NEWSLETTER 3 -- early spring 2000

URGENT: it looks as if Brussels is about to abandon Med Media (along with Med Campus and Med Urbs). It will only be saved if enough individuals and organisations contact the European Union NOW and urge that the relaunch goes ahead as promised.

This is the last chance. The newly appointed Commissioners are not aware of what Med Media achieved; they see only the administrative problems. So a persuasive letter from you now could genuinely make all the difference. Please, if you benefited at all from the activities of Med Media, send a brief fax of support today to:

It would be useful too if you sent a copy of your fax to the EU Embassy/Delegation in your own country and to your own Foreign Ministry, asking them to support you. Please also ask the most senior media and political figures you know to contact Brussels as well. Important decisions are imminent -- so you must act now otherwise there will be no relaunch.

Jemstone Annual Meeting: this will take place in Cairo on 5th March. The Heads of over 60 of the main media organisations in the Eastern Mediterranean have been invited to put forward their proposals for media training and development. Jemstone will have the latest news from Brussels and other potential funders. A limited number of accommodation-only scholarships remain for those attending the Jemstone meeting and staying on for the World Bank's Mediterranean Development Forum (see below), but you must apply now.

Euro-Med Environmental Journalists: Jemstone took part in the European Commission's workshop on Capri in December for Environmental Journalists, run by the Peace Research Institute from Tampere in Finland. We have now established an e-mail list to support this new network, facilitating discussions and disseminating information.

Investigative Journalism: after Jemstone's successful workshop in Jordan in November, funded by the Dutch Minister of Development and Co-operation, plans are well advanced for similar events in Yemen, Egypt and Palestine. There have been delays in producing the promised Guidebook on Investigative Journalism but we now expect to publish it before the end of March; all those who've asked for a copy will be sent one then; apologies.

Revamped Web-site: after the investigative workshop, http://www.jemstone.net is being developed into a research facility for Euro-Med journalists, with links to hundreds of relevant sites. Don't forget you can use our existing Arabic and English discussion forums.

Mediterranean Development Forum: Jemstone is responsible for media involvement at this World Bank event in Cairo from 6th to 8th March. Any Economic or Business Journalists who have not yet applied should contact us immediately.

tl/8/2/00