INDEPENDENT MEDIA CENTRE KURDISTAN

Iraq has many magazines, but who do they target? International trainer Robert Slagt returned to Iraqi Kurdistan to conduct two workshops for magazine makers. The first one, with a group of Kurdish journalists and designers who make magazines, started on May 29, 2011. Co-trainer was IMCK-trainer Salam Ibrahim. In three days Slagt and the participants try to make clear which are the target groups, and what the magazines should offer to reach them. Makers from Civil, Xazan, Standard and other Kurdish magazines participated.

Interns of the post graduate course of IMCK, Media bo Khalk, returned to their teachers to receive comments on the work done in the past weeks. The students started on May 1 on a two month internship with Iraqi media. They have been placed with media all over Iraq, and according to their talents. They come back weekly or twice monthly to Erbil or Sulaymaniya to discuss with their MboK trainers how they can further improve their work.

Chris Bowers, the British Consul in Erbil, visited the office of IMCK in Sulaymaniya in Saturday May 14, 2011. He was briefed on the activities of IMCK, and especially about the plans for a third edition of the post graduate training Media bo Khalk, which is to start in November. Bowers also visited the editial staff of the independent website KirkukNow.com, which IMCK set up and is partly financed with British funding.

Representatives of police and security police (assaish), editors in chief and politicians from all over Kurdistan talked together about improving the safety situation for the Kurdish press during the conference 'Safety for journalists is safety for all'. The conference was organised by IMCK and took place on Thursday April 21, 2011 in the Noble Hotel in Erbil. ,,Kurdistan is at a cross roads'', said Frank Smyth, the journalist security coordinator of CPJ (the Committee to Protect Journalists in Washington) during the conference. ,,I can see the growing pains in the relation between police and press. The Kurds have to make sure that the space for the press grows as Kurdish democracy grows''. The CPJ coordinator was an important guest in the conference, which was opened by the KRG minister of Culture, Kawa Mahmoud, who also spoke of the role journalists play in a democracy. Smyth said at the end of the conference to be impressed by the way the different representa...

The team of Kirkuk Now on Saturday April 16 launched the news website in Kirkuk, to media, ngo's, politicians and others. The presentation was organised especially for Kirkuk, to give the website as much attention as possible. Project manager Jantine van Herwijnen and leading consultant Shwan Mohammed joined IMCK-director Judit Neurink (and Saman Penjwini from IMCK) on stage to give the most important details about the website, and to ask the Kirkukis to share their information with the Kirkuk Now team. KirkukNow.com provides the people of Kirkuk with independent news and information on what is happening in their city.

The first independent news website for Kirkuk, KirkukNow.com, was officially launched on April 14, 2011. During a press conference in Sulaymaniya, IMCK senior trainer Khidher Domle spoke about 'a dream come true'. Leading consultant of Kirkuk Now is Shwan Mohammed; he spoke of a website that creates a bridge for all Kirkukis. IMCK director Judit Neurink called the website 'from Kirkukis, for Kirkukis', as they will be invited to react, give their news and send their pictures. Pictures which show 'Kirkuk as you see it' will be placed on the website, next to news from the city and concerning the city. Kirkuk Now is published in Kurdish, Arabic, Turkmen and English, to provide all people in Kirkuk with the same information. The setting up of the site is possible thanks to funding by the Dutch ngo Hivos, the Belgian and the British government. For Kirkuk, the launch of the site will take place on April 16, 2011.

Internet editor Marco Visser returned to the IMCK to work with the Kirkuk Now staff on final changes needed for the website, before it will be officially launched on April 14 (in Sulaymaniya) and April 16 (in Kirkuk). Kirkuk Now is an independent news site for all Kirkuki's, with news, information and discussions.