Monday, December 23, 2013
Monday, December 16, 2013
Penplusbytes launches Providing effective feedback for parliamentary work through new digital technologies and citizen engagement project
The effectiveness and the efficiency of the Parliament can be more enhanced if the gap between members of parliament and the general citizenry is bridged through better information and knowledge sharing exchange, especially in the context of the important oversight role Parliament has to play over the executive. In order to facilitate a better interaction between members of Parliament and citizens, the International Institute of ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes), with funding and technical support from STAR-Ghana, is implementing a ground-breaking project entitled "Providing effective feedback for parliamentary work through new digital technologies and citizen engagement."
The project aims at supporting Parliament, through its Government Assurance Committee, play an effective oversight role over promises made by government on education and health. The key objective is to increase interaction between the Government Assurance Committee and Citizens in the area of public service delivery, especially health and education, using new digital technologies that enable easy and accessible feedback mechanism while leading to better service delivery.
According to Mr. Jerry Sam, Project Director at Penplusbytes, "The project will provide the select committee members with evidence-based information on selected assurances and promises made by government on health and education to effectively hold ministers accountable on promises made on the floor of parliament."
He added that "the cornerstone of 'Providing effective feedback for parliamentary work through new digital technologies and citizen engagement' project are online information and knowledge platform, two way SMS tool and a mobile app that will adequately inform and empower the public to meaningfully engage with their elected members of parliament."
There will also be face-to-face forums and media outreach to sensitize the public on the oversight responsibility of Parliament over government promises thereby stimulating citizen-based advocacy on service delivery.
ends-------------
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization established in 2001 that seeks to empower the media through the use of Information and Communications Technology to advance better journalism in the coverage of governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and mining, oil and gas sectors.
Star-Ghana is a multi-donor pooled funding mechanism (Funded by DFID, DANIDA, EU and USAID) to increase the influence of civil society and Parliament in the governance of public goods and service delivery, with the ultimate goal of improving the accountability and responsiveness of Ghana's government, traditional authorities and the private sector.
Stakeholders Discuss Local Content online and makes Recommendation to Petroleum Commission
An online discussion on the topic, "Promoting Local (Ghanaian) Content in petroleum activities: Where does Ghana stand?" was held from Monday September 9, to September 20, 2013 with a number of key stakeholders including oil and gas companies, oil and gas experts, media, civil society actors as well as international organisation participating. This unique online discussion forms part of "Empowering the Media to Play Active Watchdog Role over Mining, Oil and Gas Revenue and Resources" currently being implemented by Penplusbytes with funding and technical support from STAR-Ghana.
Key issues such as low awareness about Oil and Gas sector opportunities for skills acquisition and certification, the actualization of Local Content by way of skills transfer as well as measures taken by state to empower local entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities in the Oil and Gas sector were captured at the close of the discussions.
In order to ensure these important recommendations are implemented, Penplusbytes on 3rd December, 2013 presented a report of the discussions to the Petroleum Commission, the petroleum sector regulatory in Ghana.
Receiving the report, the Director of Special Services at the Commission, Mr Kwaku Boateng, welcomed the initiative and praised Penplusbytes for its ingenuity. Present at the meeting was Abdul- Karim Adam of the Local Content office and Linda Kofi from the Communications Department of the Commission.
Mr Boateng pledged that the Commission would study and subsequently factor the suggestions arising from the local content online discussion into its decision-making.
Mr Boateng also pointed out that the Commission was already aware of some of the challenges and was implementing some interventions with regards to some of the online discussion recommendations, especially on the development of local standards and skills transfer to local businesses.
On the issue of standards, for instance, he said a committee had been set up in collaboration with Ghana Standard Authority (GSA) to develop local standards such that local companies will be assisted to meet those standards.
One of the key issues raised during discussions on the platform centred on how government intends to empower the local entrepreneurs to exploit opportunities in the oil and gas sector. Mr Boateng responded that the Commission has built a database of both local and foreign companies with the aim of connecting local companies with opportunities when they become available.
With regards to awareness creation, he mentioned that a series of workshops were being organised to educate local companies about projects going to be undertaken by the IOCs and subcontract opportunities which would become available.
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Opportunity : KIPLINGER DIGITAL MEDIA FELLOWSHIP- April 6, - April 11, 2014 in Columbus, Ohio.USA
Nov. 30, 2013 deadline
What is the Kiplinger Fellowship?
An online digital revolution is changing the way we communicate. For journalists, it's an ever-evolving new world, filled with opportunities as well as obstacles.
