August 7, 2007

Local Media in Conflict Zones

Dear Friend,

Photo: Internews

Because truth is often the first casualty of war, journalists can play a vital role in their communities by reporting accurately and responsibly in times of conflict. This e-newsletter reports on four very different Internews projects that help local media to perform a constructive function in areas of violence and conflict.

These include:

• a radio program along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border that tackles thorny issues such as sectarian conflict and the tribal tradition of providing safe haven for outlaws;
• a training and support program for Palestinian journalists confronting a difficult media environment after this summer’s violent clashes in the West Bank and Gaza;
• a project that educates Cambodian journalists in how to report on the new UN-backed Khmer Rouge Tribunal for the atrocities of the 1970s; and
• a cross-production project in Sri Lanka joins Tamil, Muslim and Sinhalese journalists across long-standing ethnic divides to produce radio stories together.

We welcome your comments and we appreciate your support for this challenging work.

Sincerely,

Annette Makino
Senior Vice-President for Communications and Corporate Affairs
Internews Network

Of Outlaws and Forced Marriages: Radio Show Tackles Key Issues in Tribal Region

Photo: John Butt/Internews

In the remote mountainous region along the border between Pakistan and Afghanistan, where tribal rule and tradition trump the rule of law, a remarkable radio program produced by and for the local population is tackling the region’s most sensitive issues head-on. (More)

After the Fighting, Internews Trains Palestinian Journalists in a Changed Media Landscape

The dust from the fierce fighting in the West Bank and Gaza had barely settled when Internews Network launched a series of journalism trainings for Palestinian radio and TV stations this summer. (More)

In Cambodia, Journalists Learn How to Report on Khmer Rouge Tribunal

As many as 1.7 million people are believed to have died of starvation, disease or execution during Cambodia’s notorious Khmer Rouge regime. As the long-awaited UN-backed tribunal prepares for the first trials, Internews is training Cambodian journalists to cover the process of bringing the surviving leaders of the 1975-79 regime to justice. (More)

Sri Lankan Journalists Cross Ethnic Divides to Cover Local Issues Together

Ethnic conflict has plagued the Indian Ocean island of Sri Lanka for 24 years and claimed more than 65,000 lives. For many Sri Lankan journalists, the conflict has colored their coverage of local issues. To address this problem, Internews is fostering more balanced reporting by bringing Tamil, Muslim and Sinhala journalists together in cross-production activities to cover stories that affect local communities and people’s lives. (More)