ABO Capital accepting entries for essay competition [Africa]

College students ages 18 and older are invited to enter this contest.

ABO Capital, an international investment firm, is accepting entries for its essay competition. 

Essays must be 500 words or less and discuss the economic potential of the African continent. Possible topics include ongoing projects in technology, sustainability or agriculture.

The grand prize winner essay will receive a scholarship for one full semester of college. The top three essays will win an all-expenses paid trip to Angola.

The deadline is Feb. 28.

For more information, click here.

InterAction Photo contest open [Worldwide]

Images from outside the United States are eligible for a prize.

InterAction is accepting entries for its annual photography contest.

Photos must illustrate innovative, effective and inspiring efforts in international relief and development

The contest has three categories: best youth potential photo, best women's empowerment photo and best photo taken with a mobile phone.

The grand prize winner will receive US$1,000. Each category winner will be awarded US$100.

The deadline is April 6.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Media Project seeks journalists [US]

Emerging journalists are invited to participate in a program that seeks to strengthen local media.

Report For America (RFA), a project funded by journalists Charles Sennott and Steven Waldman with support from The GroundTruth Project, Google News Lab and others, will place journalists in local newsrooms in under-covered corners of America.

RFA is looking for reporting corps members to spend one year in a local newsroom, with the opportunity to renew. 

The selected journalists will attend an intensive advanced training on Google tools taught by Google News Lab, covering municipal finance and solutions journalism.

The deadline is March 23.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Mercosur's RECyT organizes science journalism contest [South America]

Journalists, journalism students and photographers living in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay, Peru, Uruguay and Venezuela can compete.

Mercosur's RECyT has launched the second Mercosur Science Journalism Prize, which aims to promote the communication of science, technology and innovation in the Mercosur region and to encourage a greater presence of these areas of knowledge in the media.

The contest's theme is "Technologies and knowledge economy." There are two categories: writing (junior and professional) and photography.

The first three places in each category will receive a plaque and the recognition of RECyT.

The deadline is April 26.

For more information (in Spanish), click here.

Grants for cross-border reporting projects available [Europe]

International teams of freelancers and staff journalists, photographers or visual storytellers from participating countries can apply for these grants.

The program "Reporters in the field", organized by N-ost agency, offers grants up to EUR8,000 for cross-border projects.

The grant can be used to cover both travel costs and remuneration.

At least two team members must participate in a workshop June 15 to 17 in Berlin.

The deadline is March 25.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Media program accepting applications for 10 full scholarships [Worldwide]

Young journalists, media managers and other communication professionals can apply.

DW Akademie is accepting applications for its International Media Studies program (IMS) in Bonn, Germany. Students who successfully complete the four-semester program will be awarded a master of arts degree.

The program offers a mix of research, lectures and practical experience and combines these disciplines: media and development, journalism, communications and media management.

Ten full scholarships are offered to applicants from Africa, Asia, Latin America or Eastern Europe. 

Applicants must have a bachelor’s degree and at least a year of professional experience in a media-related field. Applicants must also have a good command of German and English.

The deadline is March 31.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

DIEESE offers economics course for journalists [Brazil]

Journalists interested in economic reporting can register for this evening course.

The DIEESE School of Labor Sciences organizes an economics course for journalists and communication professionals March 5, 12, 19 and 26 and April 2 and 9 in São Paulo.

The course will present the fundamentals of economics and public economic policies in order to improve the public's understanding of the main aspects of the economy.

The instructor is Patrícia Lino Costa, DIEESE economist.

Registration is ongoing, but spots are limited. The cost ranges from BRL200 to BRL350. Register by Feb. 23 to receive a discount.

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

Internet Tech Company seeks reporter [China]

Budding journalists can apply for this entry-level position in Beijing.

NetEase, an internet technology company, is hiring a reporter. The selected journalist will be responsible for writing and editing.

A bachelor's degree is required; more related experience is preferred.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Press Freedom Award seeks entries [MENA]

Print and online Journalists from the Middle East, Mediterranean and Gulf regions can compete for a EUR10,000 (US$12,238) prize.

The European Union seeks entries for the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press, named after the Lebanese journalist and author who was assassinated in 2005.

Entries must have been published between March 15, 2017 and March 15, 2018.

Applicants can submit only one article related to human rights, including good governance, the fight against corruption, freedom of expression, etc. The full article must be submitted with an English translation, proof of publication and a resume.

The competition features three categories: best opinion piece, best investigative reporting and best audiovisual reporting. Each winner receives the cash prize at a ceremony in Beirut, Lebanon.

The deadline is April 10.

For more information onn how to apply, click here.

Online Freedom of Expression Litigation Workshop available (Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda,Tanzania, Uganda)

East Africa Digital Rights & Online Freedom of Expression Litigation Workshop

3 – 6 April 2018, Nairobi, Kenya

The Media Legal Defence Initiative (MLDI) is calling for applications from lawyers based in Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda to participate in a forthcoming litigation workshop on the right to online freedom of expression, digital rights and the Internet. Successful applicants will attend the litigation workshop and become active members of a digital rights legal network through which there will be opportunity for engagement regionally and internationally.
All applicants are required to submit for discussion a current or potential case involving these matters. If applicants do not have a case, they may submit a relevant law, practice or policy relating to online freedom of expression that they would like to see challenged in court.

Litigation workshop objectives
MLDI provides legal support to journalists, bloggers and independent media. In recent years, MLDI has supported a significant number of cases involving online media. These have included challenging social media blocking and Internet shutdowns, contesting cyber crimes legislation and intermediary liability, as well as calling for greater protections for online privacy and source protection.
Specifically, the objectives of the litigation workshop are:

• To equip participants with skills and knowledge to litigate using national and international laws as well as regional and international mechanisms relevant to freedom of expression online;
• To build a digital rights network and help facilitate its engagement with international legal mechanisms and global civil society initiatives; and  
• To assist and develop working relationships amongst lawyers undertaking such cases.

Criteria for eligibility
Participants will be selected on the following criteria:

• The workshop is open to lawyers from Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda;
• Applicants can either be working in private practice or be working for or be affiliated with NGOs promoting the right to freedom of expression in East Africa through litigation. Exceptionally strong applications from lawyers who have not yet undertaken freedom of expression work, but have experience litigating other human rights cases and have a strong interest in undertaking freedom of expression work will be considered as well. A maximum of 12 participants will be selected;
• The lawyers must have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of the right to online freedom of expression, digital rights, internet freedom and/or related issues;
• The lawyers must have a demonstrated interest in and/or knowledge of international and regional human rights law;
• With their application, applicants are requested to submit a case study of a case that they are litigating or intend to litigate and that could be discussed during the litigation workshop. As set out above, it will suffice for participants who do not have a case that is pending to have identified a relevant law, practice or policy relating to online freedom of expression that they would like to challenge in court. However, such participants must demonstrate their ability and willingness to pursue the case after the workshop;
• The cases submitted must involve a violation of the fundamental right to freedom of expression online;
• The following non-exhaustive list of themes are a guide for the type of cases that could be submitted with the application:

• Cybercrime laws;
• Intermediary liability;
• Internet shutdowns;
• Restriction of online media;
• Online privacy;
• National security; and
• Anonymity online.

Please note that the working language for the workshop will be English.
How to apply
Please complete the attached application form and submit it to Michael Moss at michael.moss@mediadefence

Deadline: Wednesday 21 February 2018.

Shortlisted applicants will be notified soon after the closing date and should be available for a Skype or telephone interview on 26, 27 or 28 February 2018.