That's why the Kiplinger Program in Public Affairs Journalism offers short-term fellowships to help make better use of new online tools and channels. Thanks to the generous support of the Kiplinger Foundation, the training will be offered free of charge. In addition, the fellowship covers lodging, most meals and includes a travel stipend. The 2014 fellowship runs from Sunday, April 6, through Friday, April 11.
Fellows spend an intensive week at The Ohio State University in Columbus. They'll be immersed in training designed to pay off immediately in the newsroom. We'll explore creative reporting uses of Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and other social media sites. We'll showcase strategies for backgrounding individuals and companies, as well as building your online following. We'll focus on the latest tactics for effective public affairs reporting: public records, documents and data. Plus, we'll explore creative uses for online tools such as Deep Web searches and free data visualizations. And we will explore the ethical issues that come with social media.
Fellows will return to their newsrooms equipped with new and sharpened reporting tools. They'll learn how to tell powerful online stories that break through the noise and grab attention with an eye toward ethics. Stories that help people understand why in-depth reporting matters more than ever. Stories that make a difference.
So, if you're ready for digital media training that's hands-on and highly relevant, apply now for our fellowship.
To apply, journalists must have five or more years of experience at a news organization. All fellowship sessions are conducted in English without translators.
Become a Kip. Become a leader in the digital age.
Apply at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B2S7MRSInternational Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Wednesday, November 13, 2013
Innovation Prize for Africa
The Innovation Prize for Africa (IPA) – an initiative of the African Innovation Foundation – provides $150,000 USD to winners who develop African solutions to African challenges. The IPA is focused on identifying innovations in five key areas: 1) agriculture and agribusiness;
2) environment, energy and water;
3) health and well-being;
4) information & communication technology;
and 5) manufacturing and service industry.
Eligible innovations must be by Africans for Africa. Africans in the Diaspora can also apply if their innovations are of significance for Africa. The innovation or associated business must be registered in Africa.
The IPA is more than a prize – it is a movement of African scientists, entrepreneurs, venture investors and policymakers who believe that the best way to sustain Africa's current economic growth is to scale up the good ideas that already exist on the continent.
The deadline for applications for the Prize is 30 November 2013.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Ghanaians Push For Internet Access and Data Journalism
Ghanaian civil society organizations have banded together in a push for greater Internet access in the country. Earlier this month 30 organizations called on the government to make Internet penetration a priority. The call took place turning a workshop on Internet freedom in Ghana organized by the Media Foundation for West Africa with support from a UK-based organization, Global Partners and Associates. Ghana's Communications Minister, Dr. Edward Kofi Omane Boamah, has voiced his support for the organizations' plea.
"This is not an easy proposition in this era of technology and the necessity to build an inclusive and sustainable information and knowledge society," Boamah said as he opened the Regional Preparatory Meeting for Africa for the World Telecommunications Development Conference 2014.
He added:
We have no option in this regard. We must deliver if we truly are the policy-makers, the industry players, the development partners, the civil society and the academia and indeed the true representatives of the people. We must at all times recognize that the people will not lower their expectations because there are challenges.
A Media Foundation for West Africa study concluded that Internet penetration in Ghana is still under 20 percent.
Meanwhile, the International Institute of ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes) has just launched a two-year project called "Open Ghana – Data Journalism for Improved Maternal Healthcare Delivery." With additional funding and support from STAR-Ghana, the project will equip journalists in the Volta region with the tools to use data journalism to promote maternal healthcare stories.
The press release states:
Over the course of the project, Penplusbytes will develop interactive cutting edge online resources that will enable journalists, citizens and CSOs [civil society organizations] access and publish data on maternal healthcare delivery for a concerted advocacy work, undertake face-face forums that will bring stakeholders together to demand accountability from duty bearers and also issue regular SMS alerts to inform subscribers on the state of maternal healthcare delivery in the Volta Region.
The Volta region was chosen because it has not reached a target set by the U.N.'s Millennium Development Goals to reduce maternal mortality by 2015.
While it is an admirable project that addresses a pressing need for maternal health, the success is in many ways dependent on access to ICTs, which in itself is a problem waiting to be addressed.
http://techpresident.com/news/wegov/24426/ghanaians-push-internet-access-and-data-journalismhttp://techpresident.com/news/wegov/24426/ghanaians-push-internet-access-and-data-journalism
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
African Media Initiative (AMI) Statement
The Africa Media Initiative (AMI) has for some time engaged the Ethiopian leadership in a conversation that we hope will improve the local media landscape and help secure the release from prison of several Ethiopian journalists.
We embarked on this admittedly risky pursuit because we believe in respectful and candid dialog; after all, the same strategy of engaging leaders directly has helped free journalists this year in two other African countries.
