Internews is an international media development organization whose mission is to empower local media worldwide to give people the news and information they need, the ability to connect, and the means to make their voices heard.
Through its programs, Internews improves the reach, quality, and sustainability of local media, enabling them to better serve the information needs of their communities.
Internews has worked in over 70 countries and trained over 80,000 people in media skills. Together with local partners, activities include establishing and supporting media outlets, journalist associations, and broadcast networks. Internews also has special programs to improve reporting on the environment, humanitarian crises, public health and women’s issues.
Formed in 1982, Internews Network is a 501(c)(3) organization headquartered in California. The organization currently works in Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and North America. Internews Network has projected revenues of $35 million for 2009.
ACTIVITIES
Internews has supported the development of some 4800 independent media outlets to date, including radio and television stations, newspapers and online news sites. Activities include:
Training: Internews trains 8,000-10,000 people every year in journalism, production, and management. For more advanced media professionals, Internews offers training in topics such as computer graphics, media law, and investigative journalism.
Production: To strengthen the independent media sector, Internews works with local media professionals to produce original, high-quality programming. In 2008 this came to 8,800 hours of television and radio programming, with a combined potential audience of over 200 million radio listeners and over 100 million TV viewers.
Media Infrastructure: Internews provides a broad range of infrastructure support to enable independent media to provide vital news and information, including providing journalists and stations with production equipment, creating production studios, and building radio stations from the ground up.
Media Law and Policy: To allow independent media to fulfill their “watchdog” function, Internews has worked for the adoption and implementation of fair media laws and policies in 21 countries. Internews has also worked for open and accessible Internet and telecommunications policy in 36 countries.
As part of its work fostering independent media and access to information, Internews has developed special global programs in health journalism, environmental journalism, humanitarian media, information and communications technology, and governance and transparency.
