Competition on youth creativity open [MENA]

Photographers, filmmakers and others ages 14 to 30 can apply for a creativity award.

The Nasser Bin Hamad International Youth Creativity Award (NBH Award), organized by Bahrain's Ministry of Youth and Sports Affairs, is accepting entries.

The award covers six areas: photography, art, graphic design, architecture, filmmaking and science.

Applicants can compete in the following age categories: first category (14 to 17 years), second category (18 to 24 years) and third category (25 to 30 years). Entries should be in Arabic or English. 

The top three finalists from each award category in each age group will receive prizes. They will be invited to the Kingdom of Bahrain to attend the award ceremony.

All flight and accommodation expenses for the top three finalists will be covered by the NBH Award.

The deadline is Sept. 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here. 

Online workshop focuses on journalism for mobile devices [Latin America]

Journalists and journalism students interested in narrative journalism and new digital formats can register for this online workshop in Spanish.

Escritura Crónica is organizing #SomosHistorias: four Facebook Live sessions beginning Sept. 8, in which participants will learn to develop the narrative potential of a longform text while planning its distribution on mobile devices.

Topics include innovation in narrative journalism, tools and text structure, keys for distributing longform content on social media and more.

Participants need to have an idea for a story or a story in process to work on during the course.

The deadline is Aug. 31. Registration costs US$70.

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

Disinformation, Governance Journalism Fellowship open [Southeast Asia]

Working journalists with at least five years of experience can apply for a fellowship.

The Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) is accepting applications for the Disinformation and Governance Journalism Fellowship.

Fellows will contribute toward greater understanding of how disinformation networks operate and their impact in different contexts that affect human rights: public participation, religious, ethnic and cultural discrimination, gender rights, and freedom of expression and other civil liberties.

Journalists who are nationals of Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor-Leste and Vietnam are eligible. 

Successful journalists will receive a maximum reporting grant of US$2,000 each to produce a story.

Submit a proposal by Sept. 10. The story must be completed by Nov. 20.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Massive Open Online Course for journalists available [Worldwide]

Anyone interested in how to create and use maps for journalism can take this four-week course.

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas, through its Massive Open Online Course (MOOC), is offering the free course “Intro to mapping and GIS for journalists” Aug. 27 to Sept. 23, with support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. 

The course comprises four modules: when to make a map; combining geographic data; analyzing geographic data; and map publication and next steps.

The instructors are Darla Cameron, senior data visuals developer, and Chris Essig, data visuals developer, both at the Texas Tribune.

The course is accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Registration is ongoing. 

For more information on how to register, click here.

Real estate reporting contest available [Brazil]

Journalists can compete for the Abecip Journalism Awards.

Organized by the Brazilian Association of Real Estate Savings and Loans (Abeicip, in Portuguese), the award aims to recognize real estate reporting.

The categories are real estate financing, sources of funds for the housing market, and social responsibility in construction and financial education.

Each category offers two prizes worth BRL6,500 each for print media and two for electronic media (internet, radio and TV).

Entries must have been published or broadcast between Sept. 16, 2017 and Aug. 31, 2018.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 31.

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

PACJA seeks reports on climate change [Africa]

Professional journalists can apply for this award.

The Pan African Climate Justice Alliance (PACJA) seeks submissions for the African Climate Change and Environmental Reporting (ACCER) Awards.This year's main them is “Changing the narrative on environmental challenges in Africa: the case of pollution.” 

The contest includes the Climate Smart Agriculture & Agroforestry Awards; the Climate Policy, Governance & Transparency Award; the Innovative Solutions for the Environment Awards; the Climate Finance Award; and the Environment Protection & Conservation Award.

Works must have been published or aired between January 2017 and June 2018 in English or French.

Winners will be awarded US$1,000 and a training fellowship. The overall winner will also receive full sponsorship to cover the UN Climate Change Conference in Katowice, Poland.

The deadline has been extended to Aug. 31.

For more information on how to enter, click here.

