Youth use citizen journalism in tobacco control

Young people in Lucknow used citizen journalism in tobacco control in the lead up to the World No Tobacco Day. "Citizen journalism was an empowering experience, and we learnt how to write media briefs, take photographs using simple mobile and digital cameras and then document violations of existing tobacco control laws in the city" said Rahul Dwivedi, one of the youth participants of the Rights and Responsibilities Training Camp organized by CNS during 25-31 May 2011.

The youth had interactive sessions on citizen journalism, existing laws on tobacco control and film screenings. The course covered specific examples of citizen journalism in print and online, blogging in Hindi and English, issue-based reporting and writing focussed articles, photo-journalism and online syndication using social media.

It also covered the Cigarette and Other Tobacco Products Act, 2003 (COTPA 2003) and the global tobacco treaty formally called the World Health Organization (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC). Senior Loreto Convent teacher and Editor of CNS Shobha Shukla and WHO WNTD Awardee 2008 Bobby Ramakant facilitated the workshop.

Magsaysay Awardee 2002 Dr Sandeep Pandey trained the young participants in using the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005.

These young participants also produced a REPORT CARD on implementation of tobacco control laws in Lucknow – highlighting violations of COTPA 2003 and WHO FCTC. 

CNS had organized Rights and Responsibilities Training Camp in association with Asha Parivar, Indian Society Against Smoking, Abhinav Bharat Foundation (ABF) and Citizens for Healthy Lucknow campaign.

CNS