Dili, Timor-Leste: 28 April 2010 – ICFJ-TL and three of Dili’s major newspapers – Timor Post, Kla’ak and The Dili Weekly – today signed a formal agreement to establish the Independent Printing Press Timor-Leste (IPPTL).

As part of the USAID-funded Strengthening Independent Media Program in Timor-Leste (SIMPTL), ICFJ-TL provided funds to assist in the purchase of a second-hand 1986 Heidelberg Offset printing press and the necessary accessories. The building that houses the printing press has already been renovated; the SIMPTL program is assisting in setting up the press and will provide technical, operational and managerial training as well as mentoring support for the new business.

During today’s signing ceremony at the printing press building, Otelio Ote, Director of The Dili Weekly, pointed out that the printing press is not just for the three partner organizations – any newspaper is welcome to make use of the equipment, Ote stressed. The three partners will print their own newspapers on the printing press equipment and will operate the facility as a “for profit” business – accepting printing orders from other companies.

This will be the first printing house in Dili to be established by a group of independent newspapers. It is likely to profoundly improve the prospects for sustainability of Timor-Leste’s independent media sector, and it will strengthen press freedom: one of the main objectives is to support independent media outlets unable to afford the prices and terms of existing commercial printing houses.

Currently, the printing press is not yet fully operational. ICFJ-TL and the three partners – Timor Post, Kla’ak and The Dili Weekly – hope that the first papers will start rolling off the press within the next two months.