A Network of Organizations Dedicated to Journalism in the Americas
Journalism Forum Solidifies Americas Network Journalism Forum Solidifies Americas Network
The Third Austin Forum on Journalism in the Americas took place June 13-14, 2005, challenging participants to continue working together on long-term efforts to improve journalism in Latin America and the Caribbean.
The Forum convened representatives of 25 organizations from 13 countries to shape the vision and practice of journalism in the Americas.
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas at the University of Texas held the first Austin Forum in February 2003. The Forum was originally conceived as an annual gathering of independent journalism organizations, but at its second meeting in February 2004, it evolved into a growing network of associations.
"Over the last two years we have seen how productive it is for organizations and journalists with common goals to learn from each other and to develop joint projects," said Rosental Alves, director of the Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas. Alves said the network has the potential to generate even more new partnerships.
The program for this year's gathering expanded upon last year's goal to provide technical assistance to journalism organizations in areas such as strategic planning, evaluation, and fundraising.
This year the Austin Forum emphasized collaborative experiences developed by members of participating organizations. The Knight Center knows of several specific cases in which Forum members have conducted joint projects. "We're looking for success stories that may serve as examples," Alves said.
For example, Amy Johnson of the International Women's Media Foundation, and Joan Caivano of the Inter-American Dialogue, both work in Washington D.C., but they met for the first time at the Austin Forum. Since then, they have developed proposals for collaboration between the two organizations.
"The Austin Forum has provided a unique opportunity to make connections with other organizations working on journalism and press freedom" Johnson said.
Alves and Knight Center program manager Dean Graber are working with Knight Center staff to strengthen the Forum's use of Internet technology as the foundation for the network. Participants of the second Austin Forum requested the creation of a list-serv, which has been used to share news. The Knight Center is exploring other tools, such as a monthly Austin Forum newsletter.
The Knight Center will also develop more stories on its trilingual website about the work of Austin Forum participants, which could lead to more exposure for individual members.
Now working in the third year of its four-year mandate, the Knight Center for Journalism will explore ways to keep the Austin Forum alive, such as expanding the leadership roles of Forum members. "We will know that the Forum is a success if by the end we have established a way to continue it virtually from that moment on," Alves said.
Participants of the 2005 Austin Forum were:
*Jaime Abello, Foundation for a New Ibero-American Journalism
*Silvina Acosta, Trust for the Americas/OAS
*Cecilia Alvear, Asociación Nacional de Periodistas Hispanos/NBC News
*Pedro Enrique Armendares, Periodistas de Investigación-México
*Luis Botello, International Center for Journalists
*Joan Caivano, Inter-American Dialogue
*Cristiana Chamorro Barrios, Fundación Violeta Barrios de Chamorro, Nicaragua
*Gabriel Chávez-Tafur, Press and Society Institute (IPYS), Peru
*Jim Detjen, Knight Center for Environmental Journalism, Michigan State University
*Dilmar Rosas Garcia, Latin American Journalism Center (CELAP), Panamá
*Donna De Cesare, School of Journalism, University of Texas at Austin
*James Fahn, Earth Journalism Network
*Wesley Gibbings, Association of Caribbean Media Workers
*Charles Green, International Media Center Florida International University
*Mark Hallett, McCormick Tribune Foundation
*Luz María Helguero, Peruvian Provinces Journalist Network
*Brant Houston, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE)
*Nadine Jurrat, Rory Peck Trust, England
*Pablo Mendelovich, Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA)
*Elisa Munoz, International Women's Media Foundation
*Jaime López, Probidad, El Salvador
*Maria Martin, GraciasVida Center for Media, Guatemala
*Lise Olsen, IRE/Houston Chronicle
*Luisa Rangel, International News Safety Institute, Venezuela
*Leonarda Reyes, Center for Journalism and Public Ethics (CEPET) México
*José Roberto de Toledo, Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism (Abraji)
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas was created by Professor Rosental Calmon Alves at the University of Texas at Austin School of Journalism in August 2002 thanks to a generous donation from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. Its main objective is to help journalists in the hemisphere to develop self-sustaining training programs that will raise the ethical and professional levels of journalism in the Americas.
For more information about the center, contact Dean Graber, program manager, deangraber@mail.utexas.edu.
Added Jul 31, 15:10, 2008
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