World Press Institute Fellowships

Applications are invited for WPI journalism fellowship available for international journalists working outside of the United States who have at least five years of professional journalistic experience in any medium. Journalists can work for news or editorial departments of newspapers, wire services, radio, television, web sites, online publications or magazines of general public interest. The program usually begins in mid-August and end in mid-October. The fellows will spend three weeks in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and then travel to several U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, D.C., for briefings, interviews and visits. They will return to Minnesota for the final week of the program. Selection is a competitive process. The applications deadline is February 15, 2015.

Study Subject (s): Fellowship is awarded in the area of journalism.
Course Level: This is a fellowship program for journalists and photojournalists from newspapers, news magazines, wire services, radio, television and online news organizations.
Scholarship Provider: World Press Institute
Scholarship can be taken at: USA

Eligibility:
-At least five (5) years full-time employment in print, broadcast, or online journalism.
-Journalists can work for news or editorial departments of newspapers, wire services, radio, television, web sites, online publications or magazines of general public interest.
-Photojournalists, editorial cartoonists, columnists and broadcast producers are also eligible.
-Those who supervise journalists are eligible providing that they also have at least five years as a working journalist.
-Any journalism-related work completed as a university student does not count toward experience. People who work in public relations or at organizations whose primary business is not the media are not eligible.
-Must be currently employed as a non U.S. journalist working outside of the United States.
-Fluency in both written and spoken English.
-Potential for leadership

Scholarship Open for Students of Following Countries: International journalists (except from USA) can apply for this WPI fellowship.

Scholarship Description: The WPI fellowship is offered to 10 journalists from countries around the world. It provides immersion into the governance, politics, business, media, journalistic ethics and culture of the United States for experienced international journalists, through a demanding schedule of study, travel and interviews throughout the country.

Number of award(s): The WPI fellowships will be offered up to 10 journalists.

Duration of award(s): The program usually begins in mid-August and end in mid-October. The fellows will spend three weeks in Minneapolis-St. Paul, Minnesota and then travel to several U.S. cities, including New York and Washington, D.C., for briefings, interviews and visits. They will return to Minnesota for the final week of the program.

What does it cover? WPI pays all program costs, including transportation to the U.S. and back, all transportation within the U.S. related to the WPI program, and all lodging costs. In addition, a modest daily per diem for food is provided. Personal expenses, such as cameras, film, postage and clothing, are the responsibility of the fellows.

Selection Criteria: Selection is a competitive process. Each year hundreds of journalists apply to the program. Fellows are picked by the WPI selection committee, composed of journalists and corporate communications specialists, all with international experience.

Notification: Finalists for the fellowship will announced in early May. Please note that due to the number of applications received, they cannot respond to individual requests as to status. You will receive an email from WPI sometime in May telling you whether you have received a fellowship or not.

How to Apply: During this online application process, you will be asked to provide the following:
-Applicant information
-Employment history and education
-Two essays
-Color photo of yourself
-Work samples
-Awards, fellowships, and certificates
-Three letters of recommendation

Scholarship Application Deadline: The deadline for applications is February 15, 2015.

Further Official Scholarship Information and Application

Penplusbytes Successfully Hosts 1st Accra Technology Salon

Penplusbytes’ New Media Hub in Accra successfully hosted the inaugural technology salon event on Thursday, January 29th to provide a platform for frank participation with ideas, opinions, and predictions centering on technology-enabled citizen engagement.

Bringing together technology experts, stakeholders, innovators and bloggers, Tech Salon Accra drew debates on the availability, accessibility and improvement of data that enhances the Ghanaian citizen’s participation in the governance process. It is significant to note that citizens’ engagement in development issues and accountability can presently be pursued using digital technology.

With about thirty participants in attendance, the following issues were brought to the fore and elaborated upon,

1.    How has technology played a role in connecting Ghanaians to their government?
2.    Which technologies were effective (or not) in holding government accountable?
3.    What new technologies can we use to make sure Ghana continues to be transparent?
4.    Who are the innovators developing new solutions to encourage greater citizen engagement?

It was however stressed, that public or citizen open data should be produced considering the era of video communication method in the current face of Ghana’s entertainment.

The Technology Salon is an intimate, informal, and in person, discussion between information and communication technology experts and international development professionals, with a focus on both:
• technology’s impact on donor-sponsored technical assistance delivery, and
• private enterprise driven economic development, facilitated by technology.

BBC World News Komla Dumor Award

Job Introduction

Komla Dumor was a journalist of Africa. His passion was to tell African stories to the world with honesty and integrity.
It’s a legacy that the BBC wants to continue.
The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award will be made to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills, on air flair, and an exceptional talent in telling African stories with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.
.

