ILO focuses on coverage of labor migration [Worldwide]

Professional journalists are invited to submit articles or videos/multimedia to this contest.

The International Labor Organization (ILO) is accepting entries for its 2018 global media competition. 

The contest aims to show the positive results of good labor migration governance while not overlooking the negative aspects (e.g. often a hard reality of exploitation and violation of human and labor rights), and highlight the positive contribution of migrant workers to countries of origin, transit and destination.

There are two thematic areas: labor migration aspects and fair recruitment of migrant workers. The categories are media reports (online, print articles and radio production) and photo essay/multimedia. Articles should not exceed 8,000 words and videos/audio should not be longer than 10 minutes. 

Entries in other languages than English, French and Spanish must include a translation.

Four winners will receive US$1,000 each. 

The deadline is Oct. 31.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

EJC seeks data intern [Europe]

College students fluent in English can apply for this position.

The European Journalism Centre (EJC) is seeking an intern to support the launch of a data journalism learning platform.

Responsibilities include developing a database of data journalism resources; creating a list of data journalism influencers; mapping data journalism courses; and more.

The internship will last one to three months and be based in Brussels, preferably.

The deadline is Oct. 14.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

ICFJ offers seminar on sustainable journalism models [Mexico]

Journalists from large and small newsrooms, freelancers, media managers, entrepreneurs and other professionals with an interest in the media business can attend this event in Mexico City.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), with support from Civil Media Company, is organizing the seminar "Construyendo modelos de periodismo sostenible en México" ("Building models of sustainable journalism in Mexico") Oct. 8 and 9.

Jordy Meléndez of Distintas Latitudes, Tania L. Montalvo of Animal Político, Sandra Romandía of La Silla Rota and Úrsula O'Kuinghttons of Civil will share their experience as founders and media directors, and provide insight into the Mexican digital media landscape and the most common opportunities and challenges for entrepreneurs.

Up to 10 entrepreneurs will have the opportunity to elevate their pitches to the panelists, who will award a small cash prize to the top proposals.

Registration is free, but spots are limited. The deadline is Oct. 7.

For more information (in Spanish), click here.

Multimedia storytelling training program available [Central Asia]

Journalists, photographers and videographers, among others, who want to learn to develop multimedia projects can apply for this program.

Internews is launching the School of Multimedia Storytelling. The program accepts applications from individuals and groups.

Participants will learn about methods and technologies that can be used to create multimedia projects. The program is focused on three areas: content, design and production process for multimedia stories.

The training will include two intensive workshops that will be held Oct. 19 to 21 and Nov. 2 to 4 in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, and an online mentorship stage. Students will present their projects during the final part of the program that will take place Dec. 21 to 23 in Bishkek.

Internews will cover expenses for projects' development.

The deadline is Oct. 12.

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

Trampos Academy hosts data journalism course [Brazil]

Journalists and journalism students interested in data reporting can register for this course.

Trampos Academy will host a data journalism course at 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Oct. 9, 10, 16 and 17 in São Paulo.

Topics include how to create strategies focused on engaging and informing; how to transform stacks of data, spreadsheets and information into captivating stories; the best tools and techniques for organizing, cleaning, analyzing and viewing data; and data journalism practices and the structure of a data story.

The instructor is Sérgio Spagnuolo, founder of data journalism agency Volt Data Lab and TruthBuzz fellow.

The deadline is Oct. 2. Registration costs BRL820.

For more information click on how to register, click here.

Cultural Survival offers grants for indigenous community radio [Southern Africa, Latin America, India, Nepal]

Indigenous community radio stations can apply for grants.

Cultural Survival offers Indigenous Community Media Grants to empower Indigenous-owned and Indigenous-led community radio. The maximum fund per project is US$8,000.

Organizations must be based in Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Bolivia, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Nepal, Northern India, Botswana, Namibia or South Africa. 

Proposals can be in Spanish, English, Russian, Nepali, Sunuwar, Hindi, K’iche’, Mam or Didxazá (Zapoteco del Itsmo). 

The deadline to submit a concept proposal is Oct. 18.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Human rights: Mobile film festival accepting entries [Worldwide]

Professional and amateur filmmakers are invited to make a one-minute video about standing up for human rights.

The Mobile Film Festival, in partnership with the United Nations, is accepting submissions from around the world. 

Films must be shot with a mobile and include subtitles in their original language via Dotsub. 

About 50 videos will be chosen as the official selection. From Nov. 6 to 27, online visitors will be able to vote for the winner of the audience award. He or she will travel to Paris for a week to participate in the awards ceremony. 

