Online course on audience engagement available [Worldwide]

Anyone interested in audience growth and engagement methods can enroll in this four-week course.

The Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas is hosting the Big Online Course (BOC) "Knowing your audience: strategies for increasing the reach and engagement of your journalism," July 15 to Aug. 11.

The course is divided into four modules covering: what is an audience map?; who do I hope to reach/serve?; how will I reach/serve my audience?; and measuring your success.

The instructor is Amanda Zamora, who leads The Texas Tribune’s audience growth and engagement efforts.

The course is accessible to anyone with an internet connection.

Registration is ongoing and costs US$95.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

European Journalism Centre offers Health fellowship [Germany, France]

Freelance and staff journalists interested in shedding light on international health, health policy and development issues can apply for this program.

The European Journalism Centre (EJC) is accepting pitches for the Global Health Journalism Grant Program for Germany and France.

EJC will provide story grants worth EUR15,000 on average, including potential travel and technical expenses.

Applicants must provide a letter of intent for publication from at least one relevant media outlet in Germany or France.

Fellows must produce original German or French reporting for relevant media organizations or outlets with a relevant audience reach in Germany or France.

The deadline is Aug. 8.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Vacancy :Mongabay seeks Brazil editor [Worldwide]

Journalists with three or more years of experience can apply for this remote position.

Mongabay is looking for a contributing editor who will focus on expanding its coverage of environmental and conservation news in Brazil.

The contributing editor will produce news and feature stories relevant to forests and land use in Portuguese and English, with a special focus on the Amazon and Cerrado biomes.

Candidates must have exceptional fluency in English and Portuguese, knowledge of environmental issues and familiarity with Microsoft Office, WordPress or similar, Google Drive, social media and Asana or similar.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Vacancy:The Beijing News seeks video reporter [China]

Experienced journalists can apply for a position in Guangzhou or Shenzhen.

The Beijing News is looking for a reporter to join its video channel team.

The reporter will break and cover news, present live stories and produce short news videos.

Applicants must be familiar with social media, have good news sources and more than three years of experience working for a top-tier traditional media.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Open Technology Fund offers Fellowship [Worldwide]

Journalists and others who have worked in digital security can apply for this fellowship.

The Open Technology Fund (OTF) is accepting applications for its Digital Integrity Fellowship Program (DIFP).

Fellows work with an organization, set of organizations or a network, whose work is human rights-focused and most affected by internet freedom violations. They are expected to be based in the country or region of proposed work.

The fellowship provide a US$5,000 monthly stipend for up to 12 months as well as an organizational support stipend.

The deadline is July 15.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Journalism training focuses on Iowa caucuses reporting [US]

Journalists planning to cover the Iowa caucuses can apply for this free training.

Poynter is organizing "How to cover the Iowa caucuses" Sept. 20 to 23 at Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.

Participants will learn the skills and knowledge they need to best serve their audiences, hold candidates accountable and make ethical, informed choices about what to cover.

The instructors are experienced journalists, fact-checkers and academics, including Neil Brown, president of the Poynter Institute, Angie Holan, editor of Politifact, and Dennis Goldford, professor of political science at
Drake University.

Accepted applicants will receive accommodations and most meals. There are also limited travel scholarships available.

The deadline is Aug. 2.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Film festival accepting submissions [Brazil]

Directors and producers of short and feature films celebrating sexual diversity can participate in this festival.

The Mix Brasil Festival, organized by Associação Cultural Mix Brasil, will take place Nov. 13 to 20 in São Paulo and will tour in other Brazilian cities.

The festival is inviting short films and features produced in Brazil and worldwide after January 2017. Foreign films must have subtitles in Portuguese.

Among the prizes are the Golden Rabbit, Silver Rabbit, Suzy Capó Prize, Gongo Show Prize, Canal Brasil (BRL15,000) and Sesc TV Prize. (BRL5,000 and a two-year exhibition contract), Mistika Prize (BRL5,000), CTAV Prize (equipment loan) and DOTCINE Prize (for short films: color correction and master DCP; and for features:  master DCP).

The deadline is Aug. 15.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Conference, Study grants available [MENA]

Journalists, researchers and activists whose work focuses on Arab societies can apply for the program.

Funded by the Ford Foundation and the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), the Arab Council for the Social Sciences (ACSS) announces a new cycle of its grants program on youth and urban spatial inequalities in the Arab Region.

The program funds five kinds of activities: travel grants (conferences/workshops), internship support, organizing workshops, pilot studies and dissemination events.

Grants of US$4,000 will be available.

The deadline is Aug. 20.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Grants for Storytelling proposals available [Worldwide]

Project leaders in the areas of conservation, education, research, storytelling and technology can apply for a grant.

National Geographic is accepting proposals for its Exploration Grant.

Possible works may include photography, filmmaking, cartography, journalism or digital media and cover one of the three National Geographic lenses:
wildlife, changing planet or human journey.

Selected projects receive between US$10,000 and US$30,000.

Applicants are expected to demonstrate successful completion of similar projects with measurable and/or tangible results.

The deadline is July 10.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Eurasian Creative Guild accepting applications [Worldwide]

Journalists can apply for this contest.

The Eurasian Creative Guild is organizing a journalism contest focusing on "Great Eurasia: successes and problems of regional cooperation."

Works are accepted in Russian and English. Only members of the Eurasian Creative Guild can participate in the competition. Those interested can register and receive a free membership for the period until Dec. 1, 2019.

The main award, provided by OCA Magazine, is a US$3,000 cash prize named in memory of Russian scientist Lev Gumilyov.

The winners will be announced at the international Open Eurasian Book Forum & Literature Festival Nov. 14 to 17 in Brussels.

The deadline is Sept. 15.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Journalism Project focuses on investigative reporting [US]

Local news organizations interested in producing investigative reporting can apply for support.

PBS FRONTLINE is accepting applications for its 2019 Local Journalism Project.

The program will select four or five projects on the basis of the strength of the proposed investigation, the geographic diversity of the news organizations and need for outside support to complete reporting.

Local partners receive up to US$75,000 for an annual reporting salary; editorial guidance from FRONTLINE journalists; advice from FRONTLINE’s audience development team; and support for specific training for local journalists in areas that can help make investigative journalism and storytelling sustainable.

The deadline is July 15.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Universidad de Navarra offers Journalism program [Brazil]

Portuguese-speaking graduates can apply for a hands-on journalism program to take place in São Paulo from Sept. 2 to Dec. 6.

The training program is offered by Universidad de Navarra and Grupo Estado, which publishes several newspapers including O Estado de S. Paulo.

For three months, students will take classes in the morning and spend the rest of the day in various areas of the journalism business. Experienced professionals from Brazil and abroad will teach news reporting, including all stages of news production.

The first phase of the selection process is conducted online at the moment of registration. Up to 90 applicants will be called for the second phase at the Grupo Estado headquarters in São Paulo. The class with the 30 selected participants will be announced Aug. 19.

The registration deadline is July 21.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Scholarships available for journalists [Sub-Saharan Africa]

Journalists fluent in English ages 30 and younger can apply for this program in Johannesburg, South Africa.

KAS Media Africa is offering a scholarship for a full-time honors or master's degree at the University of Witwatersrand's Journalism Program.

Selected candidates work closely with KAS Media Africa during their stay in Johannesburg and typically write a bimonthly narrative report on their study progress.

The scholarship includes one return flight to Johannesburg, a monthly stipend, accommodation fees and a one-time payment for study material.

For the honors program, candidates must have at least three years of working experience. Candidates must also either have an undergraduate degree or pass an entrance test.

For the master's program, candidates must have a degree equivalent to the BA Hons in journalism and at least three years of working experience.

The deadline is July 8.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Fellowship for data-driven projects available [Worldwide]

English-speaking journalists with three to five years of experience and at least one to two years working with data can apply for this fellowship.

The International Center for Journalists and The Wall Street Journal have launched the 2019 News Corp Media Fellowship for Global Journalists.

The program includes training on creative storytelling and offers grants to support data-driven projects.  The prize for the best project is a three-month News Corp Fellowship in New York, where the fellow will receive hands-on training and mentorship at the WSJ media science lab.

Applicants must participate in two half-day webinars on July 29 and 30, which will teach them how to pitch a data-driven project and to develop a prototype.

The deadline is July 7.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Press Statement: IPC releases documented campaign promises of President Muhammadu Buhari

The International Press Centre (IPC) Lagos-Nigeria, has released (see the attached) a
compilation of the campaign promises made by President Muhammadu Buhari in the course of
electioneering activities for the 2019 general elections.
Thirty (30) of such promises covering pledges on specific and general issues of Road/Rail
infrastructure, Education, Agriculture, Poverty Eradication and Inclusion of Youths/Women in
government as well as the fight against Corruption and Insecurity were documented.
The documentation was done by IPC’s Media Monitoring Team, while the promises were derived
from quoted statements of the President in The Nation, The Punch, Daily Sun, Daily Trust,
Vanguard, This Day, Leadership and Nigerian Tribune newspapers over a four-month period from
November 2018 to February 2019.
The specific sources were page 6, The Nation newspaper of Monday November 19, 2018; page 2,
The Punch Newspaper of Monday November 19, 2018; page 6, Daily Sun newspaper of Monday,
November 19, 2018; front page, Daily Trust newspaper of Monday, November 19,2018; page 5
and 41, Vanguard newspaper of November 19, 2018; page 1 and 10, This Day of November 19,
2018; page 2, Nigerian Tribune of November 19, 2018; page 25, Leadership newspaper of
December 5, 2018; front page, Thisday, January 17, 2019; page 12, Daily Sun Newspaper,
Thursday, January 31, 2019; page 9, Nigerian Tribune of January 17, 2019; and front page,
Vanguard Newspaper, February 09, 2019.
The promises are:
1. To engage one million N-power graduates and skill up 10 million Nigerians in
partnership with the private sector.
2. To expand the school feeding programme from 9.3m to 15 million children, creating
300,000 extra jobs for food vendors and farmers.
3. To complete the Ibadan/Kano phase of the Lagos/Kano rail link.
4. To complete the Port Harcourt/Maiduguri line.
5. To complete the Itakpa/Warri link to Abuja, through Lokoja.
2 | P a g e
6. To complete the Second Niger Bridge and the East West Road connecting Warri, Delta
State, to Oron, Akwa Ibom State, through Kaiama and Port Harcourt in Bayelsa and
Rivers State.
7. To establish a peoples Moni bank.
8. To institutionalize the giving of soft loans of up to 1million naira to small traders,
artisans and commercial drivers.
9. To increase the beneficiaries of trader Moni, market Moni and farmer Moni from 2.3
million to 10million.
10. To create more room for inclusion in government by achieving 35% in female
appointments.
11. To give more access to youths as aides of cabinet members and through opportunities
for appointments in board and agencies.
12. To introduce special mentoring programme in governance with young graduates
working with ministers and other appointees.
13. To reinterpret the education curriculum through coding, robotics, animations and
design thinking.
14. Retraining of all teachers in public primary and secondary schools to deliver digital
literacy.
15. Remodeling and equipping of 10,000 schools per year.
16. To complete the 365 road projects under construction in all parts of the federation.
17. Provision of infrastructure and rebuilding the economy.
18. To sustaining the anti-insurgency war and curb insecurity.
19. To fight corruption and revamp the economy.
20. To develop 6 industrial Parks in each of the geopolitical zones.
21. To establish 109 Special Production and Processing Centres (SPPCs) across each
senatorial district of Nigeria.
22. To develop the Special Economic zone to quickly concretize our made in Nigeria for
export (MINE) plan.
23. To expand the social investment program so as to eradicate poverty.
24. To ensure completion of Manbilla Dam and Bridge.
25. To ensure the construction of the Makurdi Taraba Borno rail project.
26. To complete the bridges across the stretch of River Benue in Ibi local government area.
27. To continue to pursue agricultural policy by ensuring that fertilisers are made available
at all the local government areas across the country, for easy access by farmers.
28. To resuscitate the Ajaokuta Steel Company.
29. To ensure the completion of the on-going Zungeru Hydro Power project.
30. To include persons of integrity in the cabinet.
Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, said the exercise was in line with the tradition of IPC,
which in 2011 documented 91 campaign promises of President Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples
Democratic Party (PDP).
According to him, it was also embarked upon pursuant to the implementation of Component 4b:
Support to Media of the European Union Support to Democratic Governance in Nigeria (EUSDGN)
Project by IPC over a 52-month period.
3 | P a g e
Explaining the methodology further, the IPC Director said the campaign promises of all the
presidential candidates that contested the 2019 elections were documented but only that of
President Muhammadu Buhari was being released being the declared winner of the elections.
He however said both President Buhari’s campaign promises and those of the other candidates
would later be uploaded on the IPC websites.
Explaining the rationale for the documentation of the campaign promises, Mr. Arogundade said
the activity was in consonance and conformity with IPC’s mandate to advance democratic
accountability.
“The essence is to ensure that it serves as a tool for journalists to monitor, track and ask
questions about the diverse aspects of the implementation including using the Freedom of
Information Act to such relevant questions”, Mr. Arogundade stressed.
“Having trained journalists across Nigeria on issue-focused reporting of elections, we believe
they need information like this to follow-up after the elections”, he added.
According to him, the documented campaign promises will also be useful for civil society groups
working on development and democratic governance issues as well as various electoral
stakeholders.
“The documentation of the president’s electoral promises from the media reports, which is by no
means exhaustive, is to serve as a major instrument to proactively engage the Buhari
administration on its performance over the next four years and provide bench marks in seeking
democratic accountability, service delivery and the fulfillment of key campaign promises made by
the president”, he said.
Signed:

SANMI FALOBI
Programme Manager, IPC
June 2019 © International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria.
website: www.ipcng.org l www.twitter.com/IPCng l www.facebook.com/ipc.nigeria l
www.youtube.com/ipcng l Email: admin@ipcng.org
The compilation of these campaign promises by President Muhammadu Buhari was extracted from
statements made in media reports in the course of electioneering campaign activities ahead the
2019 elections between November 2018 and February 2019.

JUNE 2019 © INTERNATIONAL PRESS CENTRE (IPC) LAGOS-NIGERIA.

Vacancy exists at Young Post for production editor [China]

Experienced web editors can apply for this position in Hong Kong.

Young Post is looking for a production editor to be responsible for its digital and social media content.

Applicants must have a news background, in-depth knowledge of SEO and three to five years of work experience as a web editor. Knowledge of Mandarin and Cantonese is a plus.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Conference fellowships available [Worldwide]

Digital journalists can apply for a fellowship.

The Online News Association is accepting applications for the MJ Bear Fellowships.

The fellowships provide registration, travel and accommodations for the 2019 Online News Association Conference and Awards Sept. 12 to 14 in New Orleans.

The MJ Bear fellows also receive three online coaching sessions and ONA membership, and participate in a panel session to share their work.

Candidates must be fluent in English and born between Sept. 15, 1989 and Sept. 14, 1996.

The deadline is July 11.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

National Press Foundation offers business journalism Fellowships [US]

U.S.-based journalists can apply to attend a seminar.

The National Press Foundation offers two all-expenses-paid fellowships for the Wharton Seminars for Business Journalists 2019.

The seminar will take place Oct. 13 to 16 at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School in Philadelphia.

Participants will expand their knowledge of business by attending courses conducted by leading Wharton faculty, hearing guest lectures by business leaders and competing in an intensive, computer-simulated strategic management exercise.

The deadline is Aug. 23.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Google News Initiative focuses on sustainable ecosystem projects [Latin America]

News organizations of any size whose projects focus on encouraging a more sustainable news ecosystem can apply for funding.

The Google News Initiative organizes the first GNI Innovation Challenge in Latin America, which will focus on projects that help build a more sustainable ecosystem for digital news in Latin America through the development of new business models and news products.

Google will fund selected projects up to US$250,000 and will finance up to 70% of the total project cost.

All innovative ideas are welcome, and projects can be experimental but must have well-defined goals and measurable impact. Special consideration will be given to collaborative projects involving multiple news organizations.

Successful projects will also need to be delivered within one year.

The deadline is July 22.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Vacancy exists at Asharq Al-Awsat for Editor [MENA]

Journalists with at least seven years of experience can apply for this position in Cairo.

Asharq Al-Awsat newspaper is looking for an economic editor to join its team.

The editor will be responsible for writing and editing and translating stories.

Arabic and English skills are required.

Apply now.
For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Registration ongoing for free video classes [Worldwide]

Anyone can access these free, self-directed video classes.

The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY has launched a video lecture series.

The master classes are taught in English by prominent American journalists and include English subtitles/captions.

The inaugural episodes are "Investigating in the open" with David Fahrenthold of The Washington Post, and "Public-powered journalism" with Jennifer Brandel of Hearken.

Registration is ongoing.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

BBC Radio 4 launches student journalism contest [UK]

Students enrolled in the 2018-19 academic year can apply for this award.

BBC Radio 4 Today has launched the Student Journalism Awards 2019.

The contest has six categories: student journalist, student broadcaster, student visual and photojournalist, student critic, student publication and student program.

The student journalist winner will participate in a traineeship and, after satisfactorily completing the program, will be offered a position in BBC News. Winners in the three remaining individual categories will receive two weeks of work experience. Winners of the team categories will be able to send up to four members of their teams to watch an edition of the Today program.

The deadline is Aug. 31.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

AFAC offers grant for training events [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 2019 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, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Film festival on human rights open [Worldwide]

Filmmakers from all over the world can participate in this festival.

The One World International Human Rights Documentary Film Festival is organized by People in Need, a Czech nonprofit organization. The event will take place March 5 to 14, 2020 in Prague.

There are seven categories: international competition, best director, Vaclav Havel jury award for a film that makes an exceptional contribution to the defense of human rights, Czech competition, audience award, student jury award, and a regional jury award. Films produced in 2018 and 2019 are accepted.

Films made in other languages than English should include English subtitles.

The entry fee is EUR20 (US$22).

The deadline is Sept. 1. The deadline for films that were finished between September and November 2019 is Nov. 1.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Reporting project accepting pitches [Worldwide]

Experienced journalists can apply for a paid reporting opportunity.

Mongabay is accepting pitches for two special reporting initiatives: cross-border commodities and conservation solutions.

The cross-border commodities reporting initiative aims to uncover wrongdoing at the intersection of global trade and environmental degradation.

The conservation solutions reporting project is looking for real-world examples that can help conservation groups, agencies, and communities address the problems caused by habitat loss, overharvesting, climate change, pollution and other threats.

Applications must be submitted in English. Pitches will be considered on a rolling basis until Sept. 30 for the commodities stories and Oct. 1 for the solutions stories or when the budget is disbursed.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

The Poynter offers Writing Workshop [US]

Budding and midcareer journalists of color are invited to this training.

The Power of Diverse Voices: The Poynter Minority Writers Workshop, funded by the Association of Opinion Journalists, will take place Nov. 7 to 10 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

The seminar seeks to train the next generation of opinion writers from a wide spectrum of backgrounds. Participants will learn fact-based opinion writing and use social media to spark a conversation across digital and other platforms.

The program will cover tuition and hotel costs. A small travel stipend will be available.

The deadline is Aug. 16.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology seeks story submissions [Brazil]

Journalists who have covered issues related to rheumatic diseases can submit their work.

The Brazilian Society of Rheumatology and Pfizer have launched the fourth edition of the Journalism Award  on Rheumatic Diseases.

Works must have been published or broadcast between Aug. 10, 2017 and Aug. 18, 2019. The categories are print media, online media and electronic media.

The first and second place winners will receive BRL6,000 and BRL3,000, respectively.

The deadline to apply is Aug. 18.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

The Economist seeks journalist [Africa]

Journalists with excellent writing skills can apply for this position.

The Economist is looking for a journalist to strengthen its coverage of Sub-Saharan Africa.

The job location will be open for negotiation with the successful candidate. The selected journalist will be required to travel frequently.

Candidates must have original thinking and good analytical skills. Previous experience as a journalist is desirable but not essential.

The deadline is July 19.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Investigative journalism grant available [Latin America]

Journalists in Latin America with experience covering development can apply for funding.

The Center for Sustainable Development Goals for Latin America and the Caribbean has launched the SDG Fund for Journalism, which will finance investigative stories on issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals in the region.

The Fund is currently accepting proposals for stories that take place in Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Ecuador and Central America.

The Fund seeks to promote reporting that provides information of public interest and tells stories about the regional challenges of sustainable development, including urbanization processes, biodiversity, decarbonization, climate change and more.

Grants of up to US$4,000 will be awarded according to the proposal and the publication format. The Fund will also assign an editor to each selected project.

The deadline is July 15.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Vacancy:CNBC seeks associate producer [Singapore]

Experienced broadcast journalists can apply for a position in Singapore.

CNBC is hiring an associate producer, who will be responsible for helping lead the creation and production of CNBC‘s live business news shows and show segments, and working with the show producer on overall content and production.

Candidates should be able to line produce a regular daily live show with very little guidance. High standard of written English is a must. The ideal candidate will also have extensive TV production experience and proven knowledge of business news content.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Internship program for journalists open [US]

Students who are currently enrolled or within six months post-graduation can apply for a paid internship in New York, Atlanta, Miami or Washington.

CNN is seeking candidates for its 2019 fall internship, which typically runs September to December.

Internships are available in several programs and departments, including Anderson Cooper 360, Fareed Zakaria GPS CNN International, CNN en Español, Sports, Political Unit, Investigative Unit, Documentary Unit and more.

International students must provide documentation of proper visa paperwork prior to the beginning of the internship if accepted to the program.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Journalism fellowship available [Worldwide]

Journalists and film, video, sound and new media artists can apply for this fellowship in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The Radcliffe Institute Fellowship Program at Harvard is a scholarly community where individuals pursue advanced work across a wide range of academic disciplines, professions and creative arts, including journalism.

The institute provides stipends of up to US$77,500 for one year with additional funds for project expenses. Fellows receive office or studio space and access to libraries and other resources of Harvard University during the fellowship year, which extends from September 2020 through May 2021.

Applications are judged on the quality and significance of the proposed project and the applicant’s record of achievement and promise.

Visual, film, video, sound and new media artists may apply for either one or two semesters.

Journalism applicants must have worked professionally in the field for at least five years.

The application deadline is Sept. 12.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Conference on entrepreneurial journalism, innovation available [Mexico]

Journalists, entrepreneurs, developers, designers, activists and others can register for this event.

SembraMedia organizes its third international conference on entrepreneurial journalism and innovation on June 25 and 26 in Cancun, Mexico. The event will bring together 200 journalists, academics, media entrepreneurs and investors.

Participants will explore the trends, challenges and opportunities of independent digital media in Latin America, the United States and Spain through panels about income and diversification, ventures in hostile contexts, high impact journalism in countries in crisis, metrics, collaborative journalism and more.

Tickets cost US$15 for students and US$42 for professionals.

Registration is open.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Vacancy: Business Media seeks editor-in-chief [Thailand]

Digital journalists can apply for this position in Bangkok.

Thumbsup, a new business media, is rebranding and looking for an editor-in-chief,

The selected journalist will oversee the business and economic coverage.

Applicants should have experience in online media, business reporting and multimedia formats.

Apply now.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Michigan State University offers Online course in journalism [Worldwide]

Anyone can register for this online course.

Michigan State University offers the course "Become a journalist: report the news!" through Coursera.

The five-unit course is self-paced and can be taken at any time. It has subtitles in English, Greek and Arabic.

Participants will learn best practices and ethical standards for news gathering processes. Topics include journalism's impact on societal issues and trends, career opportunities, the journalistic portfolio and more.

Registration is ongoing. After the seven-day, free trial, the cost is US$49 per month. Financial aid and scholarships are available.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Deadline approaching: Registration for Webinar on digital media startups [MENA]

Media entrepreneurs in the Middle East and North Africa who want to take their digital projects to the next level are invited to attend this webinar.

IJNet Arabic will hold a webinar launching the sixth round of its virtual mentoring center for digital media startups at 5 p.m. Beirut time on June 20.

During the free webinar, the program manager and mentors will explain all the steps the startups will go through, starting with how to apply, eligibility criteria, selection process, program phases, in-person meetings, trips, the bootcamp training, workshops and others. A Q&A will take place before the end of the webinar.

Women entrepreneurs are strongly encouraged to participate.

Register now.
For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Peter Boenisch offers reporting Scholarship [Germany, Russia]

German and Russian journalists ages 35 and younger can compete for this grant.

The Peter Boenisch Award for Young Journalists, sponsored by the Petersburg Dialogue, is granted to one reporter from each country for works that explore different aspects of Russian-German relations and contribute to a better mutual understanding between the two nations.

Submissions should have been published in Russian or German during the previous three years.

Award winners will receive a travel grant worth EUR2,000. They will also attend a Petersburg Dialogue conference.

The deadline is June 20.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Freelance fellowship accepting applications [US]

Journalists who make their living primarily as independent journalists can apply for a grant.

Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) is accepting applications for its Freelance Fellowship, which aims to give independent journalists a boost in the pursuit of their investigative work.

Proposals dealing with whistleblowers, business ethics and/or privacy issues will receive priority; projects involving other topics will be given serious consideration as well.

The first, second and third place winners will receive US$2,500, US$1,500 and US$1,000, respectively.

The deadline is July 22.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Vacancy: Business Media seeks Editor [Thailand]

Digital journalists can apply for this position in Bangkok.

Thumbsup, a new business media, is rebranding and looking for an editor-in-chief,

The selected journalist will oversee the business and economic coverage.

Applicants should have experience in online media, business reporting and multimedia formats.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Media Organisation seeks Editor [Egypt]

Experienced editors can apply for this position in Cairo.

News website platform and radio broadcast service Sputnik Arabic is looking for a deputy editor-in-chief.

Responsibilities include building, leading and overseeing a 30-people team, including assigning tasks, choosing topics for daily programs and more.

Candidates must have strong leadership, decision-making and knowledge of the Middle Eastern media sphere. They must also be fluent in Arabic and English and have Russia comprehension.

Apply now.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Projeto Colabora offers fellowship [Brazil]

Journalists and journalism students can apply for this fellowship

Projeto Colabora will fund four reporting pitches that address one of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.

Fellows will receive BRL5,000 to cover their story, which can be a combination of text and photo, photo essay, video, infographics, podcast, animation or other format.

The stories must be completed in two months and will be published on the #Colabora platforms.

The deadline is July 5.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Digital Journalism training project available [US]

College students and recent graduates can apply for this free program.

NPR's Next Generation Radio is a weeklong digital journalism training project. The next program will take place Aug. 12 to 16 in Austin, Texas.

Participants will be selected to build their skills, be paired with a mentor and produce their own multimedia story.

The program will also be offered in Atlanta and Sacramento, California. Applicants must reside in the metropolitan area where the event will be held.

Apply now.


For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

WAMECA seeks entries [West Africa]

Journalists in Anglophone, Francophone and Lusophone countries in West Africa can enter this contest.

The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) has launched the third edition of the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA).

The categories are telecoms reporting, oil and gas reporting, banking and finance reporting, business and SMEs, anti-corruption, investigative reporting, environmental reporting, SDGs, human rights, health, ECOWAS and regional integration and photo journalism.

Entries must have been published or broadcast in 2018.

Finalists will be recognized at WAMECA Oct. 18 and 19 in Accra, Ghana.

The deadline is June 30.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

Women’s Right- an ever evolving trend


Women’s Right- an ever evolving trend
The Africa woman is enmeshed in a world that situates her beneath the male counterpart as compared to other women in developed societies and therefore tries to subject her to a second class citizen. Sometimes one wonders if an African woman can ever break free from a society that denigrates her culturally, socially, and politically; these factors hinder her from achieving her utmost best apart from the fact that she must play her motherly role dutifully otherwise failure at this disintegrates the home front.

The African culture never intends to see the women emancipated (my opinion) as each day unwraps an epitome of inequality that exists in the society which perceives the man as supreme in actions and inactions. 

Activists and feminists all over the world have continually articulated the need to ensure women are accorded the same rights as men however the African terrain is impenetrable as the male dominance is a constant dynamic

The system is such that stereotypes women as subjects of sex and beauty, therefore, women emerging from this society needs to be constantly inspired and reassured that they can attain any heights to become whatever they desire in life.

Women are neglected in the decision making process, denied inheritance; and do not attain certain political role are critical concerns that have been raised overtime.

The Nigeria factor is no different, especially the south- east of the country where women can never be seen to participate in the same sphere with men, why? It dates back to time immemorial when the women are told that men are the Lords and therefore women “should only be seen and not heard”

The culture also maintains that a woman hair be shaved, and most times women endure painful dehumanizing experiences because she has to mourn her husband; interestingly the men are rarely made to experience this ordeal. 

Secondly women have no inheritances from their fathers, everything is bequeathed to the male, the belief is that once married she migrates to her husband’s house. Consequently inheritance is only guaranteed if she bears male children otherwise the husbands’ siblings’ carts away everything.

And then the incredulity which ridicules the fight for women rights is the injustice meted by women on their fellow women a case in point is “the Umu Adas” who uphold the tenets of customs that is barbaric and anachronistic that should have been abolished long ago.

Also, the nefarious deeds executed without compunction by this group includes demanding the bereaved shaves her hair, sits on the floor during the funeral period, may not allowed to have proper bath et c, failure to comply with the rules and regulations of this group incurs the automatic banishment from buying and selling on all market days and forbidden from interacting with others members of the village et c

Many in this group are of the view that the inhumane system should not  be reviewed and abolished as they have been made to endure it one way or the other therefore others must suffer this ordeal, a trend not only worrisome but still a persistent practice among the Igbos in the South- east of Nigeria

The fight for women rights must be all-inclusive as the womenfolk should be re-orientated and salvaged from the mentality of denigration, slavery and abuse. Therefore feminists and activists should not only demand their women rights but also braze up to tackle and consciously emancipate the womenfolk to eliminate all activities that undermine their own rights 

By Stella Nwofia

Press Statement:Media NGOs Condemn Suspension of Daar Communications , Urge NBC to Immediately Reverse the Decision

Press Statement

Media NGOs Condemn Suspension of Daar Communications , Urge NBC to Immediately Reverse the Decision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Lagos, Friday, June 7, 2019:  Three media -governmental organizations today condemned yesterday’s suspension by the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) of the broadcast of Daar Communications Limited, owners of the African Independent Television (AIT), Ray Power FM radio and  FM radio, describing the Commission’s action as unwarranted, unjust, and a violation of the right to freedom of expression and media freedom.

