Launsky-Tieffenthal and Katema agree to enhance media partnerships

United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Communications and Public Information Peter Launsky-Tieffenthal and Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Joseph Katema have agreed to enhance the cooperation between the Zambian media and the Department of Public Information.
Speaking when DrKatemarecently paid a courtesy call on him at the UN Secretariat in New York, MrLaunsky-Tieffenthal said DPI was interested in more partnerships with radio and TV stations in Zambia.
“I understand that in terms of radio and television, there are several co-operations with Zambia already but we are obviously interested in more. We would like to take you on your expression of interest to expand our cooperation when it comes to providing UN content to radio and television stations in Zambia,” the Under-Secretary-General said.
MrLaunsky-Tieffenthal requested the Minister to help DPI identify radio and television stations that would be interested accessing materials that the department was producing.
On his part, DrKatema commended Mr Launsky-Tieffenthal and DPI for keeping the international community informed about UN activities.
He called for strengthening of the partnership to enhance the standards of journalism in Zambia.
The Minister requested the DPI to help Zambian media practitioners with training, whereby the journalists could be briefly attached to the department to understand the operations of the UN.
He commended the work of the UN Information Centre (UNICs) in Lusaka.
On the Dag Hammarskjold Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies, established in honour of the late UN Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, at the Copperbelt University, the Minister toldMrLaunsky-Tieffenthal that Zambia would appreciate the UN to support the Institute in whatever way possible.
DrKatema said the master’s degree courses the Institute offer were key in conflict prevention and resolution in Africa.
In response, MrLaunsky-Tieffenthal acknowledged the Minister’s request, and suggested that the Dag Hammarskjold Institute for Peace and Conflict Studies should partner with the UN Academic Impact.
The Academic Impact is a global initiative that aligns institutions of higher education with the United Nations in actively supporting ten universally accepted principles in the areas of human rights, literacy, sustainability and conflict resolution.The Academic Impact is an initiative ofUN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon.
“Help us identify more universities and colleges that might be interested in UN Academic Impact to expand cooperation,” The Under-Secretary-General told DrKatema.
The Zambian Mission to the UN has linked DPI and Zambian media houses. The UN thanked the Mission for securing Prime TV of Lusakato be a UNTV broadcast partner.
The director of Outreach Division MrMaher Nasser, acting director of news and media division MsHau Jiang accompanied the Under-Secretary-General to the meeting while DrKatema’s delegation included Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services assistant director for press and media development, MrMordenMayembe, and first secretary for press and public relations, MrChibaulaSilwamba.
The Minister was in New York to attend the 36th Session of the Committee on Information.
Issued by:

CHIBAULA D. SILWAMBA (Mr.)
First Secretary for Press and Public Relations
Permanent Mission of the Republic of Zambia to the United Nations
www.zambiaun.com