Contest recognizes reporting on ethnic issues [Russia]

Journalists from Russia's federal, regional and ethnic media can compete in this contest.

The Federal Agency for Nationality Affairs recognize the best coverage of interethnic interactions and ethnocultural development among the Russian peoples.

Guild of Ethnic Journalism and the

The "SMIrotvorets" contest features several categories, including television, radio, print, internet and more.

Materials must have been published or broadcast between Aug. 1, 2017 and Aug. 1, 2018. Submissions in languages other than Russian should include a Russian translation.

The winner of each category will receive a trophy.

The deadlines vary by regions of Russia from Sept. 1 to 31.

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

Reporting project focuses on conservative technology [Worldwide]

Experienced journalists are invited to submit pitches in English.

The Mongabay Special Reporting Project will focus on conservation technology.  

The organization is looking for article pitches that will foster a better understanding of how and where technology is being used to facilitate research and conservation of nature.

Stories should have about 800 to 1,800 words. Possible topics include uses of artificial intelligence/machine learning that could be applied to research and conservation projects, and data collection sensors, such as cameras, tracking tags, and acoustic monitoring devices.

Mongabay will negotiate all fees and contracts on a per-story basis. It will also offer small funds to help defray local/regional travel costs.

Pitches will be received on an ongoing basis.

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

Hacks/Hackers Buenos Aires organises media party [Argentina]

Journalists, developers and designers are invited to this conference Aug. 22 to 24 in Buenos Aires.

The Hacks/Hackers Buenos Aires is organizing the Media Party -"Rebooting Journalism," focusing on free software, open content, open knowledge and entrepreneurship to foster innovation. 

In its seventh edition, the event will feature more than 20 international guest speakers — includingguests from CUNY's Graduate School of Journalism, Quartz, Google News Lab, Credibility Coalition, Civil, AJ+ and ICIJ — workshops, mentorship, a media fair and the largest media innovation hackathon in Latin America.

Registration is free and ongoing.

For more information on how to register, click here.

Travel Fellowship to Germany available for journalists [US]

U.S. journalists interested in pursuing a project in Germany can apply for a fellowship.

The Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship, sponsored by the Robert Bosch Foundation and Cultural Vistas, gives U.S. professionals the opportunity to complete a comprehensive professional development program in Germany.

The program includes travel, seminars, customized work placements and networking events designed to help fellows gain an in-depth understanding of current issues facing the European Union and Germany. Fellows may choose from two options of the program duration: six months or nine months.

Prior to the seminar series and work placements in September, fellows will participate in language training.

Candidates must be U.S. citizens under the age of 40 with at least five years of relevant work experience in their proposed field of work they wish to pursue in Germany. Graduate degree is preferred.

Candidates from the following fields can apply: business administration, cultural management (ex. museum, theater, orchestra), journalism, law, nonprofit, public policy and urban planning.

Fellows will receive a monthly stipend, health insurance and financial support for accompanying spouse and children. Accommodation and travel costs are also covered.

The application deadline is Nov. 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

News Agency seeks copy editors, reporters [China]

Journalists can apply for these positions in Beijing.

Xinhua News Agency is hiring copy editors and on-camera reporters for its Audio & Video News Department.

Responsibilities include polishing scripts as well as copy editing and dubbing; other assignments from the editorial desk such as live reporting and acting as a guest news anchor; offering suggestions on topics of stories and how to improve news writing in English.

A minimum two years of experience in journalism or related fields is required. Experience in proofreading, broadcast journalism and multimedia is desirable. 

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Leadership training program available for Arab youths [MENA]

Young people from the Middle East and North Africa can apply for a training program in Beirut, Lebanon.

TheWorld Youth Alliance is organizing a program to train Arab youth for leadership in the future to qualify them for the establishment of a free and democratic society.

The three-month program will consist of training of trainers. It focuses on three main topics: human dignity and human rights, freedom and democracy, and civic engagement and leadership skills.

Fluency in Arabic and English is required. Candidates must cover airfare and accommodations; the organizer will pay for daily transportation fees.

