Transparency crucial to stop corruption – US envoy

The federal government can run a more effective anti-corruption crusade if it goes about it in a more transparent way, the Deputy Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate-General Lagos, Mr. Frank Sellin, said Tuesday.

Delivering the lead speech at a Media Tweet-a-thon organised by International Press Centre (IPC) with the theme: International best practices in transparency in government and the role of the media, Sellin called for the protection of whistleblowers and provision of the right tools for anti-graft agencies.

He said: “Transparency is a crucial way to break the chain of corruption. That’s why the US government strongly supports open government.

“Governments become unstable when they muzzle the media. They become blind to the problems of the people and the solutions.

Sellin added that corruption affects all countries and Nigeria has to look for its own formula to tackle it.

One such formula is to make government accountable to the people.He said: “When governments don’t answer questions, people will talk about it anyway. Silence encourages speculation without facts.”

The consular officer recommended that the government should do all it can to defend media and judicial independence as well as limit secrecy.

“Bad governments,” Sellin said, “survive in the dark.”

He lamented that most of the publications in the media about the $2.1billion arms scandal are based on information released by the government and not what the media obtained by investigation.One of the lead discussants at the event, Mr. Martins Oloja, Editor, Guardian Newspaper, said governments tend to hide things, so journalists must stay vigilant.

“The health of a democracy depends on the amount of quality information available to the citizenry.”

Emphasising the place of funding in journalism, Oloja added: “There can be no editorial independence without financial independence.”
The Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, who delivered the welcome and closing remarks, said the media tweet conference marks the commencement of a one-year Media and Transparency Watch project.

Press Statement : IPC launches Media & Transparency Watch Project

he International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria, has commenced a one-year Media and Transparency Watch project designed to ensure that the Nigerian media serves as effective catalysts of transparency and good governance.

The project is being supported by the US Consulate-General, Lagos-Nigeria, to enhance the reporting of transparency issues through regular sensitization and exchange of ideas with media professionals.

To realize these objectives, IPC will hold the first in a series tweet conference (or Media tweet-a-thon) at 11am on Tuesday, January 12, 2016 under the theme: International Best Practices in Media Role in Transparency.

The lead speaker will be Frank Sellin, Deputy Public Affairs Officer, U.S. Consulate General Lagos while the lead discussants include Mr. Martins Oloja, the Editor of The Guardian and Jessica Tesoriero, Second Secretary for Political and Economic Affairs of the U.S. Consulate General Lagos.

The event will be attended by leading media professionals including editors and reporters, journalism and communication scholars as well as representatives of civil society groups, media professional bodies and media support groups.

The event will be streamed live via twitter, facebook and other social media channels to allow for the participation of as many interested individuals and groups as possible.

Subsequent tweet conferences under the Media and Transparency Watch project will feature presentations and discussions on open governance initiatives, digital journalism and reporting of transparency, the use of FOI Act in ant-corruption reporting, transparency issues in the extractive sector, etc.

It is expected that the outcomes of the tweet conferences will stimulate investigative journalism and media advocacy for greater transparency and anti-corruption in Nigeria.

Lanre Arogundade
Director
Tel: +234 (0) 8023186845 , +234 (0) 8067144874
Email: larogundade@ipcng.org, larogundade@gmail.com
Twitter: @lanreipc l Skype: lanre.arogundade2

International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos, Nigeria
IPC is Nigeria's foremost media capacity development organization.
www.ipcng.org l www.twitter.com/IPCng l www.facebook.com/ipc.nigeria lwww.youtube.com/ipcng l Google+ : Ipc Ng

No To Muzzling Of Social Media - - Leadership

Contrary to the body language of the present administration to promote good
governance, protect human rights and expose corruption, the frenetic pace
with which the “Bill for an Act to Prohibit Frivolous Petitions and Other
Matters Connected Therewith” passed two of the constitutionally stipulated
three sittings in the Senate leaves a putrid taste in the mouth. It has
caused public opinion and discourse to tag the proposed law “Anti-social
media bill” and brought sad memories of press gag into global attention.

On the face value, devoting two consecutive legislative business days and a
record eight days, including setting up three important Senate committees –
Information, Communications Technology; Judiciary to be led by the Ethics
and Privileges Committee, means the Bukola Saraki-led Senate is more
interested in the laws that protect the elite rather than the ones that
favour the masses.

We are worried because the proposed law states that “Where any person
through text message, tweets, WhatsApp or through any social media posts
any abusive statement knowing same to be false with intent to set the
public against any person and group of persons, an institution of
government or such other bodies established by law shall be guilty of an
offence and upon conviction, shall be liable to an imprisonment for two
years or a fine of N2m or both fine and imprisonment.” This is not only
ridiculous, it is asinine. Though the Senate president and some of his
colleagues publicly acknowledged the positive impact of social media on
their political and professional careers, we believe enacting a law to
protect public officers is time-wasting, frivolous, hypocritical and should
be an embarrassment to all democrats.

We are not unmindful of perky news freely shared on social media, but
democracy as a form of government permits free speech and unfettered
sharing of information. Section 39 of the Nigerian constitution guards
people’s right to freedom of expression, including freedom to hold opinions
and to receive and impart ideas and information without interference, as
enshrined in the United Nations Declaration on Human Rights. It is a global
best practice that Nigeria should align with scrupulously. Deviating from
this will amount to a descent to the despotic past where journalists were
jailed for writing truthful reports that embarrassed the privileged class.
Democracy thrives on transparency and anyone that has anything to hide has
no business seeking public office.

The Senate will be progressing in error if it goes ahead in processing this
bill when our statute books are replete with laws dealing with false
allegations, libel, defamation and other torts. The time wasted on the bill
portrays the Senate as idle, bereft of ideas and lacking focus. A
people-oriented legislature should prioritise laws that promote good
governance, welfare for the people and deliver infrastructure and not dwell
on petty issues like restricting the scope of human freedoms, growth of new
platforms of social interaction and public accountability.

It is recommended that the bill be withdrawn immediately and anyone
interested in enlightened self-protection or national interest governance
over the use of the internet or electronic communication, as indicated in
Sections 3 and 4 of the proposed Bill, should read again the content of the
Cybercrimes Bill of 2014. The attempt to jump from petitions/affidavit to
electronic communication on interpretations for intent, petition, and other
issues covered under the Freedom of Information Act and protection of
whistle blowers is not only dubious and unlawful but antithetic to
democratic norms and practices and the constitution to which all Senators
swore to uphold.

IWMF's fund for women journalists seeks applications [Worldwide]

Female journalists of all nationalities can apply for a grant to attend a security training program.

The International Women's Media Foundation (IWMF) is accepting applications for the Howard G. Buffett Fund, which aims to support women journalists in their projects and endeavors.  

In the final round of the US$230,000 fund, applicants can apply to attend the Hostile Environment and First Aid Training Jan. 22 to 24, 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, or a security training course of their own choosing.

The IWMF will award funding in this round of applications for the Fund for Women Journalists exclusively for journalists to obtain hostile environments and first aid training (HEFAT). There are two options to apply.

Option1: Women journalists may apply for stipends to attend a security-training course of their own choosing. To apply for this option, applicants must have already selected a training provider and provide proof of the cost to participate. 

Option 2: Through the Fund for Women Journalists the IWMF will sponsor a 3-day Hostile Environment and First Aid Training for 14 women journalists from January 22-24 in Nairobi, Kenya. The Fund for Women Journalists will cover the full cost of training including accommodations and meals. Funding for travel costs to the training venue in Nairobi will be considered based on need.

Applications for either option must be submitted via the IWMF’s online application system.

All applications must include:

-       Resume/CV

-       Links to work samples in English

-       Designation of which option you are pursuing

-       Statement on how this opportunity will benefit you professionally

All applications must be received by December 1, 2015 at midnight US EST.

Deadline approaching: reporting fellowship to cover the refugee crisis [Worldwide]

BOSTON – The GroundTruth Project is announcing a two-week reporting fellowship to cover the Middle East refugee crisis through the lens of on-going humanitarian efforts to help Syrians and Iraqis survive another harsh winter in host countries such as Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon.

This fellowship will begin in mid-January and will be awarded to two visual journalists early in their career. We are looking for a photographer and a videographer who will be open to working together as a team led in the field led by GroundTruth founder and veteran Middle East correspondent Charles Sennott.

The fellowship will include funding to cover all travel, lodging and insurance for this journey and a modest stipend for the fellows. It will also include an introduction to risk assessment and safety training.

The team will work together to find the human stories, particularly those of children, and a narrative thread woven through the historic movement of millions of refugees fleeing war and instability.

This fellowship is made possible with support from World Vision, a child-focused aid and development organization which works in more than 100 countries to help communities find long-term solutions to poverty and injustice. World Vision is a faith-based NGO that serves all people regardless of religion, race, ethnicity or gender.

While working in partnership with World Vision, The GroundTruth Project will retain full editorial control of the project and publish it through existing editorial partners.

To apply for this fellowship, please send a resume, a cover letter of no more than 500 words explaining why you should be considered and no less than three links to samples of your work.

Please send applications via email with the subject line “COVERING THE REFUGEE CRISIS” and address cover letters to GroundTruth Managing Editor Kevin Grant at kgrant (at) thegroundtruthproject.org.

 

The deadline for applications is December 1 and winners will be announced December 7.

SAVE THE DATE: TENTH WOLE SOYINKA AWARD FOR INVESTIGATIVE REPORTING

World Press Photo and Everyday Africa create new database for African photojournalists

TOPIC: 

• PHOTOJOURNALISM

Sam Berkhead | November 12, 2015

African photojournalists will soon have a new resource at their disposal: the African Photojournalism Database, created by World Press Photo and Everyday Africa.

David Campbell, senior media coordinator atWorld Press Photo, said the database aims to recognize the contributions of local photographers in Africa. The database will also increase the variety of visual depictions of Africa so the international community can better understand life on the continent.

Photojournalists will be able to demonstrate their talents and areas of interest by showcasing photos from stories they’re already working on. The database will also expose their work to international editors, helping them to connect with global media. Journalists and media organizations hoping to report in Africa will be able to browse the database to find photographers, as well.

Currently, 246 photographers from 22 countries have registered for the African Photojournalism Database. Because the database is not yet public, Campbell said it’s best for interested photographers to register now with as much information as possible. The database will go public early next year, at which point World Press Photo and Everyday Africa will begin verifying registered photojournalists before making the photos public.

“Photojournalism offers an important visual representation of people and places,” Campbell explained. “It shapes much about how we know the world. We need to encourage as many diverse perspectives as possible in order to get better representations, and we want to support local photographers so they can tell the stories that are important to their communities.”

Campbell also emphasized the importance of its partner, Everyday Africa, an international social media campaign that curates photographs representative of everyday life in Africa. The organization thrives on Tumblr and Instagram, where it has 274,115 followers.

On each platform, photographers living and working in Africa upload images that, according to its Tumblr page, “redirect focus toward a more accurate understanding of what the majority of Africans experience on a day-to-day basis: normal life.”

“Over the years, we have run a number of programs with partners in Africa, and we want to build on that,” Campbell said. “We know there is great work produced in Africa, but we don’t know enough about who is doing it and where they are doing it. Everyday Africa is a fantastic initiative that has given us new ways of seeing, and we are excited to be collaborating with them on this important project.”

To register with the African Photojournalism Database, go to apjd.org.

Main image is a screenshot of Everyday Africa's Tumblr page.

Restorative Narrative Fellowship open [Worldwide]

Images & Voices of Hope is now accepting applications for the second iteration of its Restorative Narrative Fellowship.

ivoh’s fellowship is an extension of the organization’s work around Restorative Narrative — a genre of stories that show how people and communities are making a meaningful progression from a place of despair to a place of resilience. (You can read more about Restorative Narratives, and find related examples, here.)

The fellowship will provide four fellows with a stipend to spend six months telling Restorative Narratives in various communities. The fellowship is open to media practitioners of all kinds — photographers, journalists, gamers, documentary filmmakers, and marketers. Both freelancers and employed media practitioners can apply. Freelancers will be required to find a home for their projects, while those employed at media organizations can work on their fellowship project with the intent of publishing it on their organization’s website.

Each fellow will receive a $2,500 stipend for financial support and to cover costs associated with their work for the fellowship. These costs may include travel, data analysis, research expenses, and more. Fellows, who will work with a story coach during the fellowship, will maintain autonomy throughout the storytelling process and will not be beholden to their story coach or funders.

Fellows can choose to pursue one big project or a series of smaller projects. They can work independently or in collaboration with other media practitioners, with the understanding that only the fellow will receive a stipend.

What’s covered

The fellowship provides:

• A $2,500 stipend. Half will be paid at the beginning of the fellowship and half will be paid upon completion of the project.
• Coaching from Jacqui Banaszynski, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist, longtime editor, and a professor at the University of Missouri. Jacqui will be available to offer story coaching and support throughout the six months.
• All-expenses paid trips to two fellows dialogues, one of which will include a day-long training workshop with Jacqui Banaszynski.
• Involvement as a speaker at ivoh’s annual media summit, which attracts media practitioners from around the world.
• Ongoing recognition and support from ivoh staff.

Fellowship timeline

• Nov. 16, 2015: Application deadline
• Dec. 1, 2015: Winning fellows notified
• Jan. 1, 2016: Fellowship begins
• Jan. 10-11, 2016: First fellows dialogue and training workshop, to be held at The Poynter Institute in St. Petersburg, FL
• Late May/June 2016: Tentative time for second fellows dialogue (exact date and location to be determined by early 2016).
• July 1, 2016: Fellowship ends

Expectations

Fellows will be expected to:

• Complete their project within the six-month deadline, barring any extenuating circumstances
• Attend and actively participate in the two fellows dialogues and ivoh’s annual media summit (all expenses will be paid; exact summit date will be determined by Nov. 1.)
• Interact on a monthly basis (or more, if needed) with story coach Jacqui Banaszynski to seek feedback and share updates on how the fellowship project is progressing.
• Sign a letter of agreement, and have their editor/boss sign it, as a show of support for the fellowship and as an indicator that the fellowship guidelines/expectations are clear.

Community development project :The New feather In IPCs' Cap

For eight years in my work with International Press Center, Lagos the SCEEP project has been the most multitasking, challenging, risk laden and fun fulfilled project ever embarked upon by my organisation

The community based project tagged Strengthening Citizens’ Engagement in Electoral Processes (SCEEP) being implemented across ten (10) States by ACTIONAID Nigeria, is funded by UKAID through The Department for International Development (DFID).

IPC being the Lagos implementing partner concurs that this project has brought us down from ‘our high horses’ to the real world. In fact, the experiences garnered through this project have revealed that a lot needs to be done in terms of propagating the issues of development in rural areas.

Itun-agan community 

 IPC team en-route to Itun-agan

Fishing : The main source of livelihood at Itun-agan

Itun-agan community

Development reporting is vital to ensuring that the voiceless are heard and governance is held accountable to people who voted them in. Funders therefore should encourage reporters to venture into development reportage otherwise the  poor will continue to languish in their plight amidst plenty.

ICFJ Anywhere offers webinar on Twitter for journalists [Worldwide]

Journalists worldwide interested in learning how to maximize their use of Twitter can attend a free webinar. 

ICFJ Anywhere is offering the fifth in a series of webinars for journalists supported by the Dow Jones Foundation. In an hourlong discussion, ICFJ Knight International Journalism Fellow Chris Roperwill discuss Twitter's capacity to reinvent journalism for media companies, impacting the editorial and business sides. This webinar will highlight best Twitter practices and provide examples of the potential hazards of Twitter.

The discussion will begin at 10:00 a.m. EST / 3 p.m. UTC on Nov. 18. The webinar will be hosted through Google+ Hangout here. The Hangout will be created on the day of the event.

Participants can enter the channel here at 10 a.m. EST / 3 p.m. UTC to see the Hangout. They can interact with Roper and other participants in a question-and-answer format by sending in questions via the YouTube chat or this Twitter hashtag: #icfjdigital.

Roper is a veteran digital strategist with more than 15 years experience in different newsrooms implementing digital programs for the changing media landscape and as a means to creating better journalism. He most recently held the position of editor-in-chief at Mail & Guardian, where he was the first editor-in-chief of a major South African newspaper to come from a digital background.

Roper is currently the data editor for ICFJ’s Code for Africa (CfAfrica) data journalism initiative in four hub countries: Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Tanzania.