Working with the local broadcast media, the project aims to improve citizen awareness and involvement in community-level democracy and governance issues, as well as to increase and improve the coverage of local news, including local manifestations of broad themes such as rule of law, good governance, and corruption.

 
In an effort to ensure the project’s overall positive impact, the Aswatona team works in close coordination with local independent radio and television stations, as well as NGOs towards improving local broadcast media throughout the West Bank and Gaza through:

• Media Business Development
• Media Law, Policies, and Associations
• Training for Journalists
• Production Grants

 
Providing the Local Media Tools for Success

 
Throughout the West Bank and Gaza, the Aswatona project team conducts skills trainings for station owners, managers, and journalists, hosts on-site consultations, facilitates the networking of stations, convenes issue specific media seminars, and manages a small grants program designed to support capacity building and innovative productions.

 
Reconnecting to the Community

 
Aswatona encourages local media outlets to reconnect with their local communities by working with journalists to produce reports on local issues and connecting them to civil society organizations to cover events and topics important to the community.  It also provides stations with information on their audience and community interests.

 
Increasing Access to Information

 
Through joint seminars with the media and civil society organizations, Aswatona provides the knowledge and tools for journalists to access and utilize public information on the national government, courts, and municipal affairs.