Mesa Refuge offers writing residency [US]

Journalists, essayists, economists, naturalists, screenwriters and other writers can apply for a writing residency program.

The Mesa Refuge, located in Point Reyes Station, California, provides time, space and solitude for writers to delve into their work. Topics related to nature, the human economy and social equity receive priority.

The next sessions available are Sept. 21 to Oct. 4; Oct. 5 to 18; Oct. 19 to Nov. 1; and Nov. 2 to 15.

Room and most dinners are provided at no cost, but participants must pay for their own travel.

The deadline is June 1. There is a US$40 application fee.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

World Press Freedom Day: IPC to launch Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI); calls for prompt Presidential assent of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill

To mark the 2018 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has announced the launch of the “The Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)”, which is scheduled to take place on May 2^nd 2018.

Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said in a statement that “The Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)” aims to advance the right to freedom of expression for online journalists in Nigeria and that It is premised on ensuring that internet spaces and online platforms are safe and free of institutional limitations for journalists and other media practitioners to use as mediums of information and engagement.

He further stated that as part of the project, a research report titled “Issues in frameworks, freedom of expression and Internet rights in Nigeria: A baseline research by the Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)” will be presented and disseminated to stakeholder groups in the freedom of expression community as a key feature of the official launch of the NJIRI.

Mr. Arogundade explained that IPC recognizes the need to use the WPFD to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991. In line with this, IPC therefore calls for the prompt Assent of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.

A Tweet Conference session will be held as part of the Launch, focusing on the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on December 19, 2017, and was similarly passed by the Senate, on March 13. The piece of legislation that is proposed for “an act to provide for the Protection of Human Rights Online, To Protect Internet Users in Nigeria From Infringement of their Fundamental Freedoms and to Guarantee Application of Human Rights for users of Digital platform and/or digital Media and for Related Matters. IPC will use this session to address new challenges to Journalists Press Freedom Online in Nigeria, increasing awareness on the Bill and to engage Stakeholders to advocate for prompt Presidential assent of the Bill. Presentations will be delivered by representatives of Paradigm Initiative, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the (Online) Nation Newspaper.

NJIRI is being supported by International Freedom of Exchange (IFEX), an international freedom of expression organization headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Olutoyin Ayoade

Communications Officer

International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos

+2348114503887

tayoade@ipcng.org

NaijaGems Photo Contest approaches deadline [Nigeria]

Amateur and professional photographers ages 21 and older can submit their pictures to this contest.

The NaijaGems Photo Contest, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and the United States Diplomatic Mission in Nigeria, seeks positive stories of Nigeria in pictures.

Entries must be uploaded to Flickr with a short description of the location and why the object or scene is important to that community, state or the nation.

The first, second and third place winners will receive a Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, a Canon EOS 80D with Len and a Canon EOS Rebel T7i with Len, respectively. 

The deadline is May 4.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

FNF Award seeks applications for courageous journalists [MENA]

Journalists and organizations across the Arab world can be nominated for an award in Germany.

The Friedrich Naumann Foundation for Freedom (FNF), a German foundation for liberal politics, seeks applications for this year’s Raif Badawi Award for courageous journalists.

The purpose of the award is to honor journalists and media organizations from predominantly Muslim countries and to call attention to the human rights violations in this field.

Nominations can be in English or German and must include links to relevant articles or publications in the original language.

The deadline is June 1.

For more information on how to submit a nomination, click here.

CLEW hosts media study tour on Germany's coal [Worldwide]

Journalists interested in energy, environmental or climate policy can apply to attend this free program.

Clean Energy Wire (CLEW) is hosting a media study tour June 17 to 20 in Germany. This tour's theme is "Germany’s historic coal year 2018: Is the world’s largest lignite producer finally facing the dark side of the Energiewende?"

Journalists will visit the country`s industrial heartland of North Rhine-Westphalia and learn about the last two remaining hard coal mines that will shut down this year and post-coal business projects.

The organizer will provide food, accommodations and local transportation. Participants can apply for 60 percent reimbursement for land-based travel or 40 percent reimbursement for air travel. Full travel reimbursement is also available.

