N E W S L E T T E R -- early spring 2001

Communication skills for development -- in February, March and April we are holding a three-part workshop on 'internet and media relations' for ngos and development organisations in Jordan. Besides media strategy, press releases and writing for the web, there will be sessions on advocacy and lobbying, being interviewed for TV and general communication skills -- lara@jemstone.net

Al Jazeera -- Jemstone's running a series of workshops on journalism and TV production with the satellite broadcaster in Qatar, including sessions on studio directing, packaging, interviewing and reporting -- brenda@jemstone.net

EU-Gulf media co-operation -- the report on launching the European Union's pilot programme of media co-operation is nearing completion. The Jemstone director has visited the GCC headquarters in Riyadh and a detailed programme of training and networking events has been prepared -- tudor@jemstone.net

www.jordandevnet.org -- the biggest development web-site project in Jordan will be formally launched this spring; a series of countdown briefings is being e-mailed to all interested ngos and development organisations -- samia@jemstone.net

Investigative journalism -- after the workshops in Jordan, Egypt and Yemen, we hope the postponed event in Gaza will go ahead before the summer. A few copies of the booklet in Arabic or English are available -- jane@jemstone.net

Journalinks -- we've updated the research entries on the Journalinks section of the Jemstone web-site to include ideas and links from the workshop for Arabia on Line on web-journalism -- www.jemstone.net/linking/home.htm

Human rights project -- we are applying for EU funding to broaden our work to other regions, particularly East Africa and South Asia -- we're looking for partners keen to "promote independent and responsible media and free press".

Media consultancy -- we're carrying out training needs assessments for organisations in the Gulf and MENA regions -- tudor@jemstone.net

Jemstone is the biggest media training and development network in the Middle East. This Newsletter goes to over 1,200 media professionals interested in Jemstone�s work supporting media, supporting development. Send us names and e-mail addresses of others, in the Euro-Med region and beyond, who might find it useful.