Beyond merely securing the release of our colleagues, however, we also are devising a long-term strategy for the improvement of the atmosphere in which journalist work in Ethiopia. We are also eager to help strengthen the skill level of local journalists and media owners to help them better play their role effectively in a rapidly changing Ethiopia.
We note that our bold decision to hold our annual African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) in Addis Ababa has had the altogether happy effect of focusing renewed attention on the plight of our colleagues. We are persuaded that this will contribute to hastening a long-term solution to their situation.
In the past several months' members of our board have had various conversations with Ethiopia's political leaders, including Prime Minister Desalegn and a number of his cabinet colleagues. We have done the same with family members of the incarcerated journalists and their colleagues inside and outside Ethiopia.
We have found a significant degree of openness in our conversations with the authorities, even an eagerness to help resolve this problem, which we consider wholly unnecessary and even harmful to Ethiopia's larger ambitions to leave its recent traumatic experiences behind.
Despite blunt refusals to allow various foreign delegations, including European and American ones to visit the imprisoned journalists, Ethiopian officials finally consented to allow AMI leaders to visit the prison in Addis Ababa on Wednesday November 6. While an unfortunate disagreement on the prison grounds over who would be allowed to sit in on our planned meeting with our colleagues temporarily aborted the mission, we are hopeful that we will soon be able to gain direct access again to facilitate their release.
Importantly, we are persuaded that many key leaders in Ethiopia share our view that it is past time for our colleagues to be released. We would like to thank the prime minister and many in his cabinet for this opening, and look forward to a rapid resolution.
We understand and sympathize with some of our colleagues and partners, who have expressed concern, and even skepticism, regarding our approach. Some believe that a more confrontational stance is required. That is not our belief as we think there is more than one way to get to the same destination.
Finally, we note with disappointment the ill-advised decision by the Kenyan parliament to pass a new law constraining press freedoms. This is a wholly unnecessary embarrassment to a resurgent Kenya, whose robust media has played an invaluable role in resolving its political crisis of recent years, and in comforting a nation traumatized by terrorism and shining a bright light on the inadequacies of its security forces.
We are encouraged that the Kenyan president has expressed skepticism about the proposed law, and wish to state our clear opposition to its ever being enacted.
Addis Ababa, November 8, 2013
End
About AMI
The African Media Initiative is the continent's largest umbrella association of African media owners, senior executives and other industry stakeholders. AMI's mandate is to serve as a catalyst for strengthening African media by building the tools, knowledge resources and technical capacity for African media to play an effective public interest role in their societies. This mandate includes assisting with the development of professional standards, financial sustainability, technological adaptability and civic engagement.
We embarked on this admittedly risky pursuit because we believe in respectful and candid dialog; after all, the same strategy of engaging leaders directly has helped free journalists this year in two other African countries.
Beyond merely securing the release of our colleagues, however, we also are devising a long-term strategy for the improvement of the atmosphere in which journalist work in Ethiopia. We are also eager to help strengthen the skill level of local journalists and media owners to help them better play their role effectively in a rapidly changing Ethiopia.
We note that our bold decision to hold our annual African Media Leaders Forum (AMLF) in Addis Ababa has had the altogether happy effect of focusing renewed attention on the plight of our colleagues. We are persuaded that this will contribute to hastening a long-term solution to their situation.
In the past several months' members of our board have had various conversations with Ethiopia's political leaders, including Prime Minister Desalegn and a number of his cabinet colleagues. We have done the same with family members of the incarcerated journalists and their colleagues inside and outside Ethiopia.
We have found a significant degree of openness in our conversations with the authorities, even an eagerness to help resolve this problem, which we consider wholly unnecessary and even harmful to Ethiopia's larger ambitions to leave its recent traumatic experiences behind.
Despite blunt refusals to allow various foreign delegations, including European and American ones to visit the imprisoned journalists, Ethiopian officials finally consented to allow AMI leaders to visit the prison in Addis Ababa on Wednesday November 6. While an unfortunate disagreement on the prison grounds over who would be allowed to sit in on our planned meeting with our colleagues temporarily aborted the mission, we are hopeful that we will soon be able to gain direct access again to facilitate their release.
Importantly, we are persuaded that many key leaders in Ethiopia share our view that it is past time for our colleagues to be released. We would like to thank the prime minister and many in his cabinet for this opening, and look forward to a rapid resolution.
We understand and sympathize with some of our colleagues and partners, who have expressed concern, and even skepticism, regarding our approach. Some believe that a more confrontational stance is required. That is not our belief as we think there is more than one way to get to the same destination.