The program will be held in German and English.

The deadline is May 5.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

TruthBuzz Fellowship seeks applications from media professionals [Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nigeria, US]

English-speaking media professionals in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Nigeria and the United States can apply for this fellowship.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), with the support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, has launched the

TruthBuzz Fellowship, which is part of an initiative designed to find new ways to help verified facts reach the widest possible audience.

Fellows will be embedded with two to three partner media organizations in each of their countries to spur the production of compelling stories that fact-check and debunk misinformation. The six-month fellowship will start between June-August.

The selected applicants will first attend an orientation in Washington, followed by additional training in-country from First Draft News and ICFJ on the principles and techniques of fact-checking, verification and visual storytelling.

The fellowship will provide a monthly honorarium and professional allowance to supplement the fellows' work with partner newsrooms.

Media organizations interested in combating misinformation can apply to partner with the initiative and work side-by-side with a fellow to make their fact-checking compelling.

Apply now. Interviews will be conducted as soon as appropriate candidates are identified. ICFJ may close applications if it selects a fellow before May 20, so submit your application as soon as possible.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

BuzzFeed seeks freelance translators [Worldwide]

Experienced translators can apply for this freelance opportunity.

BuzzFeed is looking for freelance translators for written and video content in several languages including English, Spanish (European, Mexican, Latin American), Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, Korean, Italian, Arabic and more.

Responsibilities are part-time basis and projects will be assigned as needed.

Candidates must have fluency in the target language and source language as well proficiency in English; previous experience translating written or video content; familiarity with the BuzzFeed style; an availability to accept assignments as needed.

Apply now.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Friends Provident Foundation accepting proposals for journalism fellowships [UK]

Journalists, writers, documentarians and digital media professionals can apply for this fellowship.

The Friends Provident Foundation organizes its Journalist Fellowship to support and widely communicate new ideas about how to build a fair and more resilient economy to drive a better world. 

The fellow will receive financial and editorial support to produce a body of work that communicates alternative, economically coherent ideas in an engaging way. Possible proposals include books, digital journalism, short films or other digital productions. 

The fellowship provides GBP45,000 for the one-year period.

The deadline is June 7.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

European Forum Alpbach focuses on diversity, resilience workshop for journalists [Central, Eastern Europe]

Journalists who work in Central and Eastern Europe and have at least a year of professional experience can apply for this program.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation, in partnership with the European Forum Alpbach, is organizing the workshop

"Diversity and resilience in a rapidly changing world," which will take place Aug. 25 to 31 in Alpbach, Austria.

The workshop will focus on the impact of rapid technological and social change on the lives of different communities.

Participants must commit to writing one article that will be published in their media.

The organizers cover visa, travel, accommodation costs and participation fee.

The deadline is May 31.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Abraji offers fact-checking workshops [Brazil]

Journalists, students and others interested in fact-checking can sign up for free training.

The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (Abraji, in Portuguese) and Agência Lupa offer fact-checking workshops and training on news reporting based on public information.

The Abraji-Lupa Circuit consists of online and on-site workshops aimed at training more than 1,000 journalists ahead of Brazil's 2018 elections.

The training tour begins with an on-site workshop May 5 in Recife and includes Porto Alegre, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.

The deadline varies according to the city.

For more information on how to apply (in Portuguese), click here.

Falling Walls Foundation offers fellowship for science conference [Worldwide]

Journalists and bloggers interested in advancing their knowledge of science can apply for a fellowship to attend a conference in Germany.

The  Falling Walls Foundation seeks candidates with at least three years of professional journalism or blogging experience in which they have written about science.

The fellows will have the opportunity to visit the Falling Walls Lab and attend the Falling Walls Conference on Nov. 8 and 9 in Berlin.

The fellowship includes travel expenses, accommodations for three nights, meals and conference fees. 

The deadline is June 24.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

MCCI Offers funds for investigative projects [Mexico]

Journalists living in Mexico can apply for funding and mentorship.

Mexicanos contra la Corrupción y la Impunidad (MCCI) is looking for investigative projects. Journalists and teams are invited to present investigative journalism proposals related to corruption in the judiciary.

