After Panos 2008: Challenges for the future

Groups fevourishly to complete the multimedia productions

Even before we knew it, the 9 days of the Panos South Asia multimedia training workshop came to a close and participants are back home in their own countries, each doing their own bit for society. We had media persons, non-governmental organisations from areas of work ranging from environment to human rights coming in from countries as diverse as Afghanistan to Bhutan.

The past 9 days have been exciting, not the least because of the fantastic location with views of the distant snow-capped peaks of the Himalayas. But more importantly, for the people I met and the networks we built across South Asian nations.

On the last day, Kishor Pradha, Deputy Director, Panos South Asia asked participants to now go out and carry out multimedia productions in our own situations, for the development of society. This is something very close to my own heart - using the multiple tools of communication to give voice to those not within mainstream media scanners.

This is also excellent for community media which can add new dimensions to mainstream media resulting in multiple voices and not just those with the power to control. Using the power of the Internet, it has become relatively easy to have multiple voices without having to rely on traditional publishing methods - print, tv or radio.

In this respect, the role of Panos in facilitating such media pluralism in South Asia is crucial for the region. Now that the workshop has come to an end, it is important to use the technology in our areas for the purpose of local development and empowering those with little to no say in the process of society building.

That is the challenge the future holds.