This lesson plan is designed to help students understand the essential steps for establishing a refugee media operation in exile, encompassing legal, editorial, and operational frameworks.
It is based on the article Setting up refugee media in exile, which we recommend trainers read before adapting this lesson plan.Establishing a news organisation while in exile presents unique legal, logistical, and ethical challenges. This lesson plan provides a structured approach for media trainers to help refugee communities build sustainable, professional, and impactful media operations. It covers everything from navigating host country laws to embedding core editorial ethics into the heart of the newsroom.
Sessions timetable
09:00–10:00 – Session 1: Navigating local laws and restrictions
- Aims: Understand the legal framework of the host country and its impact on refugee media.
- Presentation: Host country refugee laws, circulation limits, ownership, and advertising restrictions.
- Activity: Research or discuss legal barriers in the host country.
- Discussion: Remaining compliant while serving community needs.
10:00–11:00 – Session 2: Defining the editorial proposition
- Aims: Establish a clear mission and purpose.
- Presentation: Defining an editorial proposition based on community needs.
- Activity: Draft a one-sentence mission statement.
- Discussion: Balancing community needs and public interest.
11:00–11:15 – Break
11:15–12:45 – Session 3: Building and training the team
- Aims: Identify newsroom roles and the importance of training.
- Presentation: Newsroom structure and the value of
integrity. - Activity: Map a newsroom using limited resources.
- Discussion: Managing mixed skills and experience.
12:45–13:45 – Lunch
13:45–15:00 – Session 4: Newsgathering and building networks
- Aims: Develop reliable and
accurate
reporting strategies. - Presentation: The basic reporting questions and building trust with sources.
- Activity: Role-play approaching an authority for comment.
- Discussion: Amplifying refugee voices through partnerships.
15:00–15:15 – Break
15:15–16:15 – Session 5: Ethics as a foundation
- Aims: Embed
impartiality
and professionalism. - Presentation: Credibility, privacy, and avoiding offence.
- Activity: Identifying
bias
in a draft story. - Discussion: Why journalists must never do deals with sources.
16:15–17:00 – Session 6: Sustainability and distribution
- Aims: Plan for long-term survival and reach.
- Presentation: Distribution, fundraising, and financial management.
- Activity: Brainstorm alternative funding models.
- Discussion: Distribution and relationship-building.
Assignment
Draft a three-page operational plan including:
- Summary of the legal environment
- Editorial mission statement
- Five key local contacts and a trust-building strategy
Materials needed
- Copies of the original MHM article
- Editorial mission templates
- Local legal guides or internet access
- Flipcharts and markers
Assessment
- Participation in discussions and activities
- Clarity of the editorial mission
- Ability to identify bias
- Completion of the final assignment
Summary
This lesson plan offers a practical roadmap for establishing refugee media operations, grounded in legal awareness, newsroom development, and the core ethics of accuracy
and fairness.
