IPS is delighted to announce new language services distributing translations of IPS news in Czech, Hungarian, Polish and Hebrew. Translation of IPS news into different languages is a vital contribution toward increasing our audiences and bridging divides between peoples.

The services in Czech, Hungarian and Polish are the fruit of a successful project application to the European Union which resulted in 3 years of funding (2010-2012) for reporting on the Millennium Development Goals and poverty-related issues. With a specific target to reach wider audiences in the EU, financing for the Czech, Hungarian and Polish services is included in the project budget. Our partner in the work is the International Network of Street Papers (INSP) and IPS is working with translators attached to their street newspapers in the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland.

Hebrew came about through an approach from a university lecturer in Jerusalem who particularly values the IPS perspective on globalization. He is using IPS stories both as a teaching aid and to share more widely through contributions to the blog www.haokets.org . In a pilot initiative IPS and the academic blogger have agreed a licencing agreement for his translations of IPS news into Hebrew, with the hope that paying clients can be found to finance a sustainable and expanded Hebrew service.

Within a harsh climate for media financing, working together with likeminded partner organisations and individuals is a great way for IPS to continue to expand the reach and impact of its news service.