Rory Peck Trust organizes video contest for journalists [Worldwide]

Freelance videojournalists who cover international news and current affairs can apply for an award.

The Rory Peck Awards, organized by the Rory Peck Trust, aim at honoring freelance cameramen and camerawomen. The Rory Peck Trust was established in 1995, two years after freelance cameraman Rory Peck was killed while filming in Moscow.

There are three awards: news, features and the Sony Professional Impact Award for Current Affairs.

In all categories, the awards recognize the quality of camerawork, but also take into account individual endeavor, initiative and journalistic ability.

Entries must have been broadcast (television, agency feed, recognized online news publisher) between July 1,  2017 and May 31, 2018. Works not in English must be accompanied by a detailed storyline and translation.

The application deadline is June 6.

For more information on how to enter, click here.

Academia de Innovación Política offers Online course [Latin America]

Journalists, activists, lawyers and others can register for this course in Spanish.

Academia de Innovación Política organizes a two-month online training starting June 4.

Participants will learn self-defense strategies against censorship and rights violations, as well as digital security strategies.

Instructors are Maricarmen Sequera, Eduardo Carrillo, Melanio Escobar and Cristian León.

Registration is ongoing. The cost is US$150 or the equivalent in local currency.

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

Journalism exchange fellowship open [US, Austria]

Print, broadcast and freelance journalists in the United States and Austria ages 21 to 38 can apply for a seven-week fellowship.

The International Center for Journalists and the Kuratorium für Journalistenausbildung (KfJ) seek candidates for their U.S.-Austrian Journalism Exchange Fellowships, which give three to six journalists an opportunity to report from and travel in each other's countries.

The program is open to journalists who are employed by or freelance for a newspaper, news magazine, broadcast station or news agency. Applicants must have demonstrated journalistic talent with at least three years of experience and a strong interest in U.S.-European affairs. Foreign language proficiency is not required, but it is strongly preferred and will be taken into consideration during the selection process.

Fellows receive adequate living stipends during their fellowship assignments. The program also pays for international and domestic travel expenses, living expenses in Washington and Vienna, as well as insurance costs and transportation allowances.

The program will run from Sept. 4 to Oct. 22.

The deadline is May 31 for U.S. journalists and May 14 for Austrian journalists.

For more information on how to apply, click here. 

NGRI offers Media Oil Reform Fellowship [Nigeria]

Senior and midcareer journalists interested in deepening their mastery of oil and gas reporting can apply for this fellowship.

The Nigeria program of the Natural Resource Governance Institute organizes the Media for Oil Reform (MFOR) Fellowship.

Fellows receive up to US$3,000 and technical support to complete extractive stories, attend international media events and participate in regional international extractive industries events.

Candidates must have a proven record of reporting on oil and gas topics, advanced journalism skills and newsroom leadership potential.

The deadline is May 15.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Institute offers offers journalism residency program [Worldwide]

Experienced science journalists can apply for this program.

The Max Planck Institute for Gravitational Physics (Albert Einstein Institute) offers its Journalist in Residence program in Potsdam, Germany.

The fellow spends up to two months engaging with scientists and becoming familiar with the institute’s research. He or she is also expected to present a seminar on science communication.

The organizer provides EUR3,500/month and help defray travel expenses if necessary.

Candidates must have excellent knowledge of written and spoken English; knowledge of German is welcome but not required.

The deadline is June 11.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Media Agency seeks journalist [Europe, Eastern Europe]

Experienced multimedia journalists with good knowledge of Russian and English can apply for this position.

The BBC Russian service is hiring a journalist to join its team in London.

Candidates must have experience in producing multimedia content in a breaking news environment; wide knowledge of current affairs and social trends in the target region; and be able to independently gather and produce output for various platforms, including online, digital video, TV and social media.

The deadline is May 17.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

John Alexander project offers reporting fellowship [US]

U.S.-based journalists can apply for a fellowship to conduct a reporting project abroad.

Sponsored by the John Alexander Project and NPR, the Fray Fellowship is designed to give a promising journalist the opportunity to cover important underreported stories from abroad.

The selected individual will spend three months filing on-air and online stories for NPR.

Applicants should combine the depth of traditional journalists with the technical innovation of new media and have between three and five years of professional experience. 

The deadline to apply is July 1.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Media Startup seeks freelancers [MENA]

Journalists with at least one year of experience can apply for this freelancing opportunity.

Culture Trip, a global tech/media startup, is looking for freelance writers in the Middle East.

Freelancers are expected to produce articles on a range of genres: travel, food, art, fashion, literature, film, TV, music, architecture, home & design, tech, health & wellness and sports. 

Candidates must have a varied portfolio, preferably with a focus on travel and arts & culture writing, and have knowledge of specific locations or areas within their country. Working knowledge of WordPress is essential.

To submit a pitch, email writing samples and your CV to freelance @theculturetrip.com including your country in the subject line.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

Mesa Refuge offers writing residency [US]

Journalists, essayists, economists, naturalists, screenwriters and other writers can apply for a writing residency program.

The Mesa Refuge, located in Point Reyes Station, California, provides time, space and solitude for writers to delve into their work. Topics related to nature, the human economy and social equity receive priority.

The next sessions available are Sept. 21 to Oct. 4; Oct. 5 to 18; Oct. 19 to Nov. 1; and Nov. 2 to 15.

Room and most dinners are provided at no cost, but participants must pay for their own travel.

The deadline is June 1. There is a US$40 application fee.

For more information on how to apply, click here.

World Press Freedom Day: IPC to launch Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI); calls for prompt Presidential assent of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill

To mark the 2018 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD), the International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos-Nigeria has announced the launch of the “The Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)”, which is scheduled to take place on May 2^nd 2018.

Director of IPC, Mr. Lanre Arogundade said in a statement that “The Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)” aims to advance the right to freedom of expression for online journalists in Nigeria and that It is premised on ensuring that internet spaces and online platforms are safe and free of institutional limitations for journalists and other media practitioners to use as mediums of information and engagement.

He further stated that as part of the project, a research report titled “Issues in frameworks, freedom of expression and Internet rights in Nigeria: A baseline research by the Nigerian Journalists Internet Rights Initiative (NJIRI)” will be presented and disseminated to stakeholder groups in the freedom of expression community as a key feature of the official launch of the NJIRI.

Mr. Arogundade explained that IPC recognizes the need to use the WPFD to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the 1948 Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in Windhoek in 1991. In line with this, IPC therefore calls for the prompt Assent of the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill.

A Tweet Conference session will be held as part of the Launch, focusing on the Digital Rights and Freedom Bill. The Bill was passed by the House of Representatives on December 19, 2017, and was similarly passed by the Senate, on March 13. The piece of legislation that is proposed for “an act to provide for the Protection of Human Rights Online, To Protect Internet Users in Nigeria From Infringement of their Fundamental Freedoms and to Guarantee Application of Human Rights for users of Digital platform and/or digital Media and for Related Matters. IPC will use this session to address new challenges to Journalists Press Freedom Online in Nigeria, increasing awareness on the Bill and to engage Stakeholders to advocate for prompt Presidential assent of the Bill. Presentations will be delivered by representatives of Paradigm Initiative, Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the (Online) Nation Newspaper.

NJIRI is being supported by International Freedom of Exchange (IFEX), an international freedom of expression organization headquartered in Toronto, Canada.

Olutoyin Ayoade

Communications Officer

International Press Centre (IPC), Lagos

+2348114503887

tayoade@ipcng.org