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Alcohol hampers town?s development...

Alcohol hampers town?s development


Date: January 1, 1970

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While shebeens are becoming a source of income for Rehoboth?s unemployed residents, concern over the increasing alcohol abuse grows.

This article may be used in training to:
  • Discuss ways of mainstreaming gender in news.
  • Demonstrate how to develop news analysis stories.
  • Show pointers on sources and on the use of data.
Trainer’s notes:
Variety of sources  (3 females, 3 males and 1 statistical source) provides a good balance of voices and views on the issue. What makes the story interesting is that through the sources, the dilemma, or conflict, between people who can only earn money through the selling of alcohol and the attempts to curb alcohol abuse in the community, emerges.
 
While the story is gender aware in terms of the selection of sources and gender neutral language, it falls short in depth of analysis, especially in terms of using data.
 
The story provides figures on the estimated number of shebeens in the town, and it would have been good to know how many of these are operated by women and how many are owned and operated by men? The first-person account given in the story of a resident whose livelihood depends on selling alcohol is a woman. It would have been interesting for the reporter to find out whether more women than men are shebeen owners? And if so, why this is the case?
 
Training exercises:
 
1)  Read the case study and discuss the following:
·    What is the angle of the story?
·    What approach is used to cover the issue?
·    Are a variety of sources, representing a broad spectrum of views, consulted?
·    Is there adequate context and balance? What’s missing?
·    Is the story analytical? Explain why or why not.
 
2) Shebeen truths
In most of the southern African countries shebeens, informal drinking establishements are a meaningful economic factor and for many people in informal settlements only means to earn income. Media coverage of this phenomenon usually centres around the axel social impact of alcohol abuse vs. economic empowerment of poor people (just like this case study).
 
In small groups discuss the different dimensions of shebeens and brainstorm story ideas with different angles and perspectives. Also discuss who should be the sources.
 
Links to other training resources:
 
“Gender in Media Training, a Southern African Tool Kit”, chapter nine: Human Rights


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