A Network of Organizations Dedicated to Journalism in the Americas
Austin Forum Sparks New Ideas for Collaboration Austin Forum Sparks New Ideas for Collaboration
By SUMMER HARLOW
Soccer fans crowded around TV sets this week to cheer seven teams from the Americas in World Cup rivalry. But the theme of collaboration still prevailed in Austin, Texas, where members of 23 journalism organizations from 13 countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, North America, and Europe gathered to plan collaborative projects for improving journalism in the Americas.
The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas conducted its fourth annual Austin Forum on Journalism in the Americas, June 19-20, 2006, at the University of Texas at Austin. Participants presented their current projects and began strategizing new programs to raise the standards and freedoms of journalism in the Americas.
The Austin Forum is both a network of organizations that focus on media development and training in Latin America and the Caribbean, and an annual event that unites the organizations.
This year’s program highlighted the long-term development and sustainability of independent journalism organizations, including funding strategies and practices, and online distance education as an efficient means for training journalists, many of whom cannot afford to travel from the provinces to the capital for training workshops.
Participants also emphasized the need to collaborate, rather than compete. And for the first time, program officers of three philanthropic foundations presented their perspectives on media assistance and development. Before the two-day Forum concluded, several members were discussing concrete ideas for several new partnerships.
“I was really impressed with all the Latin American institutions coming together to share ideas and discuss future projects,” said Rebeca Kritsch of the Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI). “This is a great environment, and I hope all of us can keep in touch. There are at least three projects I’m taking home from this.”
For example, Kritsch said, organizations from the “Triple Frontier” of Brazil, Argentina and Paraguay are planning a training course on the dangers of border reporting. Also, she said, she hopes ABRAJI can work in partnership with the Peruvian Provinces Journalists Network to conduct an investigative reporting workshop.
Maria Martin, founder of the GraciasVida Center for Media, said such partnerships are important if newer, smaller organizations want to increase their visibility and reach.
“What needs to happen in the next stage of the Austin Forum is to recognize the participation of newcomers, so we can bring in new perspectives,” Martin said.
One such new organization is the Forum for Paraguayan Journalism (FOPEP), which in its short existence already has conducted three international seminars and five national training events, said Mabel Rehnfeldt, FOPEP president.
“The Forum was a beautiful experience to meet people,” Rehnfeldt said. “It made it possible to find in one place all that you need—people who want to help and people who need help. I foresee a lot of new partnerships coming from the Forum. The Forum gave us the opportunity, now we have to take it.”
Participants of the 2006 Austin Forum were:
*Argentine Journalism Forum (FOPEA)
*Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM)
*AVINA Foundation
*Brazilian Association for Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI)
*Center for Journalism and Public Ethics (CEPET, Mexico)
*Centro de Periodistas de Investigación (CPI, Mexico)
*Latin American Journalism Center (CELAP, Panama)
*Foundation for a New Iberoamerican Journalism (FNPI, Colombia)
*Fundación Violeta Barrios de Chamorro (Nicaragua)
*GraciasVida Center for Media/RadioGuate Network (Guatemala)
*Institute for Freedom of the Press and Expression (IPLEX, Costa Rica)
*Inter American Press Association (IAPA, Miami, FL)
*International Center for Journalists (ICFJ, Washington, D.C.)
*Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE en español)
*John S. and James L. Knight Foundation (Miami)
*National Association of Hispanic Journalists (Washington, D.C.)
*Open Society Institute (Media Program, London)
*Paraguayan Journalism Forum (FOPEP)
*Peruvian Provinces Journalist Network
*Probidad-Honduras
*Rory Peck Trust (London)
*The Trust for the Americas/OAS (Washington)
*World Press Institute (St. Paul, MN)
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.
by SUMMER HARLOW
Added Jul 31, 15:03, 2008
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