USAID Supports World Press Freedom

WASHINGTON, May 2 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U.S. Agency for International
Development (USAID) salutes the bravery and professionalism of journalists
throughout the world and condemns all actions to suppress press freedoms.

May 3 marks World Press Freedom Day, a date set aside to reflect upon the key
importance of freedoms of media and information. Free media perform critical
checking functions on governments, raising the quality of governance. A free
press also provides voice to citizens, creates public forums to discuss key
issues, and contributes to social-economic development. But journalism can be
a challenging, even dangerous profession, as witnessed by the killings of over
one hundred journalists during 2007.

The U.S. government, through USAID, has supported enabling conditions for
media to freely provide objective news and information to citizens in more
than 50 countries. USAID will continue to support those individuals and
organizations that are committed to freedom of the press and looks forward to
the day when independence throughout the media can be found worldwide.

Examples of USAID efforts include:

Professional Training of Journalists and Media Personnel: In addition to
short-term workshops offered in over 30 countries in 2007, USAID has helped
develop local training institutions offering certificate programs in
journalism and other media disciplines in places such as Central America,
Russia, the Caucasus, the Middle East, and Southern Africa. In Ukraine, USAID
supports a media watchdog organization that is leading a journalist-initiated
campaign "We Are Not For Sale," which proactively works against the growing
phenomenon of "Jeansa," hidden advertising.

Providing Tools for Financial Independence: USAID programs provide consulting
and management training including revenue raising, the upgrade of financial
management systems, or generation of capital infusions for growth. Media that
is self-sustaining and free from outside subsidies has more editorial and
professional independence.

Community Radio: Community radio plays a vital role in keeping citizens
informed, mobilizing community action, and informing local governments of
community needs. USAID is in the forefront of significant expansions of
community radio in such countries as Haiti, Mali, Tajikistan, Sudan, Guinea,
and Afghanistan.

By-Passing Censorship: USAID helps professional and amateur "citizen"
journalists to master cutting-edge Internet, cell phone, or other technologies
to enable frank news reporting and commentary in repressive countries where
official censorship has eliminated possibilities for objective, unbiased
reporting. Website hits of USAID-supported Internet-based media have grown
exponentially in these countries.

Legal Support: Legal support programs in Central Asia and Ukraine have been
successful in reducing the damages awarded in defamation cases against local
media, preventing closures due to crippling financial penalties.

Conflict Mitigation: In such countries as Sudan, Haiti, Mali, and Timor-Leste,
USAID supported local radios that provided information and discussion forums
to defuse many controversial issues or conflicts among groups. In the South
Caucasus, USAID supported the production of "Kids Crossroads," a television
program produced by and for young people to bridge communication between youth
in Armenian, Georgian and Azerbaijani communities.

Public Information: 202-712-4810

SOURCE U.S. Agency for International Development

U.S. Agency for International Development Press Office, +1-202-712-4310