Promotion and Public Awareness
Asia Water Wire: Online Resource on Water Stories
BACKGROUND
Around two thirds of the world's population underserved by water live in Asia and the Pacific. One third of Asians do not have access to safe, sustainable water supplies. Even worse, one half do not have access to improved sanitation. Clearly, much needs to be done at global, regional, national, and local levels to change this scenario.
The media plays a critical role in pursuing this change. By providing a platform for the expression and exchange of ideas, by conveying critical information to policy and decision makers, by informing the general public on important water issues that affect their daily lives, the media can have an overwhelming influence on the pursuit of development goals.
Recognizing the media's potential as a tool for development, ADB has conducted a series of media workshops designed to increase journalists' understanding of water issues. These workshops aimed to make journalists more passionate about water, and increase the quality and quantity of their water coverage. Around 400 journalists have participated in these workshops todate.
In July 2005, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the Inter Press Service (IPS) Asia-Pacific entered into a partnership to support and enhance the media's contribution to reforms in the water sector. The key output of this partnership is Asia Water Wire.
The Asia Water Wire provides newspapers and other media users, individuals and policymakers with a rich, regular, and online news resource on a diverse range of water issues across Asia. Many of the articles have been and will be written by the over 400 journalists who have attended ADB's media workshops.
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DESCRIPTION
Asia Water Wire aims to
- provide journalists who have attended ADB's media workshops and other ADB events with an outlet to have their writings read by wider audiences than their own media outlets
- encourage journalists to write on water issues in greater depth
- increase the coverage and awareness towards water issues across Asia
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FEATURES
The Asia Water Wire looks into water and development, health, policy, gender, environment, community efforts and good practices. The website includes the following features:
- Top stories
- Special reports
- Water Facts
- Events
Countries and regions that have been represented in the stories include Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Malaysia, the Middle East, Nepal, Pakistan, the People's Republic of China (PRC), the Philippines, Uzbekistan and Viet Nam.
Translated versions of selected stories are available in Chinese Mandarin, Hindi, Tamil or Vietnamese.
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CONTACT
If you have a story idea and are interested in being commissioned to write an article, please email coordinator@asiawaterwire.net.
For inquiries, contact:
Marilen Mariano
Water Financing Program Research Specialist
E-mail : mmariano@adb.org
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