US embassy cable - 05KINSHASA894

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 05 KINSHASA 000894 
 
SIPDIS 
 
FOR ECA/PE/V/G/R/A EBUTLER/DWOODS; AF/PD PERHNMAN 
FROM BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE 
 
E.O. 12358:N/A 
TAGS: OEXC, SCUL, KPAO 
SUBJECT: CONGO/B:  FY'06 AFRP: "Investigative Journalism," 
February 6-24, 2006 
 
REF: A) STATE 071825, B) 14001 
 
TART FIXED-FORMAT TEXT (PLEASE DO NOT EDIT): 
: The following data is in a fixed format which enables 
: automated processing in Washington and should not be 
: edited except by means of the Post-EVDB software. 
EXPORT-SOURCE: POST-EVDB 
VERSION: 3.0.7 
POST-EMAIL: indykegw@hotmail.com 
TRANSMITTING-POST: PAS Brazzaville 
TRANSMITTING-POST-ID: 19485 
EXPORT-TYPE: BIO DATA 
START NOMINATION: 
ECA-OFFICE: E/VGA 
PROG-AGENCY-NAME: 
POST-PROJ-ID: 8 
ECA-PROJ-NO: E/VGA-2006-0004 
PROJ-NAME: Investigative Journalism 
START MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
This multi-regional project, designed for working 
journalists, reporters and editors reprint, TV, and radio, 
online journalists, and professors of journalism, will 
examine the role of responsible investigative journalism in 
U.S democracy and its role to inform the public on public 
policy issues that affect government, local communities, 
business, the environment, and society; Participants will 
learn about the values and ethics that underlie 
investigative journalism and will examine the effects of 
investigative journalism on U.S history, as well on current 
politics and society. 
END MEMO PROJ-DESC: 
PROJ-TYPE: Multi-Regional 
PROG-TYPE: IV Grant Visitor 
FY: 2006 
DEPART-POST: 3/13/2006 
SESSION-DATE: 3/16/2006 
RETURN-POST: 4/7/2006 
NO-OF-PART: 2 
RANK-ORDER: 1 
START MEMO POST-OBJ: 
This program fits well with two of post's prime MPP goals - 
promotion of democracy and human rights through transparency 
and public knowledge of government and improving 
professionalism of the media.  As a post-conflict emerging 
democracy, Republic of Congo stands to benefit from news 
organizations that probe, question and investigate 
government and society.  Good investigative journalism would 
stimulate public debate and has potential to improve 
government responsiveness to constituents' priorities and 
concerns. 
Post's IVLP selection committee unanimously considered this 
the first program choice. 
 