The grand prize winner in three categories will receive EUR20,000 (US$23,561) to finance the production of a short film and will benefit from the support of a producer to complete the project. Other prizes include best director and screenplay.

The deadline is Oct. 11.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

ProPublica offers fellowships [US]

Budding journalists can apply for a fellowship.

The Scripps Howard Foundation, in partnership with the Scripps News Washington Bureau/Newsy and ProPublica, is offering a fellowship program June 2019 to June 2020.

Fellows will work at either Scripps News Washington Bureau/Newsy or ProPublica, focusing on one of these tracks: investigative reporting, engagement reporting, data reporting, multimedia storytelling or newsroom 360.

Candidates must demonstrate their potential in their preferred specialty and be committed to telling stories about abuses of power. 

The fellowship offers US$50,000 and full benefits.

The deadline is Oct. 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Salon workshop focuses on journalism , social media [Syria]

Experienced journalists from Syria ages 20 to 39 can apply for an all-expenses-paid workshop in Beirut, Lebanon.

The Salon Syria workshop, a project that aims to improve the professional journalistic standards, will take place Oct. 27 to 29 in the American University of Beirut (AUB).

The workshop will build the capacity of journalists to report on ‎professionalism and politics, journalism during the war, journalism and social media, and more. The training will be held in Arabic.

Journalists will have the opportunity to collaborate with Salon Syria, after the workshop.

The organizer will cover travel and expenses of participating journalists. 

The deadline is Oct. 5.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Funding for innovation in video journalism available [Worldwide]

Publishers, broadcasters, agencies, video creators and production companies can apply for funding.

The Google News Initiative (GNI) YouTube Innovation Funding will provide up to US$250,000 to support news organizations in building sustainable, innovative video operations.

Applicants must demonstrate a scrupulous approach to journalistic practices and at least a basic level of video production and operations expertise, and manage a YouTube channel with a minimum of 50,000 subscribers.

Eligible organizations must be based in Argentina, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, Germany, Greater China, Finland, France, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Philippines, Poland, United Kingdom, United States, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Thailand or Vietnam.

The deadline is Oct. 12.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Journalism Institute launches business model challenge [US]

Journalism entrepreneurs can apply for a new grant.

The Lenfest Institute for Journalism has launched the Local News Business Model Challenge.

The challenge will offer a total US$350,000 in grants of up to US$50,000 each for projects that explore new business models for sustainable local news and information organizations. 

Projects should improve on existing models like subscriptions or membership, advertising or events — and explore new ways of sustaining a local news business. 

The deadline to apply is Oct. 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Photojournalism contest open [South America]

Photojournalists and amateur photographers can compete in this contest.

The New Holland Award for Photojournalism, sponsored by farm equipment manufacturer New Holland,honors works that portray rural life and agricultural work in South America.

The competition selects photographs to be part of a traveling exhibition in major cities. Photos must have been taken within two years prior to the deadline.

Cash prizes range from BRL5,000 (US$1,211) to BRL15,000 (US$3,636). Photos that do not receive prizes but are selected for exhibition will be acquired for BRL600 (US$145) each.

The deadline is Dec. 15.

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

Fellowship seeks media professional [US]

Media experts with a track record of success leading innovative projects in newsrooms can apply for the TruthBuzz fellowship.

The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ), with the support of Craig Newmark Philanthropies, is looking for an experienced and driven media professional based in the United States to help verified facts reach the widest possible audience.

The U.S. fellow will join a global team of fellows from Brazil, Nigeria, Indonesia and India, each working closely with local news partners to improve the reach and impact of fact-checking and help “inoculate” audiences against false or misleading information. Fellows will experiment with different storytelling methods and platforms to reach more people. 

The selected candidate will be embedded with two partner media organizations, News & Observer and PolitiFact, to spur the production of their fact-checked content in innovative and compelling ways. The position is ideally based in Raleigh, North Carolina.

The yearlong fellowship aims to start in late October/early November. The fellow will first attend an orientation Oct. 24 to 26 in Washington, followed by additional training 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.

The deadline is Oct. 8.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Nieman Foundation offers Journalism fellowship launched [Worldwide]

Journalists who cover the environment, health, technology or another science topic can apply for this new fellowship at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Nieman Foundation for Journalism has created the Harry M. Davis Nieman Fellowship in Science Journalism.

The selected journalist will spend the 2019-2020 academic year, joining two dozen journalists from around the world in the Nieman class of 2020.

The fellowship provides a stipend for the year and the opportunity to take classes at other local universities, including MIT and Tufts.

The deadline is Dec. 1, 2018 for international journalists and Jan. 31, 2019 for U.S. journalists.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Photography competition accepting entries [UK, Ireland]

Photographers ages 18 and older in the United Kingdom and Ireland can enter this contest.