The deadline is Sept. 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Journalism research fellowships available [Worldwide]

Publishers, programmers, web designers, media analysts, academics and journalists can apply for the 2019 Knight Visiting Nieman Fellowships.

The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard offers short-term visiting fellowships for research projects designed to advance journalism. These projects can include topics like programming, design, financial strategies and more.

The fellowships can last up to 12 weeks, depending on the scope of the projects. Fellows will have access to the resources at Harvard, including its scholars, research centers and libraries.

Fellows receive a stipend prorated for the length of their fellowships as well as free housing for the length of their stay at Harvard.

The deadline to apply is Sept. 28.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Amazon launches journalists nonfiction competition [Brazil]

Individuals ages 18 and older residing in Brazil can compete for a prize.

Amazon.com.br, in partnership with Jornalistas & Cia and Editora Record, has launched a book-reportage competition.

There are two awards available: the Amazon Book-Reportage Prize, intended for a journalistic book written in Brazilian Portuguese, and the Book-Reportage University Highlight, for nonfiction work or a capstone paper written by journalism students or journalists who graduated after December 2015.

The winner of the Book-Reportage Prize will receive BRL10,000 and will have his or her e-book printed by Editora Record. The winner of the Book-Reportage University Highlight will be awarded BRL5,000.

Contestants must publish their works on Amazon through the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) tool.

The deadline is Oct. 31.

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

NED offers democracy fellowship [Worldwide]

Journalists worldwide who wish to learn more about democracy can apply for a fellowship.

The Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program, organized by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), aims to enable democratic practitioners, scholars and journalists to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change.

Fellows are expected to be in residence at the International Forum for Democratic Studies in Washington March 1 to July 31, 2019 or Oct. 1, 2019 to Feb. 28, 2020. Working knowledge of English is required to be eligible.

Each fellow receives a monthly stipend for living expenses, plus health insurance and reimbursement for travel.

The deadline is Oct. 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Africa Centre offers Artists in Residency program [Africa]

Nonfiction writers and videomakers, among others, can apply for a residency program.

The Africa Centre's Artist in Residency Program (AIR) will select early to midcareer artists to spend time at the Bundanon Trust in Australia, Instituto Sacatar in Brazil, the Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center in Italy or the Fountainhead Residency & International Studio & Curatorial Program in the United States.

Each residency award has a distinct structure, set of requirements and duration. The program covers the cost of the residency and round-trip airfare.

Candidates must be from the African continent, reside in Africa for at least six months of the year and have a high proficiency in English.

The deadline is Oct. 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Journalism fellowships available [US]

U.S. journalism students can apply for a paid reporting fellowship.

The Pulliam Fellowship program places college students and new graduates at either The Indianapolis Star or The Arizona Republic for the summer of 2019. Fellows will act as members of the newsroom and participate in writing workshops. Selected students earn US$650 per week for the duration of the 10-week program.

College juniors, seniors and graduate students enrolled in journalism programs are eligible to apply.

Applicants must send samples of their best published writings, at least half of which were written under deadline, a transcript of the college credits and three letters of recommendation.

The deadline is Nov. 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Reporting contest focuses on Russia [Worldwide]

Journalists around the world whose reporting focuses on Russia can be nominated for this award.

Open Russia is accepting entries for the "Journalism as a Profession" award. 

Russian and foreign journalists are eligible. Entries must have been published or aired between Nov. 1, 2017 and Oct. 15, 2018 by Russian or international media.

The contest is held in five Russian-language categories: investigative journalism, reporting, interview + portrait, opinion journalism, regional media and new media.

The winners in each category will receive a cash prize.

The deadline is Oct. 15.

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

CGTN :Vacancy for producer available [China]

TV producers can apply for a position in Beijing.

CGTN is hiring a line producer for its "Closer to China with R.L. Kuhn" program, which presents Chinese officials and thought leaders in politics, economics, business, and international relations.

The producer will be responsible for coordinating interviews, writing and editing in English and communicating with foreign teams.

