International Community Media Conference - University of Ibadan, Nigeria -IF COMMUNITY MEDIA IS THE ANSWER, WHAT IS THE QUESTION?

The Department of Communication and Language Arts, University of Ibadan, > Nigeria; the Institute for Media and Society (IMS), Lagos, Nigeria; the  African Languages Technology Initiative (ALT-I), Ibadan, Nigeria; and the  Nigerian Community Radio Coalition jointly invite you to an international  conference to commemorate the 75th Birthday Anniversary of Prof Alfred  Opubor, first Nigerian professor of Mass Communication.

THEME: ³IF COMMUNITY MEDIA IS THE ANSWER, WHAT IS THE QUESTION?²  Those were the words of the first Nigerian Professor of Mass Communication,
Professor Alfred Opubor, and the title of one of his most discussed articles  Though that question was raised in 2000 in a book published by UNESCO, the  issues that gave rise to it are still as urgent and improperly understood as  they were then. The recent political events in the MENA (Middle East and  North Africa) region, the recent historic civilian-to-civilian transition in  Zambia, the seemingly unending failure of the big media to significantly  bring about participation and access; the recourse to neoliberal policies by African Œdemocracies¹ and the impact of that on the big media; are some of  the issues that necessitate a thorough re-examination of that decade-old  witticism. If community media is the answer, what indeed is the question?  And how is it being answered? Are there more questions than there were? What  are they?

SUB-THEMES: Paper abstracts and proposals for project demonstrations are  welcome on the following subthemes:
> ·         Community Media and new media technologies
> ·         Community media, policy and regulation
> ·         Community media, social media and social protest
> ·         Community media and empowerment/development: actual stories and  potentials
> ·         Community media and the management of conflict
> ·         Community media, community/civic engagement and democracy
> ·         Research approaches in (and to) community media
> ·         Community media and gender
> ·         Community media and popular culture
> ·         Community media and diasporas

> DATE: 27-29 March, 2012
> VENUE: Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, Nigeria
> TIMELINES:
> Deadline for submission of abstracts = Nov 30, 2011
> Notification of writers of successful abstracts = Dec 20, 2011
> Deadline for submission of full paper = Feb 20, 2012

 FEES: heavily subsidised to cover conference materials, lunches and teas.
 Academics: N5,000
 International participants: $50
 Graduate Students: N1,500

 Undergraduate Students: Free

 Abstracts or proposals for project demonstration should not exceed 300 words. Abstracts should be sent to both: opuborconference@yahoo.com and
comlangarts@gmail.com 

 For more information on venues, hotel accommodation, presenters and lead  speakers, timetables etc, visit: http://alfredopubor.org
 You can access the book in which Prof Opubor¹s Chapter (If community media  is the answer...) was published here:  http://www.unesco.org/webworld/publications/community_media/index.html

Ayobami Ojebode, Ph.D
Chairman, Local Organising Committee.
>

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

Penplusbytes Anniversary Boot Camp

The Deputy Director/Head of ICT Division of the Information Services Department (ISD) Mr Mawutodzi Kodzo Abissath has said that the Government of Ghana portal (GOG) was initiated to provide authentic and accurate information about Ghana. The portal, he declared publishes news, develops appropriate communication strategies as well as focuses on developmental oriented news and links all Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs) in Ghana.

 

Mr Abissath further noted that the portal serves as a source of information on speeches, press releases, meet the press, it also serves as a regional page for all the ten regions and provides profiles of public officials {Ministers).

 

He noted that the portal is managed by the Ministry of Information and ISD.

 

He made these remarks at a training session for student journalists organised in collaboration with the Ghana Journalist Association (GJA) and the International Institute of ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes).

 

The board chairman of Penplusbytes, Dr Kwabena Riverson said penplusbytes has trained over 100 journalists in various parts of Africa.

 

Currently Dr Riverson said penplusbytes has a network of over 700 members spread across 49 countries.

