Editors and journalists from independent local newspapers gathered in Znin, Poland, to discuss financial matters relating to newspaper production at the 13th meeting for editors of the local press.

The private event, which was held Dec. 3-5 at the editorial offices of "Paluki," was the fourth this year for the group of about 20 representatives of Poland's local press. The gathering was sponsored by the Institute for Democracy in Eastern Europe (IDEE) with the Foundation for Cultural Initiatives, known by the Polish acronym FIK, of Radomsko. FIK received a grant from the Stefan Batory Foundation of Warsaw to organize a series of journalistic workshops, according to Elzbieta Oyrzanowska, media program coordinator at the Batory Foundation, which is Poland's national foundation in the network organized by the Open Society Institute-Budapest.

Representatives of Poland's local press have been gathering in this way since 1994. The event has its roots in a series of contests sponsored by the IDEE Foundation from 1991 though 1994 to encourage the growth of independent local journalism in the post-communist country. Winners of the final contest decided that there was something to be gained from gathering regularly to share experiences and knowledge of professional journalism. Each of the newspapers in turn are hosts for the meetings, which are devoted to various problems that independent local newspapers face. The meeting delegates have shared their knowledge beyond Poland's borders as well, hosting journalists from local newspapers in CIS countries and offering trainings in Belarus and Ukraine's Crimea region.

For more information about IDEE and its initiatives contact Fundacja IDEE, skr. poczt. 311, 00-950 Warszawa, Poland. Tel: (48-22) 627-1845. Tel./fax: (48-22) 627-1846. E-mail: idee@pingwin.icm.edu.pl. Web site: http://sunsite.icm.edu.pl/idee/. Contact the Batory Foundation at Fundacja im. Stefana Batorego, Ul. Flory 9, 00-586 Warszawa, Poland. Tel: (48-22) 488-055. Fax: (48-22) 493-561. E-mail: batory@batory.org.pl. Web site: http://www.batory.org.pl.