Finally, we note with disappointment the ill-advised decision by the Kenyan parliament to pass a new law constraining press freedoms. This is a wholly unnecessary embarrassment to a resurgent Kenya, whose robust media has played an invaluable role in resolving its political crisis of recent years, and in comforting a nation traumatized by terrorism and shining a bright light on the inadequacies of its security forces.
We are encouraged that the Kenyan president has expressed skepticism about the proposed law, and wish to state our clear opposition to its ever being enacted.
Addis Ababa, November 8, 2013
End
About AMI
The African Media Initiative is the continent's largest umbrella association of African media owners, senior executives and other industry stakeholders. AMI's mandate is to serve as a catalyst for strengthening African media by building the tools, knowledge resources and technical capacity for African media to play an effective public interest role in their societies. This mandate includes assisting with the development of professional standards, financial sustainability, technological adaptability and civic engagement.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
EVENT- Accra,Ghana : Power of the Pen Roundtable
The Power of the Pen is an interactive, three-day roundtable co-sponsored by the US State Department. Each edition caters to a small group of media representatives from a different region of the world. The roundtable provides an opportunity to examine and overcome obstacles to ethical reporting, challenges to fair and thorough investigative journalism in the field of corruption and develop best practices based upon case studies with well-known journalists from the region and all other corners from the world.
The first Power of the Pen targeted the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, while the second caters to Sub-Saharan Africa.
Target Group : Individuals who have practiced principled journalism and currently work in the field of print, broadcast or photographic media
Duration : 3 days in April/May 2014, exact dates to be announced in early 2014
Location : Accra, Ghana
Application : 4 November - 17 December 2013
To apply go to http://www.iaca.int/index.php?option=com_jumi&fileid=13
For more info visit : http://www.iaca.int/standardized-trainings/power-of-the-pen
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Sunday, November 10, 2013
Opportunity : Harvard, Applied Data Fellowship (residential)
The Edmond J. Safra Center for Ethics at Harvard University invites scholars, practitioners, innovators and others committed to understanding and remedying institutional corruption to submit proposals to join our community.
From the start, research at the Lab has been designed and conducted with real-world applications in mind. In 2014-15, as the Lab project comes to the end of its five-year life, our aim is to release tools (e.g. databases, guidelines, applications, etc.) to the public and to policy-makers that work toward solving problems of institutional corruption in a variety of contexts. But we need help! The Applied Data Fellow will be critical in helping to translate the research of the Lab into useful tools by pursuing original and independent research to architect the Lab's real-world impact on institutional corruption.
In addition to original research, the Applied Data Fellow will maintain an ongoing dialogue with the Lab Fellows, whose academic and journalistic projects can be translated to and integrated in an inventive range of data-driven tools to reveal, correct, or prevent institutional corruption. Such tools include publicly-accessible databases on conflicts of interest and on money's corrupting influence in government, healthcare, academia, and various professions; high-impact websites and ingenious applications to check and report on perceived and real institutional corruption in these fields; and educational, training and social media tools for raising awareness of both problems and solutions surrounding institutional corruption. Learn about our past and current research projects here.
The Applied Data Fellow will be salaried and benefits eligible, and will be housed at the Center. While highly competitive, this Fellowship defies a one-size-fits-all description. Researchers, scholars, and professionals from a broad variety of backgrounds are encouraged to apply. Comprehensive quantitative problem-solving, coding, data integration/visualization, and website development are among the relevant skills, alongside passion, independence, collegiality, and both the commitment and ability to see projects through to completion.
To apply, see "How to Apply" above.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Monday, November 04, 2013
Training Opportunity : Writing and Reporting News- London UK, Thomson Reuters/Deadline 15th November 2013
The core activity concerns the actual writing and reporting of news, as practiced by Reuters and other global agencies. Practical exercises form the core of the programme, with an emphasis on improving basic reporting and writing skills including accuracy, impartiality, speed, clarity and structure. The course will help journalists recognise their good habits and provide them the time and space to work on their weak points, within a mentored framework. The course combines face-to-face teaching with online study. It starts with five days in London followed by online modules made up of ten units of study. It is anticipated each online unit will take about two weeks to complete and the modules can be completed in six months.
COURSE DETAILS:
Start date: Feb 10, 2014
End date: Feb 14, 2014
Location: London, UK – England and Wales
Application deadline: Nov 15, 2013
ELIGIBILITY:
All applicants for Thomson Reuters Foundation training courses must:
Currently be working as journalists or regular contributors to print, broadcast or online media organisations.
They must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in their country.
Have at least two years' professional experience.
