JEMSTONE Newsletter 8

Jemstone 2000 -- at the beginning of September, in Marrakech, we are gathering 60 of the most influential media figures in the region to advise us on our programme for the next two years. We want to be sure that we are offering the kind of media training and development that our partner organisations want and need. We work with senior journalists and managers from all branches of the media. If you have ideas for courses, workshops, seminars, exchange visits, consultancy assignments or media support that you think Jemstone should be providing then let us know. Also in Marrakech Jemstone is running several events with the World Bank, in support of their Mediterranean Development Forum, including a senior editors' symposium.

Autumn programme: if you want to be involved in any of the events below it is important that you apply now by fax or e-mail, with a short cv.

Training the trainers: we are running two four-day workshops -- one in Cairo from 4th to 8th September, the other in Amman from 23rd to 27th October; most of the places have already been taken by colleagues of the managers of training departments that we worked with earlier this year; but a few places are available for other journalists and managers who want to learn how to be part-time trainers.

Advanced internet for journalists: this is a re-run of our heavily oversubscribed internet course earlier this year; it is not for beginners but for journalists already using internet so they can exchange ideas and learn more about creating web-sites, searching for information and sending e-mails; it will take place in Beirut from 4th to 7th October, in partnership with As Safir.

Political cartoonists: we are bringing some of the best cartoonists from Europe and the Eastern Mediterranean to Malta for a 'masterclass' from Friday 30th October until Monday 2nd November -- in partnership with the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies and with support from Search for Common Ground; we'll be working on craft skills, discussing the role of the cartoonist and considering whether cartoons create and sustain stereotypes and increase tensions.

Round Table Conference: on the theme of Culture and Communication in the Global Information Society, in partnership with the Jordan Institute of Diplomacy and the Sean MacBride Round Table; the conference will take place in Amman in December; in the year of the 50th anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights, it will deal with such issues as: the impact of freedom of expression on culture and national identity; the relationships between information technology, democracy and development; and the part to be played by institutions, laws and codes of conduct in any framework of communications. If you wish to take part or suggest a key speaker please let us know within the next few weeks.

Training bulletin: we are now producing a regular bulletin of information for trainers in media organisations; it is posted out every two months; to order a copy contact Khaled Shorman (khaled@jemstone.net, fax 00 962 6 474 0683). tl/20/7/98