Amman Hosting Regional Conference on Investigative

UNCLAS AMMAN 002690

INFO ARAB LEAGUE COLLECTIVE

SIPDIS

STATE FOR NEA/PPD ANNE SOMERSET
NEA/ELA

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: JO KPAO PREL
SUBJECT: Amman Hosting Regional Conference on Investigative
Journalism


1. Well known Jordanian journalist Rana Sabbagh, the Executive
Director of Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ),is
organizing a regional conference November 28 - 30 on investigative
journalism which is scheduled to include big name media figures such
as Yusri Foda of Al Jazeera and Tim Sebastien of the BBC. PA Amman
will explore supporting this conference by funding the participation
of an American award-winning investigative reporter, Mark Hunter,
currently based at INSEAD outside of Paris.

2. ARIJ is an Amman-based, regional media support network that
seeks to encourage independent quality professional journalism
through training and funding in-depth journalism projects. An
independent, non-profit organization, ARIJ is funded by the Danish
Parliament under a two-year program (2007-2009). They have been
training young Jordanian, Syrian and Lebanese journalists in how to
research and write investigative stories.

3. While the media in Jordan exercise some self-censorship and
respect red lines imposed by the government, there is still room for
good investigative journalism dealing with topics such as the
availability of good medical care in rural areas, or the use of
scarce water resources. Post believes ARIJ, along with the opening
next year of Princess Reem's Jordan Media Institute, will help
younger journalists to do more professional and in depth reporting
on issues of most concern to local readers.
Beecroft