Help Provincial Journalists get back to work

Journalists Affected by Tsunami

Help Provincial Journalists get back to work

As we are all well aware, the tsunami that hit the island in December has
greatly impacted many peoples and sectors within the country, including
journalists and media workers. Many of them suffered great loss, the least
of which is their equipment. But without their journalism tools many of
these journalists, most of whom work freelance for low wages, are unable to
return to work and with that try to piece their lives together and regain
some of the dignity that was swept away.

To help these journalists return to work, the Free Media Movement (FMM)
makes this appeal for support on their behalf. We intend to provide them
with the necessary equipment and are working closely with the provincial
journalists associations in the affected regions, the Sri Lanka Muslim
Journalists Forum (SLMJF) and Sri Lanka Tamil Journalists Alliance (SLTJA)
in this regard.

We are currently focusing on Provincial Journalists as they are freelancers
and do not receive a fixed income from media organizations. Further, they
were the first on the scene, reporting amid the tragedy and havoc caused by
the tsunami.

Following field visits by an FMM team, we have identified 21 provincial
correspondents (as at 22 February 2005) that we intend to support through
this program. Their details are provided below. All details have been
verified by police report and FMM volunteers visiting these areas. We intend
to provide each with a digital camera and a digital voice recorder as an
immediate first step to getting them back to reporting the post tsunami
situation and other issues.

The approximate cost per set of equipment is valued at US $ 450 (digital
camera @ approximate cost of US $ 300- 350; high quality digital voice
recorder @ approximately US $ 120- 150). One journalist has also lost his
Television Camera, valued at approximately US $ 2,500.

If you or your organization are able to support this appeal please c;ontact
me on 0777-312457 or fmm@diamond.lanka.net to discuss arrangements. FMM, together with
the provincial journalists associations, SLMJF and SLTJA will organize a
simple ceremony at which to hand over this equipment to the journalists
whose details are provided below.

We are still working on verifying information received from various sources
on more affected journalists. Therefore, we may update this list in the
near future based on further confirmation of details. In the event of
updates, we will keep you informed.

We thank you for your support to our effort.

Sincerely yours,



Sunanda Deshapriya
Spokes person- Free Media Movement