Projects should address at least one of the following areas: corruption in the judiciary (local or federal);negligence in the systems of justice; illegal sentences and confabulation of the judicial branch with other power structures.

The four selected projects will receive mentorship, editorial advice and a maximum of MXN25,000 per month.

The deadline is May 23.

For more information on how to apply (in Spanish), click here.

Blue Mountain Center focuses on social justice journalism [US]

Journalists whose projects reflect a concern for social justice can apply for this award.

The Richard J. Margolis Award of Blue Mountain Center is given annually to a journalist or essayist who has combined humor and wisdom to address social issues.

The winner will receive a US$5,000 prize, along with a one-month residency at Blue Mountain Center, a writers and artists colony in Blue Mountain Lake, New York.

The award was created in honor of Richard J. Margolis, a journalist, essayist and poet who brought light to hardships faced by subgroups including migrant farm workers, the elderly and Native Americans.

The deadline is July 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Media Award focuses conflict reporting [MENA]

Journalists reporting in conflict zones can be nominated for an award.

The Khaled Alkhateb Memorial Awards for Best Journalism from a Conflict Zone will honor the work of those media professionals and organizations who strive to shed light on the complexities and ramifications of continuous war and armed conflict.

The awards were established by RT’s Editor-in-Chief Margarita Simonyan in memory of independent war correspondent Khaled Alkhateb, who was killed by an ISIS shell in 2017 in Syria. 

The contest has three categories: short film, feature film and written report. Works must have been published or broadcast between Jan. 1, 2017 and May 1, 2018. Entries must be submitted with an English translation or subtitles.

The deadline is May 25.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Grants for climate change, environment available [Asia]

Media organizations, journalism networks, community groups, universities and journalism schools can apply for a grant.

The Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is selecting proposals for its Bay of Bengal Organizational Grants.

The grants aim to support the generation of media reports on climate change, environment and natural resource management issues; disseminate news and information to the most vulnerable communities and policymakers; and boost the voices of marginalized groups (women, youth and indigenous people) who are most at risk of clim
ate change and environmental problems.

Applications should include content production as well as some form of networking, knowledge sharing and/or capacity-building component in the Bay of Bengal region – specifically in the coastal regions of four Indian states ((Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Orissa, West Bengal) and coastal and floodplain areas of Bangladesh.

The typical grant will be for up to US$15,000 and support a one-year project.

The deadline is May 18.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Plural youth video festival open [Worldwide]

Filmmakers ages 25 and younger are invited to submit films on migration, diversity and social inclusion.

PLURAL+ Youth Video Festival is a competition sponsored by the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations(UNAOC) and the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Videos must be less than 5 minutes long and include English subtitles.

There are three age-based categories and the Award for the Prevention of Xenophobia. Winners will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to New York to attend the PLURAL+ 2018 Festival and Awards Ceremony.

The deadline is June 3.

For more information on how to enter (in Arabic, English, French and Spanish), click here.

Society of Professional Journalists offers scholarships [US]

Minority, professional and student journalists can apply for scholarships to attend a conference.

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) offers scholarships for journalists to attend the 2018 Excellence in Journalism Conference, organized by SPJ and the Radio Television Digital News Association.

The 2018 Excellence in Journalism Conference will take place Sept. 27 to 29 in Baltimore.

The Dory Maynard Diversity Leadership Fellows Program is open to journalists who have at least three years of professional experience and are persons of color or from underrepresented groups. Fellows will receive convention registration, accommodation and airfare.

The Terry Harper Memorial Scholarships will award professional journalists with convention registration, accommodation and airfare.

The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism will provide five students with convention registration and up to US$580 for travel expenses.

Applicants must be current SPJ members. The deadline is June 5, except for the Columbia Journalism School Student Fellowships, which is May 18.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Case New Holland accepting entries economic reporting contest [Brazil]

Print and online journalists and photojournalists can apply for this competition.

Case New Holland (CNH), an agricultural and construction equipment business, is inviting entries for its journalism prize that highlights articles written in Portuguese about Brazil’s economy.

