Company: World Wise
Author: Ted Iliff
Ted Iliff (yes, he's my cousin) has spent over thirty years in the media industry as an editor at CNN-I, a producer for Voice of America, and as an international correspondent who dodged bullets and bombs in parts of the world that most of us wouldn't touch with a ten-foot -- or hundred foot -- pole.
He has some very wise words about international media development...and believe me, he knows his stuff. Take a gander....
Common Fallacies in International Media Development
The American Way Is the Only Way.
This is not only misguided; it can be dangerous. For almost three centuries, American media laws and practices evolved and matured along with American democracy. In many developing countries, the “right to know” is not yet established. Journalists trying to exercise that right often lose their jobs, their liberty and in some cases their lives. WorldWise consultants concentrate on practical approaches to news production and management, instilling professionalism without endangering professionals.
Training the Young Is the Best Hope for the Future
If young journalists learn the best professional methods and then can’t practice them, the training has been wasted. Managers must also acquiesce to the high standards taught by WorldWise consultants. They control the news organization’s product and business practices. Without their involvement, any effort to improve a station or agency will face influential resistance that can thwart any attempt to improve.
What Works for Us Will Work for Them
This is often a mistaken assumption, particularly in news production. For example, the tease is a crucial component of nearly all U.S. television newscasts. Some consultants insist on teaching the concept of the tease, even in countries with laws banning commercial breaks during newscasts. Such laws make teases moot. WorldWise consultants know how to spot these traps and how to deal with them.
A Good Translator Is All You Need for Good Communication
In situations requiring translation, the speaker shares responsibility with the translator for effective communication. Americans love to tell jokes, speak with sarcasm and use fashionable phrases or slang. All these can cause serious misunderstandings when filtered through the veil of translation. WorldWise consultants know how to communicate clearly through a translator while still keeping the atmosphere as light and enjoyable as the culture and topic will allow.
Any Experienced Professional Can Be a Consultant
A consultant is far more than someone who spouts a litany of experiences to a room full of strangers. Consultants are teachers, mentors, advisers, critics, cheerleaders, story-tellers and sometimes even entertainers. They have to know their stuff, and they have to communicate that knowledge clearly and effectively. Plus, to borrow a phrase from “The Music Man,” they have to know the territory. A consultant who cannot tailor a presentation to local circumstances will fail. WorldWise consultants always know the territory and how to foster success in it.
Only Large, Established Consulting Firms Can Produce Results
To explode that myth, just look at the ugly headlines generated by some famous consulting giants. WorldWise fills a niche by concentrating on international media development. Our consultants are specialists. They are not tied to a “company line” or a one-size-fits-all formula. They are as creative as they are capable.
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