Have a good level in spoken and written English.
Please note: If you have been on a Thomson Reuters Foundation training programme within the last two years you will not be eligible to apply.
FUNDING:
Thomson Reuters Foundation offers:
Full bursaries for journalists from the developing world/countries in political transition working for organisations with no resources for training. Bursaries would include air travel expenses (economy class), accommodation and a modest living allowance. This arrangement is subject to variation. The cost of the online modules will be included in the full bursary.
Part-funded bursaries are available for journalists from the developing world/countries in political transition who work for organisations that have limited resources for training, in this instance Thomson Reuters Foundation waives the tuition cost and the participant will be expected to cover travel and accommodation costs. In exceptional circumstances journalists from the developed world will be considered for part-funded bursaries. The cost of the online modules would not be covered by Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Thomson Reuters Foundation also offers training for journalists from any region from an organisation that has the resources to fully cover the following costs of the programme: tuition fees: £200 per day (£1000 for a 5-day London course), travel and accommodation costs and living expenses.Thomson Reuters Foundation would provide a list of hotels for participants who require accommodation in London. If you have any questions please email: trustmedia@thomsonreuters.com The cost of the ten online modules is £1,000.
SUBMISSIONS:
A biography of up to 250 words outlining your career
One recent example of your published work, preferably relevant to the course for which you are applying, with a brief summary in English (if necessary). TV/Radio journalists can send in their scripts and a brief summary.
A statement of between 250 and 500 words describing any factors affecting your work as a journalist. Explain how you hope to benefit from the course for which you are applying.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Sunday, November 03, 2013
Media Advisory for World Pneumonia Day and Africa( 12 November 2013)
Dear Penplusbytes(PPB) members
--
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Whilst PPB's main work is in other areas, I'd like to beg your attention on an important subject which affects too many families in Africa today: pneumonia.
As well as being on the board of PPB I am also on the board of a group called The Pan African Thoracic Society (PATS). Our brief is to improve respiratory medicine, and to reduce the burden of disease from respiratory complications.
Tuesday November 12 is World Pneumonia Day.
We want an impact. We have therefore prepared the attached document that highlights key issues about pneumonia in Africa. It is in note form. It is intended to be a valuable resource for journalists, bloggers, people involved concerned about everyone around them.
PLEASE… write, publish, broadcast, advocate, do whatever you can.
Let's together raise the awareness of what can be prevented, and what needs to be done.
If it isn't your area, please feel free to pass it to people who might be able to use it.
And if coverage does ensue, and you can capture it… do feed details back to me. We're trying to monitor coverage.
Thank you for your attention.
Bryan Pearson
See more at www.africanthoracic.org
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Wednesday, October 30, 2013
Government data still not open enough
In the week of a major international summit on government transparency in London, the Open Knowledge Foundation has published its 2013 Open Data Index, showing that governments are still not providing enough information in an accessible form to their citizens and businesses.
The UK and US top the 2013 Index, which is a result of community-based surveys in 70 countries. They are followed by Denmark, Norway and the Netherlands. Of the countries assessed, Cyprus, St Kitts & Nevis, the British Virgin Islands, Kenya and Burkina Faso ranked lowest. There are many countries where the governments are less open but that were not assessed because of lack of openness or a sufficiently engaged civil society. This includes 30 countries who are members of the Open Government Partnership.
The Index ranks countries based on the availability and accessibility of information in ten key areas, including government spending, election results, transport timetables, and pollution levels, and reveals that whilst some good progress is being made, much remains to be done.
Rufus Pollock, Founder and CEO of the Open Knowledge Foundation said:
Opening up government data drives democracy, accountability and innovation. It enables citizens to know and exercise their rights, and it brings benefits across society: from transport, to education and health. There has been a welcome increase in support for open data from governments in the last few years, but this Index reveals that too much valuable information is still unavailable.
The UK and US are leaders on open government data but even they have room for improvement: the US for example does not provide a single consolidated and open register of corporations, while the UK Electoral Commission lets down the UK's good overall performance by not allowing open reuse of UK election data.
There is a very disappointing degree of openness of company registers across the board: only 5 out of the 20 leading countries have even basic information available via a truly open licence, and only 10 allow any form of bulk download. This information is critical for range of reasons – including tackling tax evasion and other forms of financial crime and corruption.
Less than half of the key datasets in the top 20 countries are available to re-use as open data, showing that even the leading countries do not fully understand the importance of citizens and businesses being able to legally and technically use, reuse and redistribute data. This enables them to build and share commercial and non-commercial services.
Pollock:
For the true benefits of open data to be realised, governments must do more than simply put a few spreadsheets online. The information should be easily found and understood, and should be able to be freely used, reused and shared by anyone, anywhere, for any purpose.
/ Ends
CONTACT: Open Knowledge Foundation on +44 (0)1223 422159 or index@okfn.org.
To see the full results: index.okfn.org.
For graphs of the data: index.okfn.org/visualisations.
NOTES FOR EDITORS
The Open Data Index is a community-based effort initiated and coordinated by the Open Knowledge Foundation. The Index is compiled using contributions from civil society members and open data practitioners around the world, which are then peer-reviewed and checked by expert open data editors. The Index provides an independent assessment of openness in the following areas: transport timetables; government budget; government spending; election results; company registers; national map; national statistics; legislation; postcodes / ZIP codes; emissions of pollutants.
Countries assessed (in rank order): United Kingdom, United States, Denmark, Norway, Netherlands, Australia, Finland, Sweden, New Zealand, Canada, Iceland, Moldova, Bulgaria, Malta, Italy, France, Austria, Portugal, Slovenia, Switzerland, Israel, Czech Republic, Spain, Ireland, Greece, Croatia, Isle Of Man, Japan, Serbia, Russian Federation, Ecuador, South Korea, Poland, Taiwan R.O.C., China, Indonesia, Hungary, Brazil, Germany, Mexico, Jersey, Guernsey, Slovak Republic, Bermuda, Romania, Costa Rica, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Singapore, Lithuania, South Africa, Cayman Islands, Egypt, Nepal, Senegal, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Gibraltar, Belgium, Hong Kong, Barbados, Bahamas, India, Bahrain, Yemen, Burkina Faso, Kenya, British Virgin Is., Saint Kitts & Nevis, Cyprus. NB: a number of countries were not assessed, often because they were not open enough to have an active civil society able or free to safely carry out the research.
Open Data is information which can be freely used, reused and shared by anyone, anywhere, for any purpose. Truly open data demands a range of both technical and legal qualities which ensure that anyone can reuse it freely, for maximum benefit, and the Open Data Index assesses all of these. The Open Definition sets out the principles which define "openness" in relation to data and content: opendefinition.org
The Open Knowledge Foundation is an international non-profit working to open up information around the world so it can be used to empower citizens and organizations to build fair and sustainable societies. See: okfn.org
The annual summit for the Open Government Partnership will take place in London on 31st October to 1st November. More details at: opengovpartnership.org
Friday, October 25, 2013
International New Media Writing Contest 2013
The Media School at Bournemouth University is accepting entries for its New Media Writing Prize (NMWP).
NMWP is looking for innovative and interactive storytelling (fiction or non-fiction) written specifically for delivery and reading/viewing on a PC or Mac, the Web or a hand-held device such as an iPad or mobile phone. It could be a short story, novel, documentary or poem using words, images, film or animation with audience interaction.
The overall winner will receive GBP1,000 (US$1,616). The student winner will receive a three-month work placement at the leading e-learning company Unicorn Training, in Dorset, UK, with a weekly pay of GBP250 (US$404). The People's Choice winner, voted for by the public, will be awarded with GBP250.
The deadline is Nov. 25. The deadline for students is Dec. 13.
For more information, http://www.newmediawritingprize.co.uk/
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Wednesday, October 23, 2013
Ghana 2012 Elections in Pictures
|
Ghana Elections 2012 In Pictures takes readers through colourful snapshots right from the political campaign trails, tours and rallies of the various political parties, through activities on the actual voting day to the closing moments of the whole electoral exercise. The spotlight is also shined on all the leading contenders in the 2012 Ghana elections. Some of the high profile politicians belonging to the various political parties were also captured exercising their ballots. The official results by the Electoral Commission of Ghana, key facts and figures about the polls, Basic Regional Electoral Statistics, some parliamentary candidates, the work of the various stakeholders such as election observers, civil society organizations (CSOs), journalists,security agencies, and the electoral commission as well as front pages of newspapers coverage of the elections are also captured in this picture book. The outcome of the 2012 Ghana presidential election which was contested in the Supreme Court of Ghana by the opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the subsequent ruling by the Supreme Court upholding the declaration of John Dramani Mahama by the electoral commission as the validly elected president is all documented by the book. The Ghana Elections 2012 in Pictures is a good read, helping readers to instantly connect to fond memories that characterized the general elections – both humorous moments that relaxed the country and tense moments that filled the atmosphere with an uneasy sense of foreboding. According to Jerry Sam, the Project Director of African Elections Project (AEP), "a picture says a thousand words, and the beautiful collection of pictures in this book is intended to summarily tell the story of the 2012 general elections in Ghana visually, and serve as reference document for happenings around the elections". African Elections Project (AEP), established in 2008 by the Penplusbytes Institute of ICT Journalism, is one of the continent's most authoritative elections information centres, committed to particularly ensuring peaceful and successful elections on the African continent. AEP has successfully covered elections in many African countries including Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and Togo. Other countries that the AEP has also successfully covered are Cote D'Ivoire, Niger, Mauritania, Malawi and Guinea. In 2010 The African Elections Project was selected as an innovative project during World Bank Innovation Fair held in South Africa. |
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Tuesday, October 22, 2013
Ghana 2012 Elections in Pictures
After successfully covering Ghana elections 2012 under “Enabling Peaceful Transparent And Credible Elections In Ghana Using New Media Project”, African Elections Project (AEP) has launched Ghana Elections 2012 in pictures book which chronicles key memorable events and captivating moments that enlivened the otherwise calm country spanning the period before, during and after the elections. (To Download the Book CLICK HERE)
Ghana Elections 2012
In Pictures takes readers
through colourful snapshots right from the political campaign trails, tours and
rallies of the various political parties, through activities on the actual
voting day to the closing moments of the whole electoral exercise.
