Development of local media network to promote integration

Project “Development of local media network for the promotion of integration” supported by the 2007 and 2008 newspapers, supported by the National Integration Fund and the Rēzekne District Council (No 2005/017-495-03-01/1-29/35).

26 Rēzekne district and two municipalities of Ludza District were involved in project activities. The 13-month long project started on 1 November 2007 and concluded on 30 November 2008. Its total budget was 96 352 euros, including 90% Latvian Society Integration Fund resources and 10 % project applicant – co-financing of the Rēzekne District Council – and project partners.

In each of the local governments, six free informative publications have been issued within the framework of the project, which include information regarding current events in local governments and in the country in both Latvian and Russian languages. Informative editors in particular organised training have learned the basics of communication knowledge, directing newspapers in basic principles, methods of gathering information, writing and interviewing information in the basic principles of writing and interviewing, becoming aware of the role of public relations in local governments, as well as learning practical skills for work with the magazine and design of the newspaper.

Local journalists acknowledged that one of the most important benefits of this project is the improvement of the quality of local government information expenditures and the availability of current information regarding the ongoing local government. Most municipalities continue to issue informative expenditure after the end of the project.

Details of the project in the attached presentation.
It should be noted that the information expenditures are currently issued with regularity approximately once every two or three months, and all expenditures are covered by the budget resources of the parish administration.