Sri Lanka Tsunami Aid: 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 contact 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 "
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 contact 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 "
