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.

Mission

Information is the power that can change the world. We are in the midst of a revolution in human communication that is profoundly reshaping our future. Yet, for nearly half the planet, the promise of this revolution has not been fulfilled.

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.

Vision for the Future

We envision a world where everyone can communicate freely with anyone, anywhere, and exchange the news and information they need to shape the future of their communities and the world.  

LEBANON: Promoting Peace and Reconciliation through the Media

In May 2008, Lebanon witnessed a violent political conflict that eventually led to the end of an 18-month long political paralysis and the election of a new President. In the wake of the conflict and in the few months that followed, Internews Network launched seven civil society projects in Lebanon to promote media as a tool for reconciliation and development. The projects, which were launched under a small grants program from which two more projects will be issued, are located throughout Lebanon and focus on community reporting, youth involvement, online media tools, information technology, and media for development. As Lebanon prepares for Parliamentary elections in the midst of intense political tensions, the success of these five groups can help address post-conflict political polarization and regional development challenges and put freedom of access to media at the forefront of Lebanon’s democratic development.

1.     FIRST MEDIA MONITOR IN THE MIDDLE EAST (the Lebanese Civic Media Initiative)

2.     YOUTH NEWSLETTER IN TRIPOLI (Dr. Wafaa Chaarani, the Tripoli-based Development Studies Center)

3.     LOCAL COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER IN SOUTH OF LEBANON (Beit El Tourath)

4.     ONLINE FORUM FOR YOUNG ACTIVISTS AND WRITERS (Youth for Tolerance)

5.     BUILDING A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN MEDIA AND WOMEN NGOS (INSTITUTE FOR PROGRESSIVE WOMEN)

6.     NEW MEDIA TOOLS FOR DEVELOPMENT (Baldati)