ABSTRACT
The fight for a strong independent press in Central and Eastern Europe, despite stubborn dictatorial opposition, has reached significant milestones and generated important lessons for global media assistance elsewhere. Journalists continue to be harassed, jailed and killed. News outlets are peremptorily shut down. Cronyism rewards party faithful, and independent media are hit with punitive taxes. Print media often feel the choke hold of paper supplies, printing presses and distribution networks closed to them. Universities must reinvent themselves to become trusted and legitimate training grounds for future journalists. The Freedom Forum spent millions creating and operating journalism libraries in the major capitals of the region, giving journalists and students Internet and computer resources, and running training programs, professional fellowships and conferences. The focus on the media in Central and Eastern Europe spawned the Independent Journalism Foundation with its successful media training centers in Prague, Bratislava, Budapest and Bucharest.