The competition has four categories: agriculture, construction, transportation and macroeconomics. Each category will offer a BRL15,000 prize for news reports and BRL5,000 for photojournalism.

Works must have been published in Brazil between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018

The deadline is July 31.

For more information on how to apply (in Portuguese), click here.

Workshop on investigative sports reporting available [Africa]

Journalists who work for a domestic media outlet can apply for a scholarship to attend this free training. The Thomson Reuters Foundation, as part of the Sports and Society program, is hosting the workshop "Investigative sports reporting" Aug. 20 to 24 in Lagos, Nigeria.

The workshop will build the capacity of journalists to report on how sports is run in their own country or wider region. Participants are expected to develop story ideas that can be pursued after the workshop. Modest funding will be available to help cover the costs of reporting their story.

The organizer will cover travel and expenses of participating journalists.

The deadline is June 11.

For more information on how to apply (in English), click here.

Logan Nonfiction Program offers fellowship [Worldwide]

Journalists, documentary filmmakers, photographers and multimedia producers working on longform, deeply reported nonfiction projects are invited to apply for this fellowship.

The Logan Nonfiction Program is accepting candidates for the fall 2018 fellowship, which will run from October to December at the Carey Institute for Global Good in Rensselaerville, New York.

The program seeks to support democracy by advancing independent journalistic inquiry and investigation. Applicants must submit a proposal on socially relevant political, health, environmental, human rights and justice topics.

Professionals who work in languages other than English are encouraged to apply but must have a working knowledge of English.

The fellowship provides lodging, meals, mentorship and community for up to 10 weeks. 

The deadline is June 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Science writing competition open [US]

Journalists ages 30 and younger who cover scientific issues can apply for the Evert Clark/Seth Payne Award.

The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing (CASW) created the award to encourage young science writers by recognizing outstanding reporting and writing in any field of science.

Works must have been published between July 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018.

Both freelancers and staff writers are eligible. Science writing includes, but is not limited to, writing in the biological, physical, environmental, computer and space sciences, along with technology, mathematics, health and science policy. 

The winner will receive US$1,000 and expenses to attend ScienceWriters 2018 Oct. 12 to 16 in Washington.

The deadline is June 30.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

UNESCO organizes photo contest [Africa]

Photographers ages 18 to 28 can enter this contest.

UNESCO's World Heritage Center, in collaboration with the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), is organizing a photo contest to promote African World Heritage and the importance of the World Heritage Convention in Africa.

Applicants must share their photo of an African site inscribed on the World Heritage List with the hashtag #MyAfricanHeritage and follow UNESCO on Instagram.

The first, second and third place winners will receive a trip to Tanzania, South Africa and Cabo Verde, respectively. The top four to 10 winners will have their photos showcased on the organizers' websites.

The deadline is April 30.

For more information on how to enter, click here.

Center Festival launches Documentary contest [Russia]

Russian documentarians can compete in this contest.

The Center Festival, an annual documentary film festival about urban culture and contemporary society, invites submissions for its documentary contest.

The competition accepts documentaries about street culture, fashion, travel, the young generation and the heroes of our time, technology and public and political issues. All films must take place in a city.

The winner will receive RUB100,000 cash prize.

The deadline is July 15.

For more information on how to apply (in Russian), click here.

NewsU offers free webinar on mass shootings reporting [Worldwide]

Journalists interested in best practices in covering mass violence can register for this online course.

News University, the Poynter Institute e-learning project, is offering the course "Covering mass shootings" at 2 p.m. EDT May 31.

Participants will learn the best methods for informing the public of mass shooting scenarios, accurate language for describing suspected mental health issues and tips on details that can contribute to contagion.

The instructor is Dr. Dan Reidenberg, executive director of Suicide Awareness Voices of Education (SAVE), and Kelly McBride, vice president at the Poynter Institute. 

This course is sponsored by SAVE.

Registration is free and ongoing.

For more information on how to register, click here.

Escuela de Periodismo organizes workshop on Africa reporting [Spain]

Journalists can register for this workshop.

The Escuela de Periodismo UAM/El País is organizing a one-day workshop on Africa reporting April 28 in Madrid.

