Dozens of people helped mark the grand opening of the brand-spanking new Regional Media House in Baucau on August 19. After speeches from a variety of folks including donors, a government official, the Media House coordinator and an ICFJ staffer, there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony. After which ICFJ’s Chuck Rice gave everyone a tour.

The Media House includes high speed internet, a work room for journalists, an internet café, a training room and a small lounge where journalists can relax.

The original Baucau Media House opened in January 2008 in a location about a block or so from the present location, but had outgrown the space.

ICFJ has established Regional Media Houses in four other locations around Timor-Leste. They include Ermera, Suai, Dili and Oecussi. The Oecussi facility opens officially on September 4th. The Suai Media House, which will be integrated into the existing Covalima Youth Center, will officially open in late October.

Journalists are already using the Oecussi and Suai Media Houses – even though they haven’t officially opened. Both facilities already have high-speed internet.

All five media houses are being used for a variety of training courses – in August, for example, intensive six day trainings on how to cover elections got underway at the facilities in Baucau and Dili. The sessions feature experts on Timor’s election law as well as journalism trainers. Dozens of journalists – including community radio reporters from all the districts – are taking part in these courses.

Most of the community radio stations are planning to do some election coverage. During a quarterly radio conference on August 2, Chuck met with most of the community radio managers to discuss their coverage plans and their training needs.

The local suko elections are to be held on October 9. ICFJ is coordinating pool coverage for various media outlets – including community radio stations, newspapers and online media.

ICFJ received good news from USAID in August regarding two proposals. USAID agreed in principle to provide additional funds to purchase a used printing press for three independent newspapers – The Dili Weekly, Klaak and The Timor Post. ICFJ was also told by USAID that it would fund the purchase of three new vehicles for the project. Since SIMPTL began in October 2006, ICFJ has been using donated second-hand vehicles with high mileage on narrow roads that aren’t always paved. The horrendous road conditions and long travel distances have left these old vehicles in pretty bad shape …

Chuck made his first-ever trip to the enclave of Oecussi in August to check out the new Media House digs. The building is a stone’s throw from the beach. ICFJ staffers and others joined in the renovation of the building – including a new electrical system, fresh paint, a new toilet and upgraded flooring. Oscar Selly and his IT team installed a VSAT and had the internet working within 24 hours of their arrival in Oecussi.

August 30 marked the tenth anniversary of the independence referendum in Timor-Leste: it was ten years ago that the majority of Timorese voted to become an independent state. Also in August, ICFJ sponsored, together with the five journalism associations, the monthly “Meet the Press series”. The focus this month was on the past, present and future of the Timorese military. There were two guest speakers: analyst and lecturer Valentim Ximenes, and Rui Vana, the director of a local NGO called Yayasan (Justice and Rights). About 30 journalists took part in the event.

A reporter for http://www.timortoday.com/ was at the finish line for the Tour de Timor bicycle race on August 28: ICFJ’s Ruben Smith set up his camcorder next to a bunch of international journalists to cover the wrap up, but – just as the winner crossed the line – a journalist bumped Ruben’s camera. All was not lost, however: Ruben ran over to the winner, Neil Van Der Ploeg of Australia, and did a short interview. He then had his picture taken with Ploeg – who won 15,000 USD for crossing the finish line first.