National Geographic Traveller (UK) is accepting entries for its Photography Competition 2019. 

Photos can be submitted in one of five categories: cities, food, nature, people and portfolio. 

The grand winner will participate in a masterclass in landscape techniques and photography filtration in the Tatra Mountains, Slovakia. The portfolio winner will be awarded a photography tour of Chamonix, in the French Alps, for two. And category winners will receive a travel tripod worth GBP175.

The deadline for entries is Dec. 9.

For more information on how to enter, click here.

Vkratce! Film contest accepting entries [Worldwide]

Filmmakers worldwide can enter this competition.

The contest "Vkratce!" will be held as part of a Russian and German short films festival, organized by Russia's NGO Open City with the support of the Goethe Institute. The event will take place from March to April 2019 in Volgograd, Russia.

Short fiction, documentary, animation, and experimental films must be no longer than 30 minutes and must have been created after Jan. 1, 2018.

Films in other languages must include English and Russian subtitles.

Winners will receive diplomas and trophies.

Participation is free. The early deadline is Nov. 25; the regular deadline is Dec. 15. The late deadline is Jan. 5, 2019.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Story Fellowship launched [US]

Journalists interested in solutions journalism can apply for this virtual program.

The Solutions Journalism Network is launching the 2019 Story Fellowship, an opportunity to spotlight high-caliber journalism and engage communities around solutions-focused and results-oriented news stories.

Fellows will analyze, index and curate solutions journalism stories, while acquiring experience in the growing field of the digital humanities. The fellowship runs from January 2019 to January 2020.

Applicants do not need to be journalists but have an avid interest in critically reading it and in developing an expertise in a particular coverage area. Fellows work 10 hours per week and receive US$15 per hour.

The deadline is Oct. 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Course on opinion writing available [Latin America, Spain]

Anyone interested in opinion writing can register for this online course in Spanish.

Escuela de Periodismo Portátil will offer the five-week course "Siempre hay que tener un enemigo," ("You always have to have an enemy") beginning Oct. 11. The instructor is Chilean journalist Arelis Uribe.

Participants will explore the different aspects involved in an opinion piece, including ethical and aesthetic questions, subjectivity and objectivity, editorial lines and possible approaches. 

The best columns resulting from the workshop will have the chance to be published in Chilean magazine The Clinic.

Registration is ongoing until spots are filled. The cost is US$100.

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

EU offers grants for films projects [MENA]

Journalists and filmmakers can submit their projects.

The European Union-funded MedFilm4all project has launched its second call for proposals. The program seeks to support local initiatives in Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon, Palestine and Libya.

Projects must address problems related to access to films, tackling social and gender issues in rural areas.

Priority will be given to projects aiming to widen the audience for films in rural settings, especially amongst the youth, and improve the image of women through the audiovisuals, also reinforcing capacities of women working in the film industry sector.

The total budget available is EUR984,000 (US$ 1,151,955). The maximum grant per project is EUR82,000 (US$ 95.996).

Applications must be sent in English or French.  

The deadline is Oct. 18.

 For more information on how to apply, click here.

Media School accepting applications on new media storytelling [Worldwide]

Students, bloggers, artists and writers can submit their innovative storytelling to a contest.

The Media School at Bournemouth University is accepting entries for its New Media Writing Prize (NMWP).

NMWP is looking for innovative and interactive storytelling (fiction or nonfiction) written specifically for delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, the web or a hand-held device such as an iPad or mobile phone. It could be a short story, novel, documentary or poem using words, images, film or animation with audience interaction.

The winner of the if:book UK New Media Award will receive GBP1,000 (US$1,314). The student winner will receive a three-month work placement at the e-learning company Unicorn Training in Bournemouth, United Kingdom. There will also be the Gorkana Journalism Award, worth GBP750 (US$985) and the Dot Award, which includes GBP500 (US$657) and development support.

The general deadline is Nov. 30. The deadline for students is Dec. 14.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

CAMP4ASB seek reports on climate change [Central Asia]

Journalists and bloggers from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan can enter a competition.

The Climate Adaptation and Mitigation Program for Aral Sea Basin (CAMP4ASB) seeks entries for the contest on covering climate change issues in the countries of Central Asia.

Works must be published or broadcast between April 1 and Oct. 10, 2018.

The contest will select five journalists to attend the 24th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-24), which will be held in December 2018 in Katowice, Poland.

The deadline is Oct. 10.

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

AHCJ focuses on Health journalism fellowships open [US]

Journalists with a project on health care can apply for a fellowship.