Candidates must have experience in a news agency and have TV editing skills. English fluency and familiarity with Chinese affairs are required.

For more information on how to apply, click here.  

Internews funds innovate media projects [Central Asia]

Journalists from Central Asia can attend this program.

Internews seeks project ideas for its regional Innovation Lab program "Storycraft – Innovate. Play. Engage", which will be held Sept. 24 to 26 in Bishkek,  Kyrgyzstan.

This program accepts applications from cro

ss-border teams whose members represent different countries of Central Asia (at least two countries). Each team should include specialists in different areas (for example, producers, programmers, designers, journalists, writers, etc.), who will collaborate with each other to create an innovative media project.

The topics of the proposed projects should be related to building peace and stability in Central Asia.

Up to six winners will receive grants of EUR14,000 each to produce and promote their media projects.

The deadline is Aug. 19.

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

Carmignac Foundation launches photojournalism contest [Worldwide]

Photojournalists worldwide can compete in this contest.

The Carmignac Foundation is accepting applications for the 10th annual Carmignac Photojournalism Award. The foundation awards those who wish to go where others will not, visiting zones that are largely ignored by the mainstream media.

The topic of this year's competition is the Amazon and massive deforestation.

The winner will receive a EUR50,000 (US$58,000) grant to support in the implementation, production and promotion of an in-depth photo series. The foundation promotes the award with an international touring exhibition and by financing a monograph. 

The application deadline is Oct. 7.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Submissions for investigative journalism competition ongoing [Latin America, Caribbean)

Journalists who have published their work in Latin American or Caribbean news outlets can compete.

Instituto Prensa y Sociedad and Transparency International, with the support of Organization of American State (OAS) and Open Society, organize the Latin American Investigative Journalism Award. The award's purpose is to encourage greater transparency in government, business and media.

Investigative stories published or broadcast between Sept. 1, 2017 and Aug. 31, 2018 in English, Spanish or Portuguese are eligible. Print, online, television and radio reports may compete, and reporters can submit work done independently or in teams.

The first place winner will receive US$10,000, and the second and third places, US$5,000. Authors of the best investigative reports will also be invited to the Latin American Investigative Journalism Conference (COLPIN 2018) in November in Bogotá, Colombia.

The deadline is Sept. 16.

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

Grants on contemporary Arab culture available (MENA]

Arab individuals can apply to this program.

The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture (AFAC) is accepting applications in the category of training and regional events as part of its 2018 general grants program.

The AFAC Training and Regional Events Program provides annual grants ranging from a few thousand U.S. dollars up to a maximum of US$50,000.

The grants can be used for training in cultural and artistic fields, platforms for archiving and documentation, residencies, regional events and festivals. Proposals must be related to contemporary Arab culture. Funds should cover project-related expenses (including artist fees).

Applications can be submitted in either Arabic or in English.

The deadline is Sept. 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

CASW offers travel fellowships for science conference [Worldwide]

Journalists and graduate students with a demonstrated interest in science writing can apply for a conference fellowship.

The Council for the Advancement of Science Writing ( ScienceWriters) conference Oct. 12 to 16 in Washington.

CASW offers three types of fellowships to cover the cost of attending the

The CASW New Horizons Travel Fellowship is intended primarily for journalists from smaller metropolitan print and broadcast news outlets in the United States. Fellows receive US$1,200 and must participate in the New Horizons in Science briefings.

The National Association of Science Writers (NASW) Travel Fellowship is open to any science writer, editor, publication information officer or journalism instructor with a financial need and provides US$1,000.

The CASW Graduate Travel Fellowship is available to current students enrolled in a science writing program and offers US$1,000.

The deadline is Aug. 29.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

AFP: Vacancy for video producer available [UK]

Video journalists fluent in English and French can apply for this position.

Agence France Presse Television (AFPTV) is seeking a video producer to join its Europe and Africa video hub in London. 