 

The board chairman said his organisation is conducting a number of key studies, capacity building programmes and projects which includes the institution's flagship project known as African Election Project (AEP), inaugurated in 2008.

 

The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) took the opportunity to launch its website at the training session. http://gjaghana.org/

 

The President of the GJA, Mr Ransford Tetteh, launching the website said new media journalism has become an important profession in the country and therefore appealed to journalists to report accurately on issues since it is a social media that provides service to the world.

 

Mr Tetteh urged journalists to guide their colleagues in their reportage to prevent fear and panic among individuals and also commemorate on the positive aspect of journalism and not only on the negative side. 

 

Source: ISD (Benjamin Amaning & Nancy Krampah)

Trainee journalists gather for Ghana's first online journalism boot camp

Future journalists will gather at the Accra International Press Centre on 21st October, 2011 for the first Boot Camp on online Journalism under the theme "Enhancing your Future as a Journalist through Online Journalism".

 

Keynote address for the occasion will be delivered by Ethan Zuckerman, Director of the MIT Center for Civic Media, USA and board member of Penplusbytes and Dr. Kwabena Riverson, board chair of Penplusbytes, will deliver a welcome address with Kenneth Ashigbey, Managing Director of Daily Graphic Company, serving as chair for this important boot camp.

 

The Boot Camp is aimed at providing learning and knowledge exchange opportunities in online journalism topics such as: online News Publishing and Online tools for gathering news, revenue models for online news, modern trends in broadcast technologies and social media and journalism.

 

The International Institute for ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes) working with Ghana Journalists Association(GJA) is organizing this boot camp with support from Raycom Technologies and Main One Cable.

 

The highlight of the event will be the launch of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Social networking platform www.gjaghana.org. The platform is intended to provide members of the association with opportunities to effectively explore the inherent benefits of social networking tools as they interact and connect with the general public. It has become necessary that today's journalists harness the presence of these social network tools in the creation and dissemination of news content. According to Mr. Bright Blewu, Secretary-General of Ghana Journalists Association "the face of journalism is changing rapidly due to the advent of new technologies bringing with it challenges and opportunities and as an association we are committed to support our members to take advantage of new media in order for them to serve their audiences better while at the same time maintaining the highest professional ethics."

 

The one-day media boot camp, will offer a practical, in-depth and hands-on application of new media in the newsroom and forms part of Penplusbytes 10th anniversary celebrations. Kwami Ahiabenu, II President of Penplusbytes noted that, "As we celebrate 10 years of empowering the media through the use of ICTs to advance quality journalism we are excited to provide a unique opportunity to future journalists to help them navigate the new media world as they grow as journalists in our new information age".

 

Other presenters at the boot camp will include; Isaac Yeboah of myjoyonline.com Chris Donkor of Dot house, Kent Mensah of Citifmonline, Nana Kwabena of Edge cube and Prince Asare of Viasat 1. The rest are Alex Adjei Bram of SMSGH, John Totoe of Mobile Content, Isaac Maafo of Bulksmsghana, Kofi Amamoo of Expresso, Charity Donkor of MTN and Prof Linus Abraham (Rector) of NAFTI

 

Participating schools will include the School of Communication Studies, African University College of Communication, Ghana Institute of Journalism, Christian Service University, Kumasi, NAFTI and Jayee College.  

 

http://opinion.myjoyonline.com/pages/pressrelease/201110/75126.php

Students journalists schooled in ICT journalism

The International Institute for ICT Journalism in collaboration with (Penplusbytes) The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA)  has organised a boot camp for student journalists across the country to make them more innovative in the profession.

The one day booth camp was to provide the students with learning skills and exchange opportunities in online journalism topics such as Online News Publishing and Online tools for gathering news.

The camp which was on the theme, "Enhancing your Future as a Journalist through Online Journalism", attracted student journalists from five journalism training institutions in the country.

The schools which were represented were; the Ghana Institute of Journalism, African University College of Communication (AUCC), Jayee University College, , School of Communication Studies, the National Films and Television Institute (NAFTI) and the Christian Service University College, which is based in Kumasi.

Speaking at the launch of the programme on Friday, Mr Bright Blewu, GJA General-Secretary, noted that the ICT camp would also be used to educate the participants on revenue models for online news, modern trends in broadcast technologies and social media and journalism.

"It has become necessary that today's journalists harness the presence of these social network tools in the creation and dissemination of news content".

He pledged GJA's commitment towards supporting its members to take advantage of new media to serve their audience even better while respecting the code of ethics and maintaining the highest professional standards.

The Association also used the occasion to launch a social platform www.gjaghana.org intended to provide its members with opportunities to effectively explore the benefits of social networking tools as they interact and connect with the general public.

"The face of journalism is changing rapidly due to the advent of new technologies which have brought in their wake both challenges and opportunities", he added.

Dr Kwabena Riverson, Penplusbyte Board Chairman, noted that the training also formed part of Penplusbyte's 10th anniversary and cited essay competitions for journalists in Africa and training packages for media houses as some of the activities earmarked for the celebration.

"The areas that we will be covering at this boot camp forms part of our objective to provide exemplary leadership in ICT training".

He noted that so far Penyplusbyte had trained over 100 journalists from various parts of Africa and across the globe in cutting edge new media technologies and contemporary ICT issues.

Dr Riverson said Penplusbyte had initiated a project dubbed: "Reporting on Oil and Gas", to educate journalists on the intricacies of the oil and gas sector.

Source: GNA

LIVE : Follow online journalism boot camp for future journalists

Future Journalists gather for Ghana's first online journalism boot camp Future journalists will gather at the Accra International Press Centre on 21st October, 2011 for the first Boot Camp on online Journalism under the theme "Enhancing your Future as a Journalist through Online Journalism"
FOLLOW ONLINE LIVE 

type this address 

http://196.29.230.139/control/userimage.html

user name : bootcamp 
password : bootcamp

--
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

Future Journalists gather for Ghana's first online journalism boot camp

Future journalists will gather at the Accra International Press Centre on 21st October, 2011 for the first Boot Camp on online Journalism under the theme "Enhancing your Future as a Journalist through Online Journalism"

Keynote address for the occasion will be delivered by Ethan Zuckerman, Director of the MIT Center for Civic Media, USA and board member of Penplusbytes and Dr. Kwabena Riverson, board chair of Penplusbytes, will deliver welcome address with Kenneth Ashigbey managing Director of Daily Graphic Company serving as chair for this important boot camp.

The Boot Camp is aimed at providing learning and knowledge exchange opportunities in online journalism topics such as. ; online News Publishing and Online tools for gathering news, revenue models for online news, modern trends in broadcast technologies and social media and journalism.

The International Institute for ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes) working with Ghana Journalists Association(GJA) is organizing this boot camp with support from Raycom Technologies, IPMC and Main One Cable.

The highlight of the event will be the launch of Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) Social networking platform www.gjaghana.org. The platform is intended to provide members of the association with opportunities to effectively explore the inherent benefits of social networking  tools as they interact and connect with the general public. It has become necessary that today's journalists harness the presence of these social network tools in the creation and dissemination of news content. According to Mr. Bright Blewu, Secretary-General of Ghana Journalists Association "the face of journalism is changing rapidly due to the advent of new technologies bringing with it challenges and opportunities and as an association we are committed to support our members to take advantage of new media in order for them to serve their audiences better while at the same time maintaining the highest professional ethics."

The one-day media boot camp, will offer a practical, in-depth and hands-on application of new media in the newsroom and forms part of Penplusbytes 10th anniversary celebrations.  Kwami Ahiabenu, II President of Penplusbytes noted that, "As we celebrate 10 years of empowering the media through the use of ICTs to advance quality journalism we are excited to provide a unique opportunity to future journalists to help them navigate the new media world as they grow as journalists in our new information age".

Other presenters at the boot camp  will include; Isaac Yeboah of myjoyonline.com Chris Donkor of Dot house, Kent Mensah of Citifmonline, Nana Kwabena of Edge cube and Prince Asare of Viasat 1.The rest are Alex Adjei Bram of SMSGH, John Totoe of Mobile Content, Isaac Maafo of Bulksmsghana, Kofi Amamoo of Expresso, Charity Donkor of MTN and Prof Linus Abraham (Rector) of NAFTI

Participating schools will include, African University College of Communication, Ghana Institute of Journalism, School of Communication Studies, Christian Service University, Kumasi, NAFTI and Jayee College.

 

Editor's Note

Penplusbytes

International Institute of ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes) is an organization that seeks to empower the media through the use of ICTs to advance quality journalism. It consists of a network of media organizations and journalists interested in using ICTs effectively to advance the course of journalism. We have trained over 500 journalists from various parts of Africa and across the globe in cutting edge new media technologies and contemporary ICT issues.

GJA

Created in 1984, the Ghana Journalists Association is a professional association for Ghanaian journalists. The Association's purpose is to improve the standard of professional practice in the press, encourage the growth of the mass media, and protect freedom of expression. The Association is a membership organization of journalists with a National Executive elected by the members

Technology to play a key role in the coverage of Liberia 2011 General Elections

As Liberians go to the polls on 11 October 2011 to select a new president, members of senate and house of representatives, African Election Project (AEP) www.africanelections.org is providing leadership in the use of information and communication technologies(ICT) to cover this landmark elections under its Liberia Incidence Monitoring Platform" project www.myliberiawins.org.

The ICT based incidence Monitoring platform will monitor  incidents of violence, irregularities and human rights abuses, spanning the period of pre-elections, during elections and post elections, thereby contributing to building peace and entrenching democracy in Liberia. Also the project is designed to facilitate the work of journalists and citizen journalists by actively using ICT tools in disseminating election information and knowledge thereby stimulating a vibrant online and offline dialogue between the media and civil society through forums on elections issues with the ultimate objective of promoting free and fair elections in Liberia.

Liberia's upcoming election has largely been viewed as a test of the willingness of Liberians to fully commit to democracy and the deepening of good governance in the country after the end of a 14 year civil war which ended in 2003.

 

According to African Elections Project Director, Jerry Sam, "the use of ICT during this election coverage will bring about transparency in the whole electoral process, ensure the timely release of electoral news to citizens residing in Liberia and in the Diaspora, issue alerts to the relevant institutions to prevent potential incidence of violence and to ensure credibility in the final outcome of the elections." 

 

He added that, a modern fully equipped Call Centre is in place to enable citizens report elections violence incident in additions to SMS reporting system via short-code 2011. In order to coordinate information transmission from elections observers throughout the country, a group of field officers have been deployed to play this role. The project will also make use of social media tools such as twitter, facebook  and youtube to reach out to online audience. Other tools to be deployed include cutting-edge call center software and a news database software which are designed to keep track of the elections activities as it happens.

 

African Elections Project in Liberian which covered the recently held Liberia referendum is   coordinated by the International Institute of ICT Journalist (Penplusbytes) with strategic and financial support from Humanity United (www.humanityunited.org) working hand in hand with key partners including ushahidi Liberia and Liberia Media Centre (LMC)

 

 

 

Editor's note

African Elections Project (AEP) www.africanelections.org  @africanelection

AEP was established in 2008 to cover elections using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) across the continent. AEP have successfully covered elections in Botswana, Namibia, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Mauritania, Mozambique, Malawi, Togo and Niger.

 

Humanity United     www.humanityunited.org  @HUtweets

Humanity United is a philanthropic organization committed to building peace and advancing human freedom. We lead, support, and collaborate with a broad network of efforts, ideas, and organizations that share our vision of a world free of conflict and injustice.