Media leaders from Senegal to Serbia gathered in Guatemala in October to take part in MDLF’s Media Forum 2007. Co-hosted with the country’s leading investigative daily, elPeriodico, 100 clients and other participants shared solutions to some of the most pressing needs of media in emerging democracies, in particular developments in technology.

We also report from one of the remotest parts of Indonesia, where new technology is helping provide thousands of people with their first access to old media. Radio news agency KBR68H is helping set up the first radio stations in the remote central highlands of Papua.

Finally, the director of Montenegro’s only independent daily, Vijesti, was recently beaten by men armed with baseball bats and metal rods. Zeljko Ivanovic, who was also one of the paper’s founders, is convinced that the assault was related to his newspaper's reporting.

Media leaders meet in Guatemala

More than 100 media leaders and other participants from over 20 countries came together at MDLF’s Media Forum 2007 in Antigua, Guatemala, in late October. Discussions ranged from investigative journalism to building brands, though the main focus was how news outlets can use dramatic changes in technology to their advantage. Read more here. Watch a video on B92's investigation into Serb nationalists' killing of civilians here.

Hydro-power helps radio reach remotest Papua

An eight-hour flight from Jakarta, the Central Highlands of Papua is one of the most isolated parts of Indonesia. Two years ago a lack of access to news and information contributed to scores of deaths from famine – unknown to people living in the worst affected areas, food was available in the nearest town. MDLF has been working with radio news agency KBR68H, a local non-profit and the Royal Netherlands Government to bring radio to some of the remotest areas. September 2007 saw the launch of two local stations. A lack of electricity in the region was just one of the difficulties the project had to face. Read the full story here. Watch a short video on how the stations were set up here.

Montenegro journalist attacked

Zeljko Ivanovic, founder and director of Vijesti daily in Montenegro, was attacked early on the morning of 2 September in Podgorica and beaten with metal rods and baseball bats as he left a restaurant celebrating the 10th anniversary of his newspaper. Mr Ivanovic suspects the attack was related to his newspaper's journalism and doubts the integrity of the investigation into the assault. Read more here.