The Society of Environmental Journalists Fund for Journalists around the globe

June 19, 2014 By Gamala Luitel


Deadline: 15 July 2014

The Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ) invites environmental journalists around the world to apply for grants. The SEJ’s Environmental Journalism Fund helps the journalists underwrite environmental reporting projects and entrepreneurial ventures. The primary objective of the fund is to provide incentives and support to qualified journalists and news organizations to enhance the quantity and quality of environmental journalism.

The SEJ provides up to $3,500 for the research work which can be spent towards project-related travel, training, research materials, database analysis, environmental testing, and other direct non-personnel costs required for success of the reporting project or entrepreneurial venture.

Eligibility Criteria

• Applicants must be qualified journalist working independently or on the staff of either a for-profit or non-profit news organization worldwide.
• Applicants’ work must be in journalism or closely related to journalism, and her/his responsibilities must not include public relations work on environmental issues or lobbying on environmental issues.
• Applicants can be either the SEJ member or may be non-members.
• Journalists working for print, broadcast and/or online media; and full-time faculty or students working or enrolled at accredited schools are the eligible applicants who, also, are eligible to become the SEJ member.

For more information, please visit Fund for Environmental Journalism.

SAFMA Sri Lanka appeals for balanced news media coverage

Condemns attacks on journalists

SAFMA Sri Lanka appeals for balanced news media coverage 

The South Asian Free Media Association, with national chapters in all SAARC countries, is a grouping of journalists with a social commitment to devote their profession towards full democracy and development. On the basis of our concern for our own Sri Lankan society we have noted the relatively low coverage of the recent social-religious clashes and the on-going tension in the country among our various communities.  

As veteran media professionals, we are aware that most media houses had sent reporting teams to the riot-hit areas very early as the violence began to escalate. The new expressway enabled quick deployment of media teams to the affected area thereby ensuring coverage of incidents from an early stage of the unrest. Despite the availability of the information gathered by the media personnel, there has been a stark paucity of news coverage of what is the single most significant and newsworthy situation in the country today.

We find that there is a public perception, both locally and internationally, that the Sri Lankan news media are under-reporting the current anti-Muslim social unrest. There are also reports of informal pressure applied by the Government on media managements not to report the violent incidents in Aluthgma and Beruvala areas. This under-reporting of actual violent events and causal incidents, contributes to the spread of untruthful and biased information through means of social media networks and public rumours.

SAFMA Sri Lanka has received complaints of physical harassment and intimidation of journalists in the field covering the incidents and condemns these attacks. It is possible that informal political pressures as well as the general atmosphere of long-time political intimidation of the media have contributed to the low-key publication and broadcast of reports on this communal unrest. The journalistic community both here and internationally, has a long and proud tradition of bravely resisting pressures and daring to report every socially important incident, especially situations of injustice. We should not be deterred by these pressures.   

SAFMA Sri Lanka thus calls on all Sri Lankan journalists and media houses to fulfil their patriotic duty and responsibility by observing the highest standards of socially responsible and non-sensationalist reporting of the current situation of communal tensions. The Sri Lankan news media is challenged to ensure accurate and balanced coverage of events and incidents relating to the current social clashes and thereby help create better public awareness of actual issues which, in turn, will counter the rumours and deliberate allegations by unpatriotic elements to provoke suspicion and hostility between socio-religious communities.

SAFMA-SL extends it fullest co-operation in all efforts by the Ministry of Mass Media and also by relevant civil society groups to manage a comprehensive flow of information to the public in a manner that would ensure maximum awareness and minimum mis-perception and provocation among the general public.

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Bastiat Prize for Journalism

The 13th annual Bastiat Prize for Journalism will award $16,000 in prizes to writers from around the globe who explain the importance of freedom with originality, wit, and eloquence.


Winner: $10,000
Second Prize: $5,000
Third Prize: $1,000.

For complete rules, entry form and past winning entries, go to:
http://reason.com/reasonmediaawards/bastiatprizeforjournalism.php

Eligibility: Work first published in print and/or online between July 1, 2013 and June 30, 2014, including but not limited to articles in newspapers, magazines, and blogs.