Role Responsibility

The winner of the BBC World News Komla Dumor award will receive a once-in-a-lifetime training and development opportunity with the BBC in London, starting in early September 2015 and running for three months.  Working with teams from across BBC News, the winner will produce an African story for the BBC and have their story and their voice shared across the continent and the world.  They will be supported by a high-level BBC mentor and attend courses run by the BBC’s world-class training department, the BBC Academy.
The BBC will pay for the winner’s flights to and from the UK and for their visa.  We will also arrange and pay for the winner’s accommodation in London during their placement.  The winner will receive £2,000 per month for the three month placement to cover their living expenses and a one-off payment of £5,000 as a contribution towards loss of salary in their home country.  Some of the above may be subject to taxation (and deductions will be made as appropriate).

The Ideal Candidate

To apply for this prestigious award, you must be currently living and working as a journalist in Africa with 3 to 10 years’ experience as a professional journalist in Africa. You must also have the following skills and experience:

• Excellent journalism skills, including in digital and social media.
• Broadcasting experience is preferable.
• An excellent broadcasting voice and strong presenting skills with the ability to perform at the microphone with flair.
• The ability to identify and pitch a strong original African story idea, aligned to the BBC editorial guidelines http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/
• Wide and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the African continent, including politics, business, culture, history and sport.
• Fluency in English as a first or equivalent language.

Additional requirements for all applicants

• You must provide a CV (maximum two pages) / complete a careers hub profile.
• You must hold or be able to obtain by 1st March 2015 a passport that is valid until at least 31st January 2016.
• You must not be a current or former member of BBC staff.
• If successful, your employer must be willing to release you for three months from September 2015 for you to travel on your own to take up your placement in London.
• The visa requires that you hold a degree or are studying towards a degree equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
• References, proof of employment, birth certificate, passport, an appropriate UK visa and proof of level of English will be required from shortlisted candidates.

Terms and conditions

• You must provide the BBC with your name, email and postal address if you wish to enter for this award.
• The BBC will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this award, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone without your permission.
• The deadline for receiving entries for the award is final. This is 23.59 hours on Monday 2 February 2015. No entries received after this date will be considered.
• The BBC will not be liable for any costs incurred in the application process for this award.
• The BBC does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. No responsibility is accepted for incomplete entries or entries made fraudulently.
• This award is not open to employees of the BBC, any person directly involved in the BBC or the running of the competition.
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into thereafter.
• The BBC reserves the right to use the names and images of shortlisted candidates in publicity material.
• The award winner will be contacted personally.
• The award must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternative.
• The BBC reserves the right to cancel this award scheme at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
• The awardee must be able to secure an appropriate UK visa, which the BBC will arrange and pay for on the awardee’s behalf.  The BBC will withdraw the offer of a placement, if an appropriate UK visa cannot be obtained.
• The awardee assigns all copyright or other intellectual property rights in the contribution they supply to the BBC as a result of placement.
• The awardee grants the BBC the unlimited right to edit, copy, alter, add to, take from, adapt or translate the contributions and, with regard to such contributions and any BBC content in which they may have been included, waives irrevocably any ‘moral rights’ they may have under any laws of any jurisdiction.
• The BBC reserves the right to withdraw the award at any stage if the awardee brings the BBC into disrepute.
• The awardee is expected to return to their home country at the end of their BBC placement.
• This award is administered by the BBC.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering for this award.

The award entries will be judged and the winner decided by:
Andrew Roy – World Editor, BBC News. Formerly Head of News for BBC World News
Vera Kwakofi – Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa
Charles Onyango-Obbo – Author and Editor, Mail & Guardian Africa. Formerly Executive Editor for Africa at the Nation Media Group.
Please ensure you read the terms and conditions before applying.
If you do not meet the criteria but want to develop your journalism skills, the BBC provides practical advice. http://www.bbc.co.uk/academy/journalism
To apply you will need to register and create a profile on the careers hub.
If you have any issues when applying please contact:
careers@bbchrdirect.co.uk
Telephone 0044 20 300 89013 (Option 1; 09:00am-6:00pm; Mon-Fri (UK Time)
Apply

Future of News: Seven insane ways tech will change news

The BBC, like many media organisations, is having a major head-scratching session about the whole future of news.

As part of this exercise, I've been asked to write about the way technology could change the news business over the next decade.

When I sat down to think about this, I realised that while there were bits of gadgetry that are changing the way we gather and distribute news, the primary challenge comes from new platforms and software.

And what is particularly scary for wizened veterans of the news business like me is the sudden appearance of the likes of Buzzfeed and Vice News, organisