic Governance theme was: "Pandemic of Disinformation: Messengers, Media, and Messaging of Public Health Crisis" and scheduled as a virtual event on November 11-12, 2020. The conference theme comes a time the media and public administrators face a real challenge in terms of trying to get the message to the public about what they can really do to protect themselves and what the facts are behind the problem of the novel Coronavirus. In times of crises, news media, data journalism, fact checkers, and investigative reporting shed light, whereas disinformation spreads darkness, fear, and a chain of bad decisions. While seeking to counter the spread of misinformation in what has been defined as the first 'disinfodemic,'journalists, policy makers, and the general public must devise measures to adapt or die in a fragmented media ecosystem. The conference explores different concepts, countries, and collaboration to navigate the storm in an otherwise disinformation age. It is against this background that the 2020 Gershowitz Conference on Media and Democratic Governance sought to explore through discussion and debates several topics such as Coronavirus and Drivers of Misinformation; Media and Disinformation; Science of Climate Change and Development; and Analysis of Post-US Election Outcome.

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