The Association of Health Care Journalists (AHCJ) is seeking applicants for the AHCJ Reporting Fellowships on Health Care Performance.

The fellowship is designed to enable fellows to work independently over a one-year period while still maintaining their regular employment.

Fellows are expected to produce a package of stories spotlighting a system-related topic, problems and potential improvements. AHCJ fellowship leaders will provide support and guidance through seminars, conference calls and email consultations.

The fellowship provides seminar and workshop trips, a project allowance of up to US$4,000, AHCJ membership and a US$2,500 fellowship award for the successful completion of the project.

The deadline is Oct. 26.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

World Wildlife Fund offers Journalism scholarship on climate change [Spain]

Advanced undergraduate and graduate journalism students enrolled in a Spanish university can apply.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the Escuela de Formación de Agencia EFE are launching the WWF-Agencia EFE scholarship on environmental journalism and climate change.

The program seeks to promote specialized journalism in the field of global climate change, training professionals who are able to provide key knowledge about this complex issue.

Applicants must present a flat or animated infographic on the challenges of Spain's ecological transition.

The selected student will attend a practical training from WWF and EFEVerde professionals in Madrid. In addition, he or she will receive EUR7,200 in 12 installments.

The deadline is Oct. 8.

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

Google offers business internship program [Brazil]

College students expected to graduate in December 2019 can apply for this internship in São Paulo.

Google Brazil seeks candidates for the Business Internship Program in various departments, including communication and marketing.

The program will take place July to December, including on-the-job training, collaboration with Googlers, challenging and impactful work, and social events.

Candidates must be fluent in English and Portuguese.

The deadline is Oct. 5.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF TWO-DAY WORKSHOPS FOR ONLINE JOURNALISTS/BLOGGERS ON CONFLICT SENSITIVE REPORTING ONLINE, AHEAD OF THE 2019 GENERAL ELECTIONS

Introduction

The International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, held two-day workshops for online journalists/blogger on conflict sensitive reporting online, ahead of the 2019 general elections. The workshops, which were supported by the European Union (EU) under  Component 4b: Support to the media of the EU Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EU-SDGN) project, were held on Tuesday, September 18 and Wednesday September 19, 2018 at Continental Suites, IBB Boulevard, Ibara, Abeokuta, Ogun State and Thursday September 20 and Friday September 21, 2018 at Grand Pela Hotel, Abuja, respectively.

The two workshops attracted a total of 71 online journalists/bloggers, with the Abeokuta workshop attracting 36 participants from the six southwest states, while the Abuja workshop attracted 35 participants from the FCT, the North-East, North-Central, South-East and South-South regions of Nigeria.

The thrust of the workshop was to build the capacity of the concerned online journalists/bloggers in using online media for fair, balanced, language sensitive and conflict sensitive reporting of the elections. Overall, the workshop focused on building the capacity of participants on professional and conflict sensitive reporting of the electoral processes as well as mitigating hate speech in an online environment.

Goodwill messages and Presentations.

The workshop in Abeokuta which received goodwill remarks from Comrade Wole Shokunbi, Chairman, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ogun State and Dr. Niran Malaolu, former Ogun state Commissioner for Information and Strategy, and the founding MD/CEO of Rock city FM, featured six main presentations.

There were presentations accompanied by interactive question, answer and comment sessions including a plenary session on emerging issues/real lifescenarios and practical steps to managing conflict situations in online reporting that was moderated by the workshop facilitator/resource persons.

The first day had four presentations. The  First presentation, Understanding conflict, its nature and character was delivered by Dr. Dan Jibo, Institute for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ibadan, while the Second presentation, Understanding communication challenges in the age of conflict, hate speech and fake news was delivered by Professor Nosa Owens-Ibie, Dean, College of Social and Management Sciences (COSOMAS), Caleb University, Imota-Nigeria.

The Third Presentation, Contemporary conflicts in Nigeria and possible impact on media coverage of 2019 elections: the pitfalls to avoid in Online Reportingwas anchored by Dr. Dan Jibo, while the  fourth Presentation, Social Media and Elections: Knowing and Dealing with the Challenges was handled by Dr. Qasim Akinreti, Assistant News Editor, Voice of Nigeria (VON)/Chairman, Lagos NUJ.

There were two presentations on the second, namely, Giving practical effect to conflict sensitive reporting online by Dr. Qasim Akinreti and Sticking to ethics and professionalism in online reporting by Professor Nosa Owens-Ibie. A special session, Introduction to anti-hoax platforms was handled by Mr. JamiunFolarin, Dept of Mass Communication, Crescent University, Abeokuta.

