February 2008

Internews Network in the West Bank and Gaza

Dear Friend,

Many challenges exist for local and independent broadcast media in the West Bank and Gaza, including the rise of well-funded factional outlets, raids and confiscation of equipment, and the restriction of movement due to the occupation.

Despite these obstacles, a handful of television and radio stations are succeeding in providing their communities with quality local programming. We would like to share with you their stories, their struggles and their successes, as well as Internews Network's continued support for them.  

Regards,

The Aswatona Team
Internews Network
West Bank/Gaza

Abeer Kilaney - Providing Local News for Palestinians

Gama TV, a Nablus-based partner of Aswatona, is primarily run by station director Abeer Kilaney. She also serves as the president of the West Bank-wide Sada TV network and is a coordinator for Miftah, an NGO based in Jerusalem that promotes transparency, accountability, and the uninhibited flow of information in Palestinian society. In addition, she is a mother of six. Kevin Nolan, Internews Network Aswatona Grants Manager, spoke with Abeer in January, and asked her to tell him a little bit about her background and daily life. (Abeer's story)

Mohammed Ataya - Working toward Peace Through Media

"In these times it is important that the Palestinian media report information in an accurate and timely fashion. We also believe that it is important not to glorify violence, because we remain firmly committed to the idea that peace is the only road to a lasting solution with the Israelis." - Mohammed Ataya, Marketing Manager for Wattan TV

The Ramallah-based Wattan TV has been a force for positive change in Palestinian media. This past September the station received a grant from Internews Network to support the development of five new programs and has participated in several of workshops and in-house trainings. Kevin Nolan, Grants Manager for Internews Network in the West Bank/Gaza, sat down with the Marketing Manager for Wattan TV, Mohammed Ataya, to discuss the relationship between the station and the local community. (Mohammed's Interview)

SUCCESSES

Trainings at Alwan Radio in Gaza

Alwan Radio in Gaza has been the recipient of several trainings to improve their broadcasting techniques, programming cycles, and approach to reporting local events to include field work. The staff in the Aswatona Gaza office has been listening to the broadcasts of both Alwan and Gaza FM to track any changes after the trainings. They report the following:

In following the local broadcasting stations, we have noticed that the trainees’ humanitarian sense has been promoted in the addressing of certain issues. Tackling issues through promoting tolerance within the community, in addition to renouncing of terrorism in all its forms.  The trainees now have the ability to discuss issues related to the three taboos - religion, sex, and politics - in their programs. This is a significant change in media in the Gaza Strip.

Innovative Production and Capacity Building Grants

Kevin Nolan/Internews A journalist trainee interviews vendors in Fajr market.

"Our program, since the training we got from the Internews and the format change we made to the programs, became the most effective program on the governorate level and for all of the authority. CSOs and journalists coordinate with us and call us for getting the information regarding the news of the city and refer to our news in the news items of the journalists." -- Dr. Raja Surghalee, owner of Al Fajr Al Jadeed TV, Tulkarem.

“It is a good approach that each program is developed in respect to the marketing plan. This helped us to define subjects that can bring income for each episode and to target advertisers.” -- Hamdi Farraj, owner of Al Rou’ah TV, Bethlehem

Wattan TV stated that the benefits they have gained from Aswatona support of the five new programs and the in-house trainings have been the following:

• Development of the station internally and experience gained in new fields of production as well as the skills gained through the trainings.
• The variety of programs have added to different and unique ways the station presents community issues.
• An increase in audience interaction through field work and outside interviewing with participants coming from different sectors of society

As a result, Wattan TV has noticed that their audience share has increased through the number of calls coming from viewers and this has added value to the station at the marketing level with many advertisers approaching the station to put their advertising on these specific programs. 

The Aswatona team will continue to build on these successes and create more as the work with the stations and journalists begins year two. It has become clear that the more work that can be done in-house with the staff and station owners, the more concrete the results will be.