Internews, an international non-profit organization, with nearly 40 years experience working with journalists and media outlets in some of the most challenging environments in the world, has launched a rapid response fund to help local news organisations worldwide survive in the face of COVID-19.
This will help to ensure information is provided where it is most needed: in some of the world’s hardest to reach communities, where healthcare and sanitation services are already under huge strain.
The emergency fund which is part of Internews’ global Information ‘Save Lives, campaign to help media continue to operate through the COVID pandemic will be launched with $100,000 to be made available immediately. Internews will immediately provide $100,000 to this fund and is calling on donors globally to contribute to significantly increasing this amount.
The drive is targeting $1 million in donations to provide immediate support for journalists globally.
Internews which works across a wide range of issues in the fast-moving information and media landscape to reach the most information poor and disadvantaged is also appealing to governments, foundations, companies and individuals urged to contribute additional funds
It is believed that who journalists play a pivotal role in providing good information particularly during this time of international pandemic, need assistance in order to perform better in the task of saving lives .
‘’ Our pandemic crisis is also an information crisis, and journalists are the first responders. They provide essential information on the status of the virus in their communities, how health services are responding, on changes in policy and community norms, and – importantly – they hold governments to account. These first responders need our help,’’ a source from Internews said.
The new rapid response fund is expected to provide Internews’ local media partners, including community radio stations and online news outlets in more than 80 countries, access to emergency funding so they can continue to operate in increasingly dire economic conditions.
Internews will additionally invest to provide advisory services to journalists, offering free advice and expertise on covering the virus in languages including English, Spanish, French, Arabic and Russian. Founded in 1982, Internews Inc. is a 501 organization incorporated in California. It has worked in more than 70 countries and trained more than 80,000 people in media skills.
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