In their joint statement in Lagos signed by Mr. Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director of Media Rights Agenda (MRA); Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director of the International Press Centre (IPC); and Mr. Richard Akinnola, Director of the Media Law Centre (MLC), the organizations accused the NBC of constituting itself into the accuser of Daar Communications, the prosecutor and the judge, in violation of the rules of natural justice and the right to fair hearing.

Announcing the suspension of Daar Communications’ broadcast license at a press briefing in Abuja on June 6, Mr. Modibo Kawu, the NBC Director General, accused AIT/ of embarking on the use of inflammatory, divisive, inciting broadcasts, and media propaganda against the government and the Commission.

Mr. said: “Recently, NBC monitoring reports on AIT and indicate the use of divisive comments accredited to the segment of Kakaaki, tagged, ‘Kakaaki Social’ inciting comments like, ‘Nigeria is cursed,’ ‘we declare of Niger Delta’, ‘Nigeria irritates me’, ‘this country is gradually Islamising’ and other similar slogans are used without editorial control in breach of the broadcast Code.”

But the disagreed, arguing that the content referred to by the NBC does not violate any legitimate international professional broadcast media standard as the comments are not hate speeches and are not inciting.

They stressed that it is not the role of a broadcast regulator to protect a government from scrutiny or criticism, adding that by seeking to shield the government from embarrassment contrary to acceptable standards of media regulation, the NBC had become too partisan, thereby exacerbating its obvious lack of independence and concerned only with ingratiating itself with the political party in power.

The expressed concern that the NBC as currently constituted is obviously being held hostage by the government with its immediate past Chief Executive Officer and the current Director-General both facing trial on charges of corruption under this same government, adding “under these circumstances, it is difficult to see how the Commission can perform its functions independently, fearlessly and with credibility when it continues to operate under such a cloud.”

They argued that the role of the media is to serve as the marketplace of ideas with a clear responsibility under Section 22 of the Constitution to hold the government accountable to the people and provide the government with unvarnished feedback from members of the public who rely on the media to express their views on all issues relating to the management of their affairs..

They described the NBC’s action as an attempt to muzzle the media and unduly restrict freedom of expression, adding that it is unacceptable for the Commission to attempt to punish a media organization for providing feedback to the government from members of the public by airing opinions which though potentially embarrassing to the government, were not illegal or prohibited under any law.

The organizations contended that even if the NBC was correct in its claim that the airing of certain content in a single on AIT was wrong, that could not justify the closing down of the entire station and other sister radio stations which had not been accused of any wrongdoing.

They called on the NBC to immediately reverse its decision by lifting the suspension of the broadcast license of Commission, saying if it failed to do so within one week, they would approach the court to enforce their right to receive information and ideas through the media under section 39 of the Constitution.


Signed:

Edetaen Ojo
Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA)

Lanre Arogundade
Director, International Press Centre (IPC)

Richard Akinnola
Director, Media Law Centre (MLC)

Funds for investigative journalism available [Worldwide]

Environmental journalists with investigative reporting experience can apply for a grant.

GRID-Arendal's Environmental Crime Program is offering two grants of NOK25,000 (US$2,872) for investigative journalism project

Stories must focus on illegal logging or illegal fisheries. They should expose possible connections to organized crime or human rights in a country that is on the DAC list of Official Development Assistance (ODA) recipients.

The grants may cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel, document retrieval, interviews, equipment rental and other documentation costs.

The deadline is June 16.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com

ESET seeks entries on information safety [Latin America]

Print, broadcast and online journalists in Latin America can compete in this contest.

ESET software company is accepting entries for its journalism competition. The contest seeks to bring awareness to information security.

Works must have been published or broadcast between Aug. 31, 2018 and Aug. 9, 2019 in Latin America. The categories are print, digital and broadcast media.

The overall winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the 2020 Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, Spain, followed by a trip to Slovakia to visit ESET's offices.

The deadline is Aug. 9.

For more information, click stellanwofia.blogspot.com