END MEMO POST-OBJ: 
START MEMO POST-RCMD: 
Since the prime broadcast media are government entities, it 
would be good to observe how U.S. publicly funded media such 
as NPR or PBS handle controversial events and conduct 
investigative journalism.  A session on development of story 
ideas also would be very useful.  Examination of journalism 
ethics and values would provide good background. 
Information on international activist journalism 
organizations such as Journalists Without Borders also would 
provide a stimulus to ideas on the importance of defending 
journalist and press rights. 
END MEMO POST-RCMD: 
ECA-OFFICE-ID: 1035 
PROG-AGENCY-ID: 
PROJ-TYPE-ID: MRP 
PROG-TYPE-ID: 29 
NOMINATING-POST-ID: 19485 
FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 19485 
STATUS: N 
ORIGINATOR: P 
SUBJ-DISC: Broadcast Journalism 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Christian 
M-NAME: Martial 
L-NAME: Poos 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 622 
PRINCIPAL?: Yes 
M-ADDR1: 131 rue Massoukou, Moungali 
M-ADDR2: 
M-ADDR3: 
M-CITY: Brazzaville 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: Congo 
M-ZONE: 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: (242) 663-6010 
M-FAX: 
M-EMAIL: 
M-CNTRY-ID: CF 
M-ADDRTYPE: H 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 04/01/1970 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Brazzaville 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Congo 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Congo 
RES-CNTRY: Congo 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Congolese National Television 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
Investigative Journalist at National Congolese Television 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1999: Print Journalist at "Hebdo" (Reporter without borders) 
2000: Print Journalist at "L'Univers" Head of Society 
section 
2001: Journalist at Observateur newspaper 
2001-present Journalist at Tele-Congo 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
N/A 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
N/A 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1996-1997: General Certificate of Education: Marien Ngouabi 
University 
1998-1999: Bachelor Degree in Mass communication: Marien 
Ngouabi University 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
N/A 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
N/A 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 2 
ENGL-SPEAK: 2 
ENGL-COMP: 2 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: French 
OTHER-LANG-ID: FR 
READ: 5 
SPEAK: 5 
COMP: 5 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Portuguese 
OTHER-LANG-ID: PY 
READ: 4 
SPEAK: 4 
COMP: 4 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: Spanish 
OTHER-LANG-ID: QB 
READ: 3 
SPEAK: 3 
COMP: 3 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
Reporting on Tele-Congo tends to be bland and formulaic, 
covering the surfact of events with little analysis.  The 
Investigative Journalism program would have the effect of 
injecting the stimulus of ideas that could open Congo's TV 
to the prospect of journalism as a public service and/or an 
opening voice for discussion.  This coincides with post's 
MPP goal of encouraging openness and transparency in 
government and free speech as an element of democracy. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
The best exposure Mr. Poos could get would be PBS and/or 
NPR, the U.S. public media.  Seeing how these media treat 
public affairs in a way that often challenges official 
positions would be a stimulus to new thinking and ideas. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
I would like to take part in that seminar to enhance my 
journalism skills. Seminars and trainings are seldom in the 
public TV station in which I work though it is the only 
public station covering big events. This seminar will help 
me better understand my role and duties at the eve of 
partial elections in one of my country's department still 
facing a period of unrest. 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
I would like to meet American journalists to benefit from 
their experience in the field. 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: Ambassador Robin Sanders 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Mr. Poos is the primary cultural affairs reporter for Tele- 
Congo, the national TV station owned by the government of 
Congo.  He has reported on Embassy events, and he has 
interviewed Embassy officials and visitors.  In particular, 
he interviewed the Ambassador and DCM following the 2004 
U.S. elections about the U.S. political and electoral 
system.  He has been approved by the post's nominating 
committee. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: Executive 
SPEAKER? No 
NOTIFY-EMB: No 
MEDIA? No 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP? No 
E-I-TYPE: NONE 
NOMINEE-ID: 17 
PERSON-ID: 22 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CF 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CF 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CF 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: N 
NOM-POST-ID: 19485 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 19485 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 09.0401 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 5 
END BIO: 
START BIO: 
PREFIX: Mr. 
F-NAME: Mouko 
M-NAME: Zinika 
L-NAME: William 
SUFFIX: 
POSITION-CODE: 622 
PRINCIPAL? : Yes 
M-ADDR1: 1751, rue bangou Batignoles 
M-ADDR2: Moungali 
M-ADDR3: 
M-CITY: Brazzaville 
M-STATE: 
M-CNTRY: Congo 
M-ZONE: 
M-ZIP: 
M-PHONE: (00242) 6675043 
M-FAX: 
M-EMAIL: moukoss@yahoo.fr 
M-CNTRY-ID: CF 
M-ADDRTYPE: H 
GENDER: M 
DOB: 04/12/1971 
MAR-STAT: S 
BIRTH-CITY: Dongou 
BIRTH-CNTRY: Congo 
CITIZ-CNTRY: Congo 
RES-CNTRY: Congo 
START MEMO POSITION: 
Digital Radio Television (DRTV) 
END MEMO POSITION: 
START MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
2003-present: Journalist at DRTV 
END MEMO OTHER-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
1999-2001: Commercial Agent 
2004 Fev-Dec: Public Relations Assistant at Micro-finance 
organization 
END MEMO PREV-POSITIONS: 
START MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
N/A 
END MEMO US-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
N/A 
END MEMO OTHER-TRAVEL: 
START MEMO EDUCATION: 
1992: General Certificate of Education (Arts) 
1996: Bachelor's degree in Philosophy 
 
