| Feature: Venezuelan press in polarized times |
|
By Mónica Saba Venezuela’s media recently played an instrumental role in blocking proposed action by the Chavez administration that could prove detrimental to the country’s democratic processes. This past December, Venezuelans rejected a government-proposed referendum that would change the country’s constitution to extend Chavez’s presidency by an additional term. But, according to research from the Universidad Católica Andrés Bello, the media’s polarized coverage may have been anti-democratic in it of itself. Read the article here. |
| Exclusive interview: Founder of banned Yemeni news portal speaks out |
|
By Natasha Tynes, IJNet staff writer IJNet sat down with the founder and editor of Yemen Portal, Walid Al-Saqaf, to discuss the recently enforced ban on his portal. Read the interview. |
| Live Discussion: Participate! |
|
Is "fake" news more honest than "real" news? In recent years, satirical news sources have increasingly become the preferred means for younger generations seeking information on current events. (The Daily Show with Jon Stewart in the U.S. and News, Views, and Confused with Fasi Zaka in Pakistan are two such popular satire shows.) What draws people to satirical news? Does satire allow journalists to be more honest? Or, should journalists limit themselves to conventional means of reporting the news? IJNet would like to hear your opinion. Join the discussion by clicking on "Add a Comment". Please identify your country if possible. Thanks for your participation! |
| Upcoming deadlines | ||
| 2008 African Journalist Awards held by CNN |
Sub-Saharan Africa |
15/02/2008 |
| Seminar invites journalists to discuss their role in democracy |
Worldwide |
15/02/2008 |
| Seminar for journalists from Central Asia, South Caucasus and Moldova to be held in Sweden |
Eastern Europe-Central Eurasia |
02/10/2008 |
| Worldwide |
| Journalists
can be nominated for International Freedom to Publish Prize
Journalists working in the field of freedom of expression have the opportunity to be nominated for the International Freedom to Publish Prize sponsored by the International Publishers Association (IPA). The deadline to submit nominations is April 18. |
| Journalists
can apply for grants through Global Investigative Journalism
Conference Investigative journalists from Russia, Eastern Europe, The Balkans, Caucasus, Middle East, Asia, Africa and Latin America have the opportunity to apply for grants that will cover their travel and stay at the Global Investigative Journalism Conference 2008 in Lillehammer, Norway. The deadline to apply is rolling. |
| Journalists
can get their voice heard through Citizen Voices
Contest Journalists have the opportunity to get their voice heard by applying for the Global Issues/Citizen Voices Contest, sponsored by the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting and Helium. Applicants will compete for the most compelling essay on the most pressing issues of the day. The deadline to apply is March 13. |
| Religion
Newswriters Association offers scholarship to journalists interested
in religion Journalists interested in taking college courses in religion or spirituality are encouraged to apply for a scholarship program offered by the Religion Newswriters Association. The scholarship program is made possible by a grant from the Lily Endowment Inc. The deadline to apply is April 1. |
| Sub Saharan Africa |
| US
pledges to help media development in Cameroon The US embassy pledged last week to help the Cameroon government promote freedom of the press. AllAfrica reports that US Ambassador Janet E. Garvey met with the Cameroon Minister of Communication, Jean Pierre Biyiti-bi Essam, and agreed to help train journalists. |
| Somali
journalist killed by car bomb A Somali journalist and two foreign doctors from Doctors Without Borders were killed by a car bomb last week. The two doctors were in the car, and the journalist was walking in close proximity. |
| Journalists
face intimidation in Kenya The Kenyan government placed a ban on live broadcasts on December 30, 2007, following election-related protests. The government has also announced an inquest into the media action during the unrest. The Media Institute believes that the government is attempting to shift the blame for the unrest onto the media. |
| World
TV Award promotes religious understanding and tolerance
International Journalists have the opportunity to enter a TV documentary contest that promotes religious understanding and tolerance. The deadline to apply is April 1. Television producers from public service broadcasting organizations and private networks, as well as freelancers from Asia, Africa and Europe are all invited to participate. |
| Eastern Europe and Central Eurasia |
| Call
for journalists to cover NATO event in Lithuania
Journalists are invited to apply to be part of a team of young journalists who will get to cover a NATO event in Vilnius, Lithuania. The deadline to apply is ASAP. |
| European
Commission organizes award for young journalists
Young journalists from all over Europe have the opportunity to participate in the European Young Journalist Awards. Applicants should submit articles about the expansion of the European Union. The deadline to apply is March 15. |
| Kyrgyzstan
media needs better economic reporting—Center for International
Private Enterprise The Center for International Private Enterprise (CIPE) has released a report entitled “The Current State of Economic Journalism in Kyrgyzstan.” Author Nadezhda Dobretsova argues that Kyrgyzstan suffers from a lack of trained reporters capable of producing economic information for the public. |
| Fellowship
gives journalists opportunity to study mental health in Georgia
Journalists have the opportunity to apply for a one-year fellowship to study selected topics in mental health or mental illnesses at the Carter Center in Atlanta, GA. The deadline to apply is April 28. |
| European
Commission organizes award for young journalists
Young journalists from all over Europe have the opportunity to participate in the European Young Journalist Awards. Applicants should submit articles about the expansion of the European Union. The deadline to apply is March 15. |
| Asia and the Pacific |
| Human
