After three years of tentative, the Roma Journalists’ Association (AJRr) was set up.  According to a press release, this is a project initiated and financed by the Center for Independent Journalism (CJI), and supported by Amare Romentza.

AJRr has five founders: George Lacatus, investigation journalist at Cotidianul – president; Ciprian Mailat – head of the economic department from Evenimentul Zilei – executive director; Zoltan Petru – journalist at Jurnalul National; Boby Neacsu – journalist at Financairul; and Antoaneta Etves, journalist at Evenimentul Zilei.

The main goal of AJRr is to promote media quality standards in the relation Roma – mass-media. In this regard, the founders intend to organize trainings for journalists relating about Roma from the central media, in order to eliminate from their articles the stereotypes and prejudices.

At the same time, AJRr intends to organize trainings for Roma journalists, similar to the programs organized by CJI, and followed by the founders too. AJRr intends also to monitor the way mass media relate about Roma and will draw attention on the materials that don’t respect the principles of objective relating about Roma.

The Association, which just started its activity, would be glad to cooperate with any Roma association that has common objectives and is interested in gaining experience in NGO activities’ trainings. (DIVERS - www.divers.ro)