The spotlight is also shined on all the
leading contenders in the 2012 Ghana elections. Some of the high profile
politicians belonging to the various political parties were also captured
exercising their ballots.
The official results by the Electoral
Commission of Ghana, key facts and figures about the polls, Basic Regional
Electoral Statistics, some parliamentary candidates, the work of the various
stakeholders such as election observers, civil society organizations (CSOs),
journalists,security agencies, and the electoral commission as well as front
pages of newspapers coverage of the elections are also captured in this picture
book.
The outcome of the 2012 Ghana
presidential election which was contested in the Supreme Court of Ghana by the
opposition New Patriotic Party (NPP) and the subsequent ruling by the Supreme
Court upholding the declaration of John Dramani Mahama by the electoral
commission as the validly elected president is all documented by the book.
The Ghana Elections 2012 in Pictures is a good read, helping readers to instantly connect to fond memories that characterized the general elections – both humorous moments that relaxed the country and tense moments that filled the atmosphere with an uneasy sense of foreboding.
The Ghana Elections 2012 in Pictures is a good read, helping readers to instantly connect to fond memories that characterized the general elections – both humorous moments that relaxed the country and tense moments that filled the atmosphere with an uneasy sense of foreboding.
According to Jerry Sam, the Project
Director of African Elections Project (AEP), “a picture says a thousand words,
and the beautiful collection of pictures in this book is intended to summarily
tell the story of the 2012 general elections in Ghana visually, and serve as
reference document for happenings around the elections”.
African Elections Project (AEP),
established in 2008 by the Penplusbytes Institute of ICT Journalism, is one of
the continent’s most authoritative elections information centres, committed to particularly ensuring peaceful and successful
elections on the African continent.
AEP has successfully covered elections
in many African countries including Namibia, Mozambique, Botswana, Ghana and
Togo. Other countries that the AEP has also successfully covered are Cote
D’Ivoire, Niger, Mauritania, Malawi and Guinea. In 2010 The African Elections
Project was selected as an innovative project during World Bank Innovation Fair
held in South Africa.
Monday, October 21, 2013
Guardian scoops online journalism awards for NSA coverage
ATLANTA (AFP) - Britain's The Guardian scooped up two awards for online journalism for its coverage of the National Security Agency (NSA) leaks from former US intelligence contractor Edward Snowden.
The Guardian's exposure of the electronic surveillance by the US spy agency was honoured in the categories of innovative investigative journalism and watchdog journalism at the annual awards banquet here of the Online News Association (ONA).
Other online journalism award winners on Saturday included The New York Times and The Boston Globe, which both picked up multiple awards.
NYTimes.com was singled out for general excellence in online journalism, and the newspaper also picked up an award for feature reporting for a stunning multi-media presentation called Snow Fall about a deadly avalanche.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Friday, October 18, 2013
Knight-Mozilla OpenNews Receives $4 Million Knight Foundation Grant
The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation has announced a $4 million grant to Knight-Mozilla OpenNews in support of its efforts to connect technologists with newsrooms, create new storytelling tools, and cultivate cultural change in the field of journalism.
The grant will support a number of initiatives in 2014, including a series of "code convenings" that bring together news developers and open-source contributors to collaborate on shared projects. OpenNews also will enhance its Source platform with more coverage and case studies, and will provide training and journalism-related code development events organized by its growing global alumni network.