Rights Reporting Project launched in the Philippines
Filipino journalists can now get special training on human rights issues through the Philippine Human Rights Reporting Project. The project was developed by the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) and other media support organizations. |
| Websites
blocked by Kazakhstan authorities Four Kazakh websites have been blocked by Kazakh authorities. The press freedom group Article 19 believes that the four websites were chosen because incriminating recorded conversations between Kazakh leaders were posted on the websites. |
| Internews
helps Pakistani media prepare for elections
Internews Network is helping the media in Pakistan prepare for the country’s elections this February. According to a press release, the media organization has built newsrooms in three independent FM radio stations in Pakistan—Power 99 in Islamabad, Mast 103 in Lahore and Apna 107 in Karachi. |
| Middle East and North Africa |
| Writing
competition in Iran honors deceased journalist A competition called “In Memory of the Pen” has been organized in Iran in memory of Mehran Ghassemi, an Iranian journalist who died at the age of 30. Last day to apply is Feb 20. |
| Syria,
Yemen agree on media cooperation program Ministries of information in both Yemen and Syria agreed to establish a media cooperation executive program during the period between 2008-2010, the Syrian news agency SANA reported on January 28. |
| Young
writers from the Middle East can participate in essay
contest Young writers and journalists from the Middle East have the chance to participate in the third annual “Dream Deferred Essay Contest”. Last day to apply is March 30. |
| Press
Now invites investigative Moroccan journalists to enter
competition Journalists have the opportunity to enter a contest for the best investigative story of 2007, sponsored by Press Now. The deadline to apply is February 28. |
| Latin America |
| CELAP
organizes workshop on narrative journalism
What is narrative journalism? What may or may not be done in this style? These questions will be addressed in a creative writing workshop offered by Centro Latinoamericano de Periodismo (CELAP). The workshop is scheduled for February 29 to March 1 in Panama City. Registration deadline: February 22. |
| Scripps
Howard Latin American media ethics seminar accepts
applications Latin American media professionals and journalists can apply to the Scripps Howard Latin American media ethics seminar which will take place at the Washington-based International Center for Journalists (ICFJ). The program is schedule for June 8-15. Deadline: April 11. |
| Workshop
for Mexican journalists to focus on community forest
management The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) presents a workshop on community forestry and forest conservation. The workshop is scheduled for April 3-6. |
| PAID ANNOUNCEMENTS Reach a global audience of media professionals by posting your announcement on the IJNet Web site and in our weekly bulletin. Announcements should be 250 words or less. To place your announcement, contact editor@icfj.org or telephone (1-202) 737-3700. View announcements |
| Points to Ponder |
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Should
news organizations ban reporters from using certain online sites as
sources? |
| Webb on the Web |
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Advanced
People Searching on the Web |
| Paid Announcements |
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MA Global Business Journalism Program in China Now inviting
applications from international students
Launched in September
2007, this program trains students how to cover the fast-changing
world of global business, economics and finance, with a focus on
China’s role in the global marketplace. The program, a joint
initiative between the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ:
http://www.icfj.org/) and
Beijing-based Tsinghua School of Journalism and Communication
(TSJC:http://www.tsjc.tsinghua.edu.cn/),
is taught fully in English to international standards by noted
faculty in the fields of journalism, business and economics. Through
the generous support of its founding sponsors, Merrill Lynch, the
John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Bloomberg, and Deloitte and
Touche, the program provides students with top-notch international
faculty, a high-quality curriculum, and access to the latest
high-tech reporting tools. The program seeks to admit 25 to 30 English-speaking graduate
students from China and other countries starting from the Fall
Semester 2008. Students may enroll in the program full-time for two
years or part-time for three years. Requirement for Application Application Deadline Fees Scholarship Application: |
|
Knight International Journalism Fellowship- New Media in Latin America Knight
International seeks an experienced multimedia journalist or
journalism professor to develop a digital media center at a Latin
American university. The Fellow will develop a curriculum, recruit
participants and faculty, teach some courses, and oversee the
center, which will work with professional journalists and media
organizations to increase digital-media capacity across the
region.The Knight International Journalism Fellowships program sends
international media professionals to key countries where there are
opportunities for meaningful and measurable change. Working with
partner organizations on high-impact projects, they build skills and
enhance the standards of independent news
organizations.Qualifications and Skills:- Minimum of 10 years
professional journalism or academic journalism experience required
|
|
Knight International Journalism-Health Knight
International seeks an experienced journalist with a background in
health journalism to lead a high-impact, results-driven Fellowship
in Sub-Saharan Africa. The Knight International Journalism
Fellowships program sends international media professionals to key
countries where there are opportunities for meaningful and
measurable change. Working with partner organizations on high-impact
projects, they build skills and enhance the standards of independent
news organizations.Qualifications and Skills:- Background in health
reporting required |
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