East Timor has as well begun setting up a National Network with Fransisco “Chico” DaSilva as National Coordinator. The National Secretariat is based at the Timor Leste Media Development Center in Dili. The training program on “Conflict Sensitive Journalism in South East Asia” has a new partner with the International Institute for Journalism of InWEnt, Germany. The program expanded its outreach to East Timor and Indonesia with further expansion planned for 2008. The National Secretariat Philippines still enjoys fruitful cooperation with Misereor on a number of national activities and has with Jay Malaga a new Chief of Operations.
In Togo, Western Africa Coordinator Berry Afanvi has set up Togo’s first newspaper in English language. And more and more colleagues are getting involved with the network, willing to dedicate themselves to a high quality and conflict sensitive journalism around the globe. Despite all the exciting developments, PECOJON members were also facing tough times during the past year. Especially events in the Philippines sometimes let our hair stand straight: A team of GMA7 got caught in a firefight between soldiers of the Armed Forces of the Philippines and a group of fighters who were suspected to be members of the Abu Sayyaf and/or of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front in Basilan. Good luck the team was able to make their way out without serious injuries. A team of ABS-CBN had to be pulled out of Northern Mindanao during the elections due to serious death threats, and during the first week of December a group of journalists including several of our fellows were arrested while covering a coup attempt in Manila. How do we respond to this kind of developments? How can we better support each other in extreme situations but also in our daily work? What can we contribute to guarantee unlimited access to reliable information? Those are the questions that will keep us busy this year. PECOJON is growing fast and the dynamics of events and developments sometimes leave us gasping for air while trying to keep up. However, this coming year will see us getting things into systematic shape. The PECOJON manual is in finalizing state and the membership administration leaves the state of creative chaos behind. With all organizational and administrative structures set we should have the hands free then to fully focus on the challenges out there. And as usual we are about to face lots of challenges.
What else is new?
Challenges are part of the job, aren’t they?
So let’s take it on and keeping up. I am looking forward to another year at your side, struggling for the dignity of our profession, for quality and courage, and of course enjoying the pleasure of the game. So, are we ready? Then: Welcome 2008, show what you have! As always, at your service Antonia Koop | 