Six papers were also delivered at the Abuja leg of the workshop by three resources respectively. The first resource person, Dr. Ruqayyah Yusuf Aliyu of the Department of Information and Media Studies, Bayero University Kano, had two presentations, 'Understanding Conflict: Its Nature & Character' and 'Hate Speech & Fake News: Imperatives of Ethics & Professionalism in Online Reporting in Nigeria'.

The second resource person, Dr. Y.Z Yau, Executive Director, CITAD presented two papers on 'Contemporary Conflicts in Nigeria and Possible Impact on Media Coverage of 2019 Elections' and 'Monitoring of Hate Speech Online: Observations, Lessons and Recommendations from Outcomes'.

The third resource person,  Mr. Musikilu Mojeed, Editor-In-Chief, Premium Times spoke on 'Social Media & Elections: Giving Practical Effect to Conflict Sensitive Reporting Online' and 'News gathering & Newsroom Gate keeping in Era of Hate Speech: Tips on Pitfalls to Avoid'.

 Observations

The Workshop identified and noted the following:

1.          Embellished’ news reports with tribal, ethnic or religious undertones are often the purveyor of conflicts in Nigeria.

2.          There are growing concerns about the use of social media and online mediums for the dissemination of fake news and hate speeches.

3.          Photo-shopped photographs and disturbing videos with fabricated local narratives promoted through online sources can trigger tension, political  crisis and even communal conflict in sensitive communities.

             5.    Conflict is a natural occurrence and inevitable; mainly orchestrated by perceived threats.

4.          Hate Speech is among the universal inflammatory speeches like dangerous and offensive speeches.

5.          Hate speech criminalises people, demeans and puts them in a bad light.

6.          Hate Speech is not just about spoken or published words; it can come in the form of music, graphics or inscription on cloths, etc.

7.          Hate speech leads to violence due to explicit, implied, contextual or historical ‘call to action’ imbedded therein. Therefore hate speech is a hallmark of dangerous speech.

8.          Online journalists/ bloggers are always on the edge to be the first to ‘break the news’ which inadvertently is lowering the bar of factual and professional reporting.

9.          Unprofessional reporting online cast aspersion on the credibility of media professionals working in the online environment.

Recommendations:

In view of the forthcoming 2019 and subsequent elections, the following recommendations were made to serve as a guideline to online journalists/bloggers reporting governance and electoral matters:

  

                                     i.            Online Journalists/Bloggers reporting governance and electoral matters should restrict themselves to the Ethical Framework & Stipulated Guidelines which would differentiate them from the regular trend of citizenship journalism.

                                   ii.            Online Journalists/Bloggers reporting governance and electoral matters should equip themselves with information andknowledge on conflicts especially its context, its underlining causes, its effects and preventive and corrective measures.

                                 iii.            Online Journalists/ Bloggers should profile peace makers and subdue voices of purveyors of intolerance and cheerleaders of hate, xenophobic & religious extremists.

                                  iv.            Online Journalists/Bloggers reporting governance and electoral matters should exhibit high sense of professionalism in reporting the elections more so as good journalism requires the provision of accurate and reliable information to citizens;

                                    v.            Online journalists/ bloggers should be careful about reports and stories that could trigger killings and destruction;

                                  vi.            Online journalists/ bloggers should pay more attention to what they publish online because of the attendant implications for peaceful co-existence and social cohesion;

                                vii.            Online journalists/ bloggers should note that their negligence in applying ethical considerations to reports online, can cause unnecessary violence or even deaths of people;

                              viii.            Online journalists/ bloggers need to stick to ethical standards by making sure that contents are problem solving;

                                  ix.            Online journalists/ bloggers should embrace responsible journalism by looking out for accurate and factual dissemination of news;

                                    x.            Online journalists/bloggers should avoid sensational and misleading headlines in their reports but rather stick to professional and  credible reporting online;

                                  xi.            Online journalists/bloggers should  verify  news from all sides before publication in-order for their medium not to be tagged a medium  of fake news;

                                xii.            Online journalists/ bloggers should endeavour to cross check the source of their contents and should avoid words that could trigger crisis or conflict in their reportage;

                              xiii.            Online journalists/bloggers must be promoters of change and always guide against hate speech in their reporting in order not to raise political tension.

                              xiv.            Online Journalists/Bloggers should be at the vanguard of mitigating hate speech by appreciating the cultural differences (in Nigeria) and promoting common good and unity.

Appreciations

The participants expressed gratitude to the EU-SDGN for supporting the workshop.

SGD:

'Lanre Arogundade

Director, IPC

t: +234.802.3186.845

e: larogundade@ipcng.org, larogundade@gmail.com