This is a personal note, rather than a formal Newsletter, to keep you informed

Apologies for the delay since the final Newsletter, four months ago -- there are several reasons for this, including the effect in Brussels of the resignation of the European Union's Commissioners. We had hoped to continue with an interim contract during 1999 but this wasn't possible. However Jemstone itself, the network of over sixty media organisations in the Middle East and North Africa, carries on -- we will apply for a new Med Media Contract from Brussels and hope eventually to run most of the activities listed in Newsletter 12.

The Jemstone Network is no longer involved with Radio Nederlands. Jemstone is now a separate foundation dedicated to working with the media in the Middle East, North Africa, and Europe and there is a linked consultancy The Jemstone Network Ltd.

Current Projects: include two for the World Bank and two funded by individual European governments -- a theme running through them all is the role of the media in development. The importance of independent, questioning media is increasingly accepted as essential to both social and economic progress, where our work with specialist economic journalists is proving relevant; eg the establishment by the Syrian Arab News Agency of an economic department, after their staff had attended Jemstone workshops. We are also in discussion with the UN agencies, other DG's in Brussels, various foundations and media and broadcasting organisations-- a list of our planned projects is available on the website. Please contact us if you wish to work with us on any of them or know of possible founders.

Autumn plans:

* we intend to run a week long workshop in Jordan on independent journalism, and how to work effectively within existing legal, professionals and social realities. Although most of the participants will be from Jordan there'll be a few from outside -- similar workshops are planned for Egypt, Palestine and Yemen. Contact us if you're interested.

* we are establishing a searchable data-base/website, profiling development organisations in Jordan and including future events, a news section, a discussion forum and an out-reach programme. If this helps to show how to get the right information to the right people when and how they need it then we plan to expand the system to the whole region. This ties in closely with the idea behind the World Bank's 'Global Knowledge Partnership'.

* we are again working closely with the World Bank's Mediterranean Development Forum, which will next meet in Cairo in early March 2000. As in Marrakech last autumn we will schedule the Jemstone Annual Evaluation meeting for the eve of MDF to encourage wider participation at both events and give our senior editors and others the chance to take part in the biggest regular meeting of development professionals in the region.

* we are in discussions to develop our network of training professionals within the region's media organisations. Over fifty journalists and managers have now taken part in a Jemstone trainers' workshop or course -- they now need support and resources.

New contact details -- please note the new phone numbers, other details are unchanged.

tl/12/7/99

including The Jemstone Network Ltd and The Jemstone Network Foundation

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