In 1997, DPI support for broadcasting in field missions continues to grow. This is as it should be according to Samir Sanbar, the Assistant Secretary-General for Public Information. "The value of radio and TV as part of the public information strategy in field missions has been demonstrated time and again", he says.

DPI's effort involves three main elements: (a) planning; (b) backup support for programming, including personnel; and (c) enhanced capacity and use of new technologies at HQ. On the planning side, DPI coordinates policy with DPKO, DPA and DHA through the Interdepartmental Working Group on Public Information in Peacekeeping and Other Field Missions. In that Group, there is general agreement that planning for a public information capacity in field missions should begin at the earliest possible time and that reconnaissance teams for future missions should normally include DPI experts. At the working level, DPI's Media Division and the Peace and Security Section consult with DPKO and mission personnel on a regular basis. Recent examples of this collaboration include working visits to UNTAES and UNOMIL by senior HQ radio officers. Currently DPI is consulting with DPKO on a role for radio in at least two other missions. And DPI's provisional "Guidelines for the Information Components of Peacekeeping and Other Field Missions" contains extensive sections on radio and TV.

On the support side, a HQ producer was seconded to both UNTAES and UNOMIL in 1997. Other radio and TV producers from HQ travelled to mission areas for on-the-spot reports. "We are eager to help out as much as our resources permit", comments Ayman El-Amir of the Media Division. "In radio alone over the last few years, 16 of our producers have taken short-term field assignments. And we suggest other qualified candidates from our roster." DPI also fills requests from missions for tailored news magazines. MONUA Radio, for example, receives a weekly news and programme summary in Portuguese. A satellite feed provides the mission with direct coverage of Security Council meetings on Angola. HQ TV, as a matter of course, makes footage and programmes available to mission producers. In exchange, DPI gets feeds and footage from the missions, although according to El-Amir, this part of the exchange needs to be enhanced.

As for capacity and technology, there are some significant changes under way at HQ. Before the end of 1997, the UN is to post live news programming and sound files on the INTERNET, thus providing access in English, French and Spanish to anyone in the world with the proper equipment and software. And in early 1998, a direct HQ radio broadcasting capacity is to be launched. Every day, live news and regular programming will be beamed by short wave, in cooperation with Deutsche Telekom, to listeners in Africa, Asia and Europe. DPI plans to make reports from UN peace operations an important part of that programming. Furthermore, the direct broadcast capacity is a more cost effective way of delivering programmes which are made for a particular audience.

DPI recently inaugurated a series of live radio interviews, featuring senior UN officials, in cooperation with major networks on every continent. "When news breaks in the mission, mission officials could also be included in that series", says El-Amir. DPI is also building up its worldwide network of stringers. And still another goal is to institutionalize cooperation between DPI's radio and TV services and their Agency counterparts in the field.

"This is an ambitious programme", says Samir Sanbar. "But we are determined to fulfil our mandate using the latest and most cost effective means at our disposal."