The producer will work on the desk for Sub-Saharan Africa, handling the production of the agency's team of VJs on the continent. Responsibilities include producing videos for clients, compiling packages of b-roll and filing footage, sourcing UGC and videos from external providers, cutting from live feeds and helping adapt videos into English and French, as well as creating videos ready to publish, mainly for digital clients. 

Candidates must have good knowledge of Africa and digital non-linear editing skills, preferably on Final Cut Pro and/or Adobe Premiere. 

The deadline is Sept. 10.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Bloomberg : Vacancy for reporter open [South Africa]

Experienced reporters can apply for this position.

Bloomberg is seeking an economy reporter in Johannesburg. 

Responsibilities include breaking news, covering central bank decisions, key economic indicators and key policy makers, developing thematic stories and collaborating with TV, radio and online media.

Candidates must have experience in a real-time news environment, an ability to cultivate sources and be able to work across teams and platforms. Experience covering the economy is preferable.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

IPC WELCOMES THE RELEASE OF JONES ABIRI

Press Release     

For immediate release, August 16, 2018 

The International Press Centre Lagos-Nigeria welcomes the release of Jones Abiri, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Weekly Source Newspaper who was detained in DSS custody for over two years.

According to Report from CPJ, “Mr. Abiri was release yesterday, August 15, 2018.”

IPC Director, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said: “The release of Mr. Abiri is a welcome development, but he should never have been arrested or kept in detention by the Department of State Security (DSS) for over two years. We demand that the DSS pays him for the damages this unfortunate action might have caused him.”

IPC urges the government to drop all charges against Mr. Abiri and ensure that all those responsible for his detention for over two years without trial are brought to justice.

SGD:

Melody Akinjiyan

Program Officer/Safety Desk Officer IPC

melodyakinjiyan@ipcng.org

+2348162206470

PRESS STATEMENT - IMPLICATIONS OF DELAYING PASSAGE OF THE INEC BUDGET FOR THE 2019 NIGERIAN GENERAL ELECTIONS

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

INEC has proposed a budget of 189.21Bn for the conduct of the 2019 General elections. The total budget required is 242.45Bn with the difference going for security. With just over 6 months to the first set of elections, the budget for the elections is yet to be passed.

INEC will issue the Notice of the 2019 General Elections on Friday 17th August, 2018. The Presidential and National Assembly elections are slated to hold on Saturday 16th February 2019 while the Governorship and State Houses of Assembly elections are slated to hold on Saturday 2nd March, 2019.

The 28th April, 2019 is the last date for all elections to have been conducted. Pursuant to Sections 76(2), 116(2), 132(2) and 178(2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) and Section 25 of the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended) elections shall not hold later than 30 days before the term of office of the last holder of that office.

The National Assembly has gone on its annual recess and its official resumption date is Tuesday 25th September, 2018. It’s important to state that there are about six (6) weeks from the date of this press release till the formal resumption of the National Assembly.

It’s also important to note that there is a 7 week gap between the current last election date and the actual last date possible by law i.e from 2nd March to 28th April, 2019. In addition there needs to be at least a two-week gap between the National and State elections meaning National elections can't be later than 14th April, 2019.

The meaning of all this is that the country cannot afford to wait till 25th September 2018 to pass the budget for the 2019 Nigerian General Elections. It therefore becomes critical that the National Assembly urgently reconvene to ensure that there is a budget for next year’s election.

Failure to reconvene the National Assembly to pass the INEC budget urgently and long before the official resumption date of 25th September, 2018 is capable of plunging Nigeria into an avoidable and unnecessary constitutional crisis which must be completely avoided.

Election Monitor calls on all senators and members of the Federal House of Representatives to put Nigeria first and put partisan politics in the back seat. Election Monitor commends the senate Committee on INEC and House Committee on Electoral Matters for its current INEC budget review activities. However the leadership of the National Assembly is expected to reconvene the legislature and pass INEC’s budget at the earliest possible date to ensure The Commission is able to effectively prepare for the 2019 Nigerian General Elections.

God Bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria

Signed

Abiodun Ajijola
National Coordinator