Foundation provides $1m for Indonesian journalists<\/p>\n
Agencies, Jakarta<\/p>\n
The board of trustees of the John S. and James L. Knight
\nFoundation has approved US$1 million in emergency funding to
\nthree international journalism organizations to work together to
\naid print and broadcast journalists in Indonesia in the wake of
\nthe tsunami.<\/p>\n
The grants will help rebuild infrastructure and facilities
\ndestroyed by the killer tidal waves, as well as recruit new
\nstaff, AScribe newswire reported.<\/p>\n
The three organizations -- Internews, the International Center
\nfor Journalists and the Committee to Protect Journalists -- all
\nhave extensive experience working with and aiding journalists in
\ndeveloping countries.<\/p>\n
Internews will use its $500,000 grant to rebuild radio
\njournalism in the Aceh capital of Banda Aceh.<\/p>\n
The Aceh province was the most devastated by the tsunami, with
\n122,000 dead.<\/p>\n
Two production studios and three editing labs, capable of
\nproducing radio for distribution across Indonesia, will be built.
\nInternews also will use the grant money to build two smaller
\nproduction facilities, hire several advisers and provide stipends
\nfor local journalists who are willing to go back to work as well
\nas stipends for the families of journalists who were killed.<\/p>\n
With Internews focusing on radio, a $400,000 Knight grant to
\nthe International Center of Journalists will aid print and TV
\njournalists in Aceh. The center, which runs the Knight
\nInternational Press Fellowships for American journalists to train
\noverseas media, will use the grant for a special series of
\nfellows.<\/p>\n
At least four fellows will serve in 2005 and 2006, with each
\nspending time in the field being debriefed by the outgoing
\nfellow, so that one continuous line of training is developed.<\/p>\n
The Committee to Protect Journalists will use a $100,000 grant
\nto establish a special free press fund to protect Indonesian
\njournalists from government censorship and harassment. The CPJ
\nmay, in turn, give over some of those funds to local groups to
\nallow them to rebuild their capacity to push for press freedom.<\/p>\n
"We hope the independent journalism produced by the efforts of
\nall three organizations will play a part in rebuilding this
\ndevastated area, as well as inspire a new generation of
\nindependent journalists in Indonesia and help move the country
\ntoward a freer, more vibrant press," said Mike Maidenberg, Knight
\nFoundation vice president and chief program officer.<\/p>\n
Concern has grown in recent months that government officials
\nwill use the tsunami as an excuse to exercise greater control
\nover the Indonesian media. A separatist rebellion in the province
\nof Aceh has been ongoing for the last three decades and has
\nkilled 12,000 people.<\/p>\n
These grants mark the first time Knight Foundation has
\napproved emergency funds to rebuild journalism infrastructure.<\/p>",
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