USAID Timor-Leste - Programs - Highlight: Democracy and Governance

Photo: Women journalist trainees filming the launch of the Regional Media House

Women journalist trainees filming the launch of the Regional Media House

Regional Media House in Ermera Opens Doors to Journalists, Communities (March 20, 2009)

The Regional Media House in Ermera opened its doors to journalists and the community on March 20, 2009. The inauguration ceremony in Gleno was led by US Embassy Chargé d'Affaires Henry Rector, USAID/Timor-Leste Mission Representative Mark Anthony White, and First Secretary of Australian Embassy Darian Clark.

With the opening of this Regional Media House, journalists in Ermera and neighboring districts can now get free access to media facilities, training and other services provided by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) without having to go to the capital, Dili.

This is the second Regional Media House to open in the country. The first Regional Media House in Baucau has been serving district-based journalists since January 2008; while the other two Regional Media Houses in Oecussi and Suai are following suit by mid-April 2009. The ICFJ office in Bairo Formosa, Dili serves as a Media House as well for journalists based in the capital.

The establishment of a network of Regional Media Houses in the country is one of the projects made possible by the five-year, US$ 5.5 million "Strengthening Independent Media Program" jointly supported by USAID and AusAID.

Resources available to district-based journalists through the Regional Media Houses include free access to the internet and equipment such as tape recorders and digital cameras. Journalists are also now able to utilize audio-visual production facilities and even upload their multi-media packages via high-speed internet in the Regional Media Houses. There are also plans to hold public screenings of the journalists' audio-visual media products in the Regional Media Houses.

The Ermera media house is partnering up with the Radio Comunidade Cafe Ermera, the local community radio station. The radio station is providing the space, and the station's journalists will be the main clientele of the Regional Media House in Ermera.

To make sure that the Ermera media house will serve as a true regional hub for community journalists, newly appointed Ermera media house coordinator, Antoninho Salsinha Carvalho, is tasked with actively encouraging journalists from the neighboring districts of Aileu, Manufahi and Ainaro to come and use the resources available in Ermera.

The Regional Media House in Ermera is a joint initiative by the Timor-Leste Journalists Association (AJTL), the Syndicate for Journalists Timor-Leste (SJTL), the Center for Investigative Journalists (CJITL), the Timor-Leste Photographers Association (TILPA), the Community Radios Association Timor-Leste (ARKTL), and ICFJ.

This USAID-funded activity is certainly making a difference in improving free press and the quality of information and reporting in Timor-Leste.

(Go to highlights archives)