The Universidade Nacional Timor Lorosoa’e (UNTL) and the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) launched the campus radio station and pilot journalism training course on June 30, 2008 at the UNTL Liceu Francisco Machado Campus in Dili.

The ceremony began at 10 a.m. with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between UNTL and ICFJ witnessed by the Minister of Education, Dr. Joao Cancio Freitas, and officials from donor countries--the U.S., Australian and Portuguese governments.

“This is an outstanding example of cooperation between international and national institutions to strengthen a key foundation of democracy—the independent media,” USAID Representative Mark White said in his remarks.

One highlight of the ceremony was the first live broadcast by Radio Universidade UNTL (90.0 FM) featuring as guests U.S. Ambassador Hans Klemm, Australian Ambassador Peter Heyward, Education Minister Freitas and UNTL Rector Dr. Benjamin de Araujo e Corte-Real.

Meanwhile, the three-month journalism training course for 50 UNTL students and staff members began July 1. The course will focus on the management and operation of a radio station, as well as writing and editing skills for print and electronic media.

UNTL is now fully equipped to offer the new journalism course after ICFJ helped upgrade the campus radio station’s facilities and provided new computers with internet for the classroom adjacent to the radio station, which will serve as an electronic newsroom for journalism students. This completes the initiative started in 2001 by the Portuguese government, which originally established the radio station.

The teachers’ pool includes ICFJ staff members and veteran Timor-Leste journalists who have been working together with ICFJ in its training activities. There will also be visiting instructors from other organizations, including the U.N.

Under the “Strengthening Independent Media Program” co-funded by USAID and AusAID, the International Center for Journalists is working to support the development of a strong, professional and sustainable media sector in Timor-Leste. ICFJ is helping to improve the ability of Timorese journalists to produce and disseminate high-quality news and expand the reach of media-information products available to all citizens of Timor-Leste.

ICFJ has worked with Timorese journalists on many fronts, including improving elections coverage, instituting newsroom training programs, producing radio programs, equipping regional media houses with computers and internet, working with high-school students and planning university-level training courses.

ICFJ is working with partners, including the International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX), leading local media outlets, and journalist organizations, to improve news distribution and upgrade journalism standards in the country. Most importantly, it is helping the still-fragile media community to become more confident, professional, and better able to keep all citizens of Timor-Leste well informed.