Where We Work

Middle East and North Africa

Internews’ innovative programs span the media sector, from basic journalism to online and investigative journalism trainings on telecommunications sector reform efforts. Teaming with local partners has allowed Internews to tailor programs uniquely suited to the regional needs.

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Egypt

Internews Network and the Center for Civic Education (CCE) are partnering to implement an 18-month program aimed at inspiring the next generation of Egyptian citizens about the power of democracy and media. Funded by USAID-Egypt, “Grassroots Civic Education and Media for Democracy in Egypt” is expanding on the existing Arab Civitas program in Egypt, the grassroots civic education and media project will expand the reach and impact of a proven civic education program across Egypt, working from four regional centers: Cairo, Minya, Alexandria, and Mansoura. Through this project, teachers in Egypt are being trained by Regional Project Coordinators, based in the four regional centers, on the Project Citizen process. Print and radio journalism trainings are also being organized in each of the four centers, as an important component of the total project.  The combination of civic society and media trainings will give hundreds of teachers and thousands of students across the country the techniques and inspiration they need to get involved in shaping the future of Egyptian society. These same teachers and students will also be trained to mobilize the power of mass media on the themes of democracy and governance.

West Bank and Gaza

Through a grant from USAID-WBG, Internews Network is currently implementing “Aswatona: Independent Media Program for the West Bank and Gaza” through the project’s main office in Ramallah and in coordination with a satellite office in Gaza. The project aims to improve citizen awareness and involvement in community-level democracy and governance issues, as well as to increase the quantity and quality of local news, including local manifestations of broad themes such as rule of law, good governance, and corruption. To accomplish these important objectives, Internews Network is implementing a comprehensive broadcast media development program that includes business planning and management training, journalism trainings, focus groups, onsite consultancies, and a small grants program. In an effort to ensure the project’s overall positive impact, the Aswatona team works in close coordination with the local independent radio and television stations, as well as NGOs working towards improving local broadcast media throughout the West Bank and Gaza.

Jordan

Awarded to Internews Network in December 2005, by the State Department’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), “International Journalism and Media Management Training Program (IJMMT)” is an 18-month project designed to improve radio programming and access in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. The IJMMT program  consists of two main components: the creation of a student-run  university based community radio station at Yarmouk University  in Irbid, and the creation of a Radio Production Unit in partnership  with Princess Basma’s Youth Resource Center (PBYRC) in Amman. Western  Kentucky University (WKU)  is Internews Network’s U.S. partner for program implementation  and provides the project with training resources and expertise. 

Yarmouk FM, Jordan's first student-run radio station, began broadcasting from Yarmouk University in September 2006 and was officially opened under dedication of , Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah in February 2007. The radio station broadcasts to one million listeners throughout northern Jordan and the surrounding region. Journalism students at Yarmouk FM produce a daily two-hour program of news and music for the station.

Further training of key  personnel is slated to take place at WKU in the winter of 2007. The  Radio Production Unit at PBYRC, named Autostrad, completed three weeks of intensive radio production training at  WKU in summer 2006. The training session was followed by study  visits to public and private radio stations in Washington, DC. Programming developed by Autostrad is expected to be on-air in  Jordan soon.

Lebanon

In Lebanon, Internews supports media and local NGOs working on media-related issues both inside and outside Beirut. The project includes a series of trainings for media professionals on business management and a small grants fund for organizations working towards reconciliation through media.

Through a grant from the US Department of State’s Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor (DRL), Internews Network will assist with building the business capacity of local independent media outlets and will engage local civil society NGOs in using media as a tool for reconciliation within their communities. The dual focus of the project will improve Lebanon’s local media sector, by using training and mentoring as tools for enhancing media sustainability. Additionally, the small grants fund will serve to boost the cooperation between media and civil society to enhance reconciliation efforts at the local level.

Internews Partners in MENA