Jemstone Report: in response to many requests, we've produced a brochure about Jemstone. It's a 72-page, full-colour report on our activities since January 1996 and our plans, with over forty writers (most of them from the Eastern Mediterranean), an Arabic section and lots of background and features on key Euro-Med media issues. If you haven't had a copy by the end of July then fax us your address at:

00 962 6 819 552 or 00 962 6 740 683 or 00 31 35 672 4498

Jemstone's future: we have still not received a contract from the European Commission for next year but the signs remain good. A senior independent 'evaluator' was sent from Brussels at the beginning of June to inspect Jemstone and decide if we should continue. He recommended an immediate two-year extension of our contract. Senior Commission officials then agreed that we should continue. He recommended an immediate two-year extension of our contract. Senior Commission officials then agreed that we should have a one-year extension but we don't have it in writing yet.

Summer plans: this year the head office, and the regional office at JRTV, will be open throughout the summer; the Project Director will be in Europe until late August the best way to contact him is by fax here or e-mail:

tudor@jemstone.net.

Autumn plans: assuming the new contract is sent soon we intend to carry on with several projects begun earlier in the year, including:

• Training-managers: a course is planned for late September/early October;
• Arabic-language media: a workshop of key experts in mid October;
• National Jemstones: there'll be meetings of Jemstone 'graduates' in every country of the Eastern Mediterranean, to strengthen the network;
• Web-site: development work continues to make it more useful and accessible;
• Economic journalism: regular specialist reporters workshop in December.

All these will be confirmed in more details in our next Newsletter (when we

hear from Brussels) but you can register your interest in taking part by faxing us now.

Jemstone 1998: the proposals for next year include the reinstatement of the summer skills course for younger journalists; various Masterclasses and specialist reporters' workshops and a series of Round Table seminars bringing together up to two dozen journalists from Europe and the region here to discuss issues of common concern. Over the last two years we have considered "images of Islam in the West"; "The Role of the Journalist in Conflict"; and "Islam and Economic Development'.

Please send us your suggestions for future Round Table topics.

Apologies for the delay since the last Newsletter we were waiting for firm news.

tl/15/7/97