The workshop will address some of the essential aspects when reporting on areas of conflict and humanitarian crises in Africa. The stereotyped image of the continent will also be discussed.

The instructor, freelance journalist José Naranjo, will give recommendations to report positively on African issues.

Registration is ongoing until spaces are filled. The cost is EUR25.

For more information (in Spanish), click here.

AMWAJ offers media fellowship for social issues [MENA]

Professional journalists, journalism students and entrepreneurs ages 20 to 35 can participate in a workshop in Barcelona, Spain.

AMWAJ (“waves” in Arabic) is an international sustainability and entrepreneurship forum to be held by Revolve Media Oct. 29 to 30.

The program shares socially innovative ideas, best practices and practical solutions to build inclusive societies for a sustainable future in the MENA region.

AMWAJ will present a special award for social entrepreneurship in the MENA region.

The organizers will cover travel and accommodations for selected participants.

The deadline is June 30.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Bodley Head organizes essay competition [Worldwide]

Writers ages 35 and younger can compete for a prize.

The Bodley Head/Financial Times Essay Prize seeks to discover the world's best young talent in longform essay writing.

Entries must be in English and have no more than 3,500 words. Any nonfiction topic will be accepted, but the work must not have been previously published in any language.

The winner will receive GBP1,000 (US$1,432), an e-publication with Bodley Head and a mentoring session with the FT/Bodley Head. Two runners-up will each receive GBP500 (US$716) and an e-publication.

The deadline is May 31.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Society of Professional Journalists seeks conference interns [US]

Journalism students can apply to cover this conference Sept. 27 to 29 in Baltimore. 

The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) is looking for 10 interns for the 2018 Excellence in Journalism Conference, organized by SPJ and the Radio Television Digital News Association.

Interns will report for the EIJ News, using a variety of digital approaches including video, social, audio, photos, written stories.

SPJ provides registration, accommodation, some meals, mentoring by professional journalists and networking venues. Interns must pay for their own travel to and from Baltimore.

The deadline is April 30.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Qrant for health documentaries available [Brazil]

Documentarians focusing on public health can compete for a grant.

Brazil's Vice Presidency of Education, Information and Communication (VPEIC/Fiocruz) and the Health Institute of Communication and Scientific and Technological Information (ICICT/Fiocruz) organize a contest to support audiovisual productions.

The competition invites original and unpublished audiovisual projects that disseminate knowledge and stimulate debates on public health issues. Possible topics include primary health care, family health, neglected, communicable and noncommunicable diseases, teenage pregnancy, breastfeeding, mental health and more.

Seven projects, including one animation and six documentaries, will receive BRL85,000 to BRL220,000, in addition to the Fiocruz Video Seal.

The deadline is June 6.

For more information on how to apply (in Portuguese), click here.

Reporting on cooperation with EU competition open [Kazakhstan]

Journalists ages 18 to 35 can enter this competition.

The contest "European Union-Kazakhstan: 25 years of partnership and cooperation," organized by the Delegation of the European Union to the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Kazmedia School, celebrates the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the European Union and Kazakhstan.

Participants must submit entries (text, video or audio) in Kazakh, Russian or English on the cooperation between the EU and Kazakhstan.

Three winners will take part in a weeklong internship program to study EU institutions and media in Brussels. They will also participate in daily briefings of the European Commission and get an insight into the work of the EU.

The deadline is April 30.

For more information on how to enter (in Russian and Kazakh), click here.

Fellowship for journalists from developing countries available [Worldwide]

Journalists ages 22 to 35 from several developing countries and countries in transition can apply for a fellowship.

The Reham Al-Farra (RAF) Memorial Journalists Fellowship Program, established by the United Nations, provides journalists with an opportunity to gain first-hand experience in the work of the United Nations in New York. It is also an opportunity to meet journalists from other countries and exchange ideas with UN communication professionals. 

The 2018 fellowship will take place Sept. 16 to Oct. 6. The program is open to journalists from around the world, typically selecting about 15 candidates, each from a different country. Participants will receive airfare and a daily allowance.

The deadline to apply is May 7. 

For more information on how to apply, click here.