Deadline: Entries must be received by July 31, 2014

Frédéric Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French philosopher and politician whose clear, elegant writing used simple illustrative examples persuasively to make the case that "The solution to the problems of human relationships is to be found in liberty."

In the enduring spirit of Bastiat's brilliant work and his profound understanding and explication of the dangers of government intervention, the Bastiat Prize for Journalism is given to writers who explain the importance of freedom with originality, wit, and eloquence.

The winner of the Bastiat Prize will be announced at the Reason Media Awards dinner in New York City on November 10, 2014.

The Bastiat Prize is one of three prizes which will be awarded in the 2014 Reason Media Awards, which showcase the efforts of outstanding journalists who are advancing the principles of free minds and free markets by educating their readers about individual liberty, free markets, and the rule of law. For more information, visit: www.reasonmediaawards.org

One Month Long Feminist Capacity Building Course by Sangat South Asia

April 29, 2014 By Gamala Luitel


Deadline: 30 June 2014

Women professionals and researchers in South Asia Region working as trainers/facilitators of capacity building processes/programs on gender, peace, development, rights are invited to participate in one month long Feminist Capacity Building Course on Gender, Sustainable Livelihoods, Human Rights and Peace. The training program organized by Sangat – a South Asian Feminist Network is to be held from 14 September to 14 October 2014 in TEWA Center, Kathmandu, Nepal.

This is the 19th series of Sangat Course designed as ‘Training for Trainers’ and thus focus on training methodology, presentations by participants, training materials and others related topics. Women who have already attended the course are highly encouraged to participate. Maximum 40 women professionals will be participating in the training course.

The training course is designed to provide clarity, dialogue and shared understanding on concepts and issues related to gender, justice, poverty, sustainable development, peace, democracy and human rights.

Eligibility Criteria:
Applicants can be the trainers/facilitators of capacity building processes/programs on gender, peace, development, human rights.
Applicants must have a minimum of five years’ work experience and some experience as trainers or facilitators.
Applicants must have good working knowledge of spoken and written English.
Applicants must have a background working on women’s empowerment, human rights, agriculture, sustainable livelihoods, labour, holistic health, peace, democracy, secularism and other related fields.
Applicant must hold a passport with at least one year validity before applying.

Application materials include completed application form, personal information sheet, curriculum vitae of applicant/nominee, a write up (800-1000 words), and fellowship application.

For more information, please visit Apply for South Asian Month Long Course.

Digital storytelling contest

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/digital-storytelling-contest-open-worldwide


Documentary makers worldwide can enter this contest.

The International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) is looking for interactive and new media projects for its annual competition for digital documentary storytelling.

The festival will showcase more than 250 documentaries, from international audience favorites to artistic experiments. IDFA also includes interactive documentaries and other non-fiction forms of digital storytelling, including games, apps, installations and media art.

The festival will take place from Nov. 19 to 30.

The deadline to submit a documentary is May 1. Projects must have been completed between Aug. 1, 2013 and April 1, 2014.

For more information, click here.

Photography grants available

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/photography-grants-available-worldwide


Photographers worldwide can apply for a US$5,000 grant to support a social documentary project.

The Manuel Rivera-Ortiz Foundation for International Photography aims to create an online showcase of outstanding photography worldwide and award a grant to one social documentary photographer to aid in the production or completion of a project.

Photos and proposed projects should be based on pressing social issues in developing nations or communities of poverty, health, oppression, war, famine, religious/political persecution and similar issues.

Applicants must submit one contact sheet with up to 15 images, an essay describing their work, a project proposal, resume and headshot by March 31.

Selected photographers will be asked to submit full-size images to the online showcase and one finalist will receive the grant.

For more information, click here.

Scholarships for journalism courses available

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/scholarships-journalism-courses-available-worldwide


Midcareer journalists from several developing countries can apply for a scholarship to attend an RNTC course in the Netherlands.

