wfn.org | Middle East Forum plans travel seminar for journalists

[ENS@ecunet.org]

2001-360

Middle East Forum plans travel seminar for journalists to Jerusalem and the West 
Bank

     (ENS) The Middle East Forum, a broadly ecumenical coalition, is sponsoring a 
travel seminar for church and secular journalists to Jerusalem and the West Bank, 
April 19-29, 2002.

     The seminar will be led by James M. Wall, senior contributing editor of The 
Christian Century, who has frequently visited the region and written about the 
conflict there.  According to Wall, the trip will provide journalists with 
background information, opportunities to interview key political and religious 
leaders, and to make contacts for future articles.  Wall is based in Chicago.

     The traveling group will be limited to 20 working journalists to facilitate 
interviews and sensitive conversations with both Israelis and Palestinians.

     "We will meet with Christians, Jews and Muslims, " Wall said,  "because we 
realize that hearing and seeing the situation from the perspective of both sides 
is critical to understanding the current conflict."  Wall also noted that "the 
Palestinian perspective, often missed and rarely understood by western 
journalists, will be a priority of the trip."  Interviews and briefing sessions 
are being arranged with a wide spectrum of contacts, including academics and 
peace advocates, by the Bethlehem Media Center. 

     According to Wall, the group will meet daily for group reflection and 
feedback. There will opportunities for visits to the traditional religious sites, 
he noted, "but in such a turbulent climate the emphasis will be on conversations 
in conflict centers like Gaza and Hebron as well as in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and 
Ramallah." Individual appointments will also be facilitated by the Bethlehem 
Media Center, which maintains contact with leaders throughout Israel and the 
Occupied Palestinian Territories.  

     The Middle East Forum's Media Project will receive applications until March 
15.  The project's officers are committed to maintaining a balance between 
persons who write for the public media and religious periodicals.  

     The journalists' group will leave from New York, where they will have an 
opportunity to participate in a preliminary consultation on "Full and fair 
coverage of Israel / Palestine issues" and to receive briefings at the United 
Nations.  The consultation is being arranged by the World Association for 
Christian Communication and the National Council of the Churches of Christ.

     Application forms and additional information is available from Betty Jane 
Bailey of West Orange, N.J.  Telephone: 973.324.9684; Fax: 973.324.9685; Email: 
BJBailey1@aol.com.