Where We Work

Asia

In Asia, Internews works with media in a dozen countries, providing training to journalists, editors and media managers, supporting regulatory reform of media law and policy, providing technical support to radio and TV broadcasters, and producing programming for local audiences. Internews’ diverse programs in the region support the growth of vigorous, independent, and financially viable media that strengthen democracy, foster economic growth, play a critical role in emergency response, improve access to information through technology, and tackle the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the region.

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AFGHANISTAN

Since 2002, Internews has set up 33 independent radio stations owned and operated by Afghan organizations (four of the stations are run by women), with plans to build 9 more; provided equipment and training to local journalists; produced independent radio content with local journalists; and established a satellite distribution system for radio programming that reaches a majority of the population. In 2005, Internews’ training and production activities focused on elections coverage. In September 2005, a training centre was set up in collaboration with Nai, a local Afghan media development NGO and a member of Internews International, offering training in a variety of subjects to media professionals from around the country. In addition, Internews Europe works with government, private sector and civil society to promote the adoption of legal and regulatory frameworks in Afghanistan that will support the growth of an open, affordable and user-controlled Internet.

Salam Watandar (“Hello Countryman!”) is a public broadcast service for independent and community radio stations in Afghanistan, launched in 2004 by Internews Network. (See brochure in PDF)

CAMBODIA

From 2005-2008, Internews worked closely with Khmer-language print journalists and editors on a series of investigative journalism trainings aimed at engaging the media in the fight against corruption. The program centered around one-on-one-mentoring sessions between journalists and Internews advisors, with the distribution of small scholarships to offset the high costs of pursuing in-depth stories on corruption issues. In addition, Internews managed a series of intensive thematic trainings; developed a training resource specific to investigative journalism in Cambodia; and awarded a prize for excellence in investigative reporting. At the same time, Internews engaged print, TV and radio journalists as well as NGO leaders in training on HIV/AIDS and health reporting. Internews has also facilitated online business classes through five Community Information Centers.

CHINA

In 2005, Internews began training journalists, editors, and media managers in the coverage of legal and rule of law issues, seeking to increase transparency of court decisions and promote legal education and rights awareness.

INDIA

Beginning in 2004, Internews launched a series of activities aimed at improving the quality and quantity of reporting on HIV/AIDS in India. Currently, in New Delhi, Internews trains TV and documentary film producers. In 2006, Internews began working with print journalists from Danik Jagran based in Lucknow in Uttrah Pradesh. In Chennai, Internews has trained Tamil language print journalists, radio DJs and talk show hosts on HIV/AIDS reporting.

Flyers on Internews' health journalism programs in India

INDONESIA

PAKISTAN

PAKISTAN/AFGHANISTAN BORDER

Internews conducted a program along the border of Pakistan and Afghanistan which increased the quality and quantity of information available to the public. The program facilitated the exchange of information-based radio programs between North West Frontier Province and Nangarhar in the East, to Kandahar and Quetta in the West. It capitalized on the new radio sectors in both countries and the emerging stations in the border regions that are bringing the first truly local broadcast information into the tribal belt.

SRI LANKA

THAILAND

In 2005, Internews began working with local partners to deliver training to print, television and radio journalists representing regional media outlets. Internews also coordinates a small grants competition, making funds available to independent producers and radio stations across the country to produce innovative, locally relevant radio news programming. In addition, Internews manages a content exchange mechanism to enable this programming to be packaged and shared with outlets nation wide. In Thailand, Internews is also involved in media law advocacy. In addition to developing a university curriculum on media law, Internews is working to support the liberalization of the regulatory regime and encourage diversity in the media.

Listen to Thai-language radio programs supported by Internews at the following web sites:

• Thai CR
• Suara Pattani (Voice of Peace)
• Thai U Radio
• Phaya-Chumchon

TIMOR LESTE

Internews began working in Timor Leste 1999 and currently supports a comprehensive media strengthening program aimed at ensuring that a cadre of strong, skilled and financially viable media outlets is able to produce high quality news and information. Internews has also directed the formation of a Government Information Office to serve as a vital conduit for public information. In Timor Leste, Internews works closely with the community radio sector, trains photojournalists and in 2005 transferred the implementation of its activities to the Timor Leste Media Development Centre (TLMDC), a local organization which it helped developed and continues to support.

Timor Leste Media Development Centre

VIETNAM

Since 2002, Internews has worked on information and communications technology (ICT) policy in the country. Internews, through its dot-GOV program and the Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI), has organized national workshops on e-commerce and telecom liberalization, software marketing, and cyber crime and has funded a Cisco Academy at Hue University. Internews also trains female journalists and NGO leaders in Internet skills and on HIV/AIDS and health reporting.

REGIONAL HIV/AIDS ACTIVITIES

Internews’ Mekong Delta Project works with mass media in the Mekong region to help create a more supportive environment for AIDS prevention, care, and treatment efforts. The program engages journalists from Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam and Laos in intensive training on HIV/AIDS coverage. The training covers the specific skills needed to report on HIV/AIDS, which involves an understanding of technical health issues as well as complex social, political and economic issues. The project began with specialized training for journalists on the coverage of the International AIDS Conference held in Bangkok in July 2004. Throughout 2005, Internews completed media assessments in each country and trained journalists, media executives and representatives of NGO’s on HIV/AIDS reporting. In 2006-2007, activities are expanding in Cambodia and Vietnam.

In 2005, under the UNAIDS Asia Pacific Leadership Forum for HIV/AIDS and Development, Internews convened print and electronic media executives representing major national and regional outlets in Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan for meetings aimed at formulating commitments and action plans for strengthening the media’s response to the epidemic. This initiative involved national level meetings in each of these countries followed by a regional event in Bangkok, Thailand.

REGIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISM ACTIVITIES

The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) aims to empower and enable journalists from developing countries to cover the environment more effectively. EJN is working to establish networks of environmental journalists in countries where they do not exist, and build their capacity where they do, through training workshops, support for production and distribution, and dispersing small grants. Based in Chiang Mai, Thailand, EJN activities across the region include training, brainstorming sessions for environmental journalists from across South East and South Asia, sponsoring the launch of the Society of Indonesian Environmental Journalists and holding Indonesia’s first national conference on environmental journalism. Starting in 2006, EJN will conduct a series of intensive training workshops for environmental journalists in Cambodia and Vietnam.

REGIONAL ICT ACTIVITIES

In Asia, the Global Internet Policy Initiative (GIPI) works for an open and democratic Internet in Vietnam, India, Indonesia and Afghanistan. This process involves establishing an independent stakeholder group that engages government and the private sector in dialogue on key policy issues through round tables and open forums, and providing comments on draft legislation.