In October 2007, the Peres Center, together with Palestinian partner the International Peace & Cooperation Center (IPCC), launched a new initiative, entitled "Wo.Me.N." – The Women's Media Network. The idea for the initiative grew out of a round-table meeting held by the Peres Center and IPCC for Palestinian and Israeli female journalists this past February, with special guest former New York Times journalist Judith Miller.

 

The program, which engages some 20 Palestinian and Israeli female journalists, seeks to establish a joint professional network for women journalists and provide specialized training in a joint environment.

The first introductory meeting of the program was held in East Jerusalem, attended by Israeli and Palestinian journalists including those from such note-worthy newspapers and television stations as The New York Times, BBC and CNN. During the meeting, the women eagerly discussed their goals for the program, touching upon ideas including joint columns, advocacy, professional support, and projects related to social topics (cuisine, music, fashion, and more).

 

Following this joint encounter, the inaugural workshop was held, with the support and coordination ofSpanish host Tres Culturas. Fourteen eminent written and broadcast journalists came together for 3 days to share their perspectives and discuss common obstacles facing them as women reporting from within a conflict region. The Palestinian-Israeli group met with award-winning Spanish journalist Ms. Lola Banon, who specializes in reporting on Middle East affairs. Her speech, which highlighted the need to focus on the human aspect underlying the conflict, helped the Palestinian and Israeli journalists overcome their initial hesitations and open up toward each other.

 

In August and September 2008, two meetings were held for some 12 Palestinian and Israeli participants. One of the topics addressed was the role the media plays in depicting conflicts, specifically focusing on the use of images in relation to shaping and revealing conflict. In this vein, the participants watched a film on the topic, and then heard a lecture on images and conflict, which was delivered by an Israeli expert in the field. The participants engaged in a discussion surrounding the topic, and through this exchange and interaction, were able to further develop the personal and professional relationships between them. During the second meeting, the journalists were hosted for an "Iftar" meal (breaking of the Ramadan fast) in Jaffa, providing the women with an opportunity to learn about each other's cultures and traditions. The meetings were undertaken in partnership with, and through the support of, the Friedrich Naumann Foundation.

 

In October 2008, within the framework of the Peres Center's ten year anniversary event, a special roundtable meeting was held for program participants, led by guest instructor CNN’s Chief International Correspondent, Ms. Christiane Amanpour. Thirteen Palestinian and Israeli women journalists attended the meeting, in which Ms. Amanpour discussed the role of journalism and the specific role of “women” journalists, emphasizing the need for presenting the opinion of civil society. In regard to the Israeli and Palestinian journalists present, Ms. Amanpour suggested that networking – as they are doing through the "Wo.Me.N" project – may be a solution to the problem of censorship, and that through joint columns, the journalists can support each other in uncovering the truth. The Palestinian and Israeli journalists greatly benefited from Ms. Amanpour's input, and were inspired by her knowledge and extensive expertise resulting from years of covering numerous wars and conflicts around the globe.

 

This program falls within the Peres Center's joint workshops for Palestinian and Israeli journalists, which focuses on bringing such influential members of civil society together.