Medialink: New program to promote Asia-Australia media exchange

The Asialink Center at The University of Melbourne has established a new media program, Medialink, to link media in the Asia-Australia region through information and personnel exchanges. Part of the program will see Australian media workers and students working in Asian news organizations and vice versa. Medialink was launched in Melbourne in December by Indonesian editor Mr Gunawan Mohamad, founder and editor of the news magazine Tempo which was banned in 1994but defied the government by going on-line until it was allowed to resume publishing in 1998. "We should not underestimate the importance of exchanges. Creating this exchange program is commendable," said Gunawan, best known for his writings against the Suharto Government. The program will offer fellowships of up to $A12,000 each for in-country residencies for three to 12 months. The fellowships provide an opportunity for media personnel- producers, script writers, photographers, technicians, reporters - to be exposed to the politics and culture as well as media technology and procedures of another country in the region.