END MEMO EDUCATION: 
START MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
N/A 
END MEMO MEMBERSHIPS: 
START MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
N/A 
END MEMO PUBLICATIONS: 
START MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
 
END MEMO SPEC-CONSID: 
FIRST-LANG: French 
ENGL-READ: 4 
ENGL-SPEAK: 4 
ENGL-COMP: 4 
START OTHER-LANGS: 
OTHER-LANG: English 
OTHER-LANG-ID: EN 
READ: 1 
SPEAK: 1 
COMP: 1 
END OTHER-LANGS: 
 
 
START MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
Post wishes to stimulate the local media to engage in more 
active and challenging reporting that is based on facts and 
studies, rather than the sort of infotainment and reliance 
on public statements that is done now.  Mr. Mouko is capable 
of such journalism, as he has shown an interest in posing 
challenging questions to foreign interviewees.  Using 
investigative reporting techniques to address domestic 
issues would go a long way toward achieving the 
democratization and transparency objectives in post's MPP. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-OBJ: 
 
START MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
Mr. Mouko could benefit most from exposure to the best U.S. 
broadcast investigative journalism.  Subjects should include 
developing story ideas, researching story ideas and doing 
background research.  Special emphasis on public interest 
reporting and investigative reporting on government affairs 
also would be beneficial. 
END MEMO NOM-POST-RCMD: 
START MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
I would like to be exposed to American journalism norms and 
apply them in my daily duties once back home. I think that 
will be very helpful to my country and to the Congolese 
first private TV station where I work. 
END MEMO VIS-OBJ: 
 
START MEMO VIS-REC: 
I wish I shared my Congolese experience with talented 
American journalists in the framework skills improvement. 
END MEMO VIS-REC: 
NOMINATING-OFFICER: George Indyke 
START MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
Mr. Mouko is a news reader and interviewer for DRTV, a 
privately-owned TV station in Brazzaville.  He covers 
embassy events and has interviewed U.S. embassy visitors and 
officials about U.S. cultural and social issues.  He has 
been approved by post's nominating committee. 
END MEMO NOMINATING-JUSTIFICATION: 
NOM-OFF: Executive 
SPEAKER: Yes 
NOTIFY-EMB: Yes 
MEDIA: Yes 
HOME-STAY: No 
HOME-HOSP?: Yes 
E-I-TYPE: NONE 
NOMINEE-ID: 18 
PERSON-ID: 23 
BIRTH-CNTRY-ID: CF 
CITIZ-CNTRY-ID: CF 
RES-CNTRY-ID: CF 
FIRST-LANG-ID: FR 
E-I-TYPE-ID: N 
NOM-POST-ID: 19485 
NOM-FUNDING-CNTRY-ID: 19485 
NOM-STATUS: N 
DS2019-ACTION: 1 
DS2019-SUBJECT: 09.0401 
SPONS-FUNDS: 0 
SPONS-AGENCY1: 
USGOVT-AGENCY1: 
US-AGENCY-AMT1: 0 
USGOVT-AGENCY2: 
US-AGENCY-AMT2: 0 
INTL-ORG1: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT1: 0 
INTL-ORG2: 
INTL-ORG-AMOUNT2: 0 
VIS-GOVT-AMT: 0 
COMMISSION: 0 
OTHER-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-AMOUNT: 0 
VIS-CAT: 
END BIO: 
END NOMINATION: 
END FIXED-FORMAT TEXT: 
 
BRAZZAVILLE EMBASSY OFFICE - INDYKE 
MEECE