The Netherlands Fellowship Programmes (NFP) are accepting applications for journalism courses at theRadio Nederland Training Centre (RNTC). NFP is funded by the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs and run by the Netherlands Organization for International Cooperation in Higher Education (NUFFIC).

RNTC is offering several courses for journalists:

• Multimedia Journalism & Water (Nov. 3-21, 2014)
• Inside International Justice (Nov. 5-18, 2014)
• Mastering Social Media (Jan. 19-30, 2015)
• Broadcast Journalism (Feb. 2- April 24, 2015)
• Radio/TV Journalism (Feb. 2- March 13, 2015)

Candidates must be from one of these countries: Afghanistan, Albania, Armenia, Autonomous Palestinian Territories, Bangladesh, Benin, Bhutan, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Burma, Burundi, Cambodia, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Georgia, Ghana, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Jordan, Kenya, Macedonia, Mali, Mongolia, Mozambique, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Surinam, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda, Vietnam, Yemen, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

NFP fellowships cover travel costs, accommodation and the course fee.

The deadline to apply for the fellowship program is May 6.

Registration deadlines for the individual courses vary.

For more information, click here.

Freelance, local journalism contest

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/freelance-local-journalism-contest-open-worldwide


Print and online journalists worldwide can apply for an award.

The Thomson Reuters Foundation hosts the Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism, honoring the work of freelance journalists and of local reporters in developing countries or nations in transition who often otherwise receive little recognition.

Named in honor of the American freelance journalist killed in a military ambush while on assignment for Reuters in Sierra Leone in 2000, the awards are made annually by the Kurt Schork Memorial Fund (KSMF).

The awards feature two categories: freelance journalists covering international news and local reporters covering events in their home country or region. Each winner receives a US$5,000 prize at a ceremony in London.

The stories can be about conflict, human rights, cross-border issues or any controversial matter in a particular country or region. Each submission must demonstrate professionalism, meet international journalistic standards and provide evidence that courage and determination were required to cover the story.

All articles must be translated into English. Submit entries, a resume, photo and brief statement about the story by May 31.

For more information, click here.

SAWM statement on International Women's Day

March 8 marks the International Women's Day, a day that recalls and celebrates the women's struggle for equality and recognises the contribution women continue to make for the advancement of their societies.

The United Nations declared 8 March as the International Women's Day in 1975 which continues to be celebrated around the world in many different ways.

According to a recent survey carried out by UKAID, "Globally, women do 60% of the world's work but only earns 10% of the world's income and only own 1% of the world's property," highlighting the economic disparity that exists despite their ever increasing contributions to the advancement of the world. It further stated, "when a woman generates her own income, she reinvests 90% of it in her family and community."

In Sri Lanka too, women have been in the forefront as prime income generators in a variety of spheres, contributing to the growth of the country which is yet to be duly acknowledged.

Despite the advancement women have collectively managed to achieve, as in the rest of South Asia, in Sri Lanka too, safety of women has become a serious concern. It is unfortunate that women are increasingly becoming unsafe, also reflected in the media industry, with women journalists coming under various types of attacks including intimidation, threats, harassment and even murder, reflecting a social malady.

As this year's theme for the International Women's Day being "Inspiring change", the South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter urges the authorities to investigate the crimes committed against women journalists and media workers in the past and to ensure better maintenance of law and order in the country which would contribute to make a safe environment for women.

South Asian Women in Media Sri Lanka Chapter

7.3.2014

Wall Street Journal fellowship

http://ijnet.org/opportunities/wall-street-journal-fellowship-open-asia
open [Asia]


Asian journalists can apply for a fellowship at New York University.

The Wall Street Journal offers a US$24,000 fellowship for Asian journalists to participate in the business and economic reporting program at NYU.

Candidates must have at least one year of experience working in Asia at an English-language publication and be fluent in English and at least one Asian language.

The fellowship covers tuition and fees for two semesters of the three-semester program, as well as a stipend of US$24,000 to cover travel to New York, living expenses, at least one trip home and incidental costs such as textbooks.

The deadline is March 7.

For more information about the program, click here.