Launched by Mozilla in 2010 and supported by Knight since 2011, OpenNews will add five news partners to its Knight-Mozilla Fellowship program in 2014. Alumni of the program continue to engage and innovate in journalism through their work in newsrooms, startups, and academia. The grant also will enable the project to continue its support of journalistic-themed "hack days," which to date have been held in twenty-two countries.
"By providing free, world-class technology solutions that any news organization can use, the OpenNews project has revealed the great value of open Web technologies and sparked adoption across the industry," said Michael Maness, Knight's vice president of journalism and media innovation. "In its next phase, it will work to build stronger bridges between the developer world and everyday newsrooms, while establishing itself as a source for continuous media innovation."
"Knight-Mozilla Effort to Foster Newsroom Innovation With $4 Million in New Funding." John S. and James L Knight Foundation Press Release 10/16/13.International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Thursday, October 17, 2013
Google launches Media Tools targeting Journalists
Google Media Tools - starting point to tap into Google's suite of digital tools that can enhance newsgathering and exposure across television, radio, print and online.
Whether it's refining your advanced search capabilities, improving audience engagement through Google+, or learning how to visualize data using Google Maps, this website is intended to guide you through all the resources Google offers to journalists
- Gather and Organize
- Visualize
- Publish
- Develop
- Additional resources : Google Politics & Elections, Transparency Report and Google Crisis Response
http://www.google.com/get/mediatools/
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
Monday, October 14, 2013
The Effects of Mass Surveillance on Journalism
Mass surveillance of the kind practiced by the NSA produces a chilling effect on journalism, because sources do not feel they can have a private conversation with a reporter. That's the message of a group of scholars, journalists, and researchers from Columbia Journalism School and the MIT Center for Civic Media, in a public comment to the Review Group on Intelligence and Communication Technologies convened by President Obama.The 15 page letter argues that mass surveillance is harmful to journalism and incompatible with existing law and policy. It goes on to document recent chilling effects, showing that real harm has already occurred."Put plainly, what the NSA is doing is incompatible with the existing law and policy protecting the confidentiality of journalist-‐source communications. This is not merely an incompatibility in spirit, but a series of specific and serious discrepancies between the activities of the intelligence community and existing law, policy, and practice in the rest of the government. Further, the climate of secrecy around mass surveillance activities is itself actively harmful to journalism, as sources cannot know when they might be monitored, or how intercepted information might be used against them."The letter documents how NSA's domestic phone and internet surveillance activities contradict recent Department of Justice policy. The DoJ released new guidelines regarding access to reporter-source communication records in July, after a review prompted by the secret seizure of records for 20 Associated Press phone lines. The new guidelines say that "the Department views the use of tools to seek evidence from or involving the news media as an extraordinary measure" and requires advance notification to journalists in most cases, to give them the opportunity to contest the matter. It also requires Attorney General approval for searches and seizures.The NSA operates with far greater latitude. It preemptively collects and archives the records of all calls made to or by journalists, effectively bypassing both the notice and the authorization provisions of the DoJ policy. The NSA operates under "minimization" procedures designed to protect the confidentiality of Americans' communications obtained by warrantless surveillance, but these rules contain an important exception: the NSA can report many different types of crimes to law enforcement authorities.The letter argues that this double standard is intolerable: "there must be one set of rules, and those rules must protect journalist-‐source communications." The authors also reject the logic of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court when it asserts that collecting information on everyone is no different, from a privacy point of view, than collecting information on specific individuals."The surveillance of essentially everyone has effects far beyond the surveillance of journalists alone. … For a free press to function we must also protect the means of communicating with a journalist. At the present time, the NSA has made private electronic communication essentially impossible."This state of affairs has made sources nervous about talking to reporters. Journalists from news organizations including the Associated Press, the Washington Post, the New York Times, and the Center for Public Integrity have recently reported chilling effects. As quoted in a newly released report of the Committee To Protect Journalists, New York Times national security reporter Scott Shane describes the problem:"There's a gray zone between classified and unclassified information, and most sources were in that gray zone. Sources are now afraid to enter that gray zone. It's having a deterrent effect. If we consider aggressive press coverage of government activities being at the core of American democracy, this tips the balance heavily in favor of the government."Mass surveillance is not merely a theoretical risk to a free press, but has real consequences that are already preventing journalists from doing their job.The comment was prepared by a group of journalists and scholars with experience in investigative journalism, online media, and data mining, including Emily Bell, Shelia Coronel, Jonathan Stray, and Michael Schudson of Columbia Journalism School, and Ethan Zuckerman of the MIT Center For Civic Media.
International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org
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