INTERNEWS JOURNALISM TRAINING SHOULD CONTINUE

UNCLAS MANAMA 000839 SIPDIS NEA/PI-DMULENEX; NEA/PPD-PAGNEW; NEA/ARP CKANESHIRO; DRL/PHD JLEVINSON E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KMPI KPAO KDEM BA SUBJECT: INTERNEWS JOURNALISM TRAINING SHOULD CONTINUE REFERENCE: MANAMA 444 ¶1. In reftel, para 13 (our response to NEA/PI's request for feedback on MEPI's FY 2004 funding recommendations), post concurred with NEA/PI's decision to evaluate the results of the Internews media training program prior to investing further in this project in FY04. Internews has visited Bahrain twice since reftel; they have met the right people, coordinated with the Journalists Association, and provided extremely useful consultations at the University's new Communications Department. They have also just conducted a very successful training workshop (see para 2) and have contacted appropriate Bahraini attorneys to attend a media and the law workshop this summer. Post's MEPI working group evaluation of Internews in Bahrain: definitely worth continuing. ¶2. The first phase of the MEPI-funded Internews Network journalism training was a real success, providing needed skills to young Bahraini journalists. The May 22-26 workshop was attended by fifteen journalists, focusing on the role of journalists in a more open society, the ethics of the profession, and basic skills. The course was spot on - both from our own observations and from the trainees themselves. Internews Middle East Director Karim Alrawi, Training Coordinator Sally Sami, and Trainer Daniel Boylan also called on the Minister of Information who expressed his full support for journalism training and requested that Internews offer more training in Bahrain, including the broadcast media. Post strongly concurs. We would like Internews to conduct a workshop on the difference between accurate investigative reporting and writing opinion pieces/editorializing, a real problem in the Arab media. Post looks forward to the second phase of the Internews training in November 2004, which will improve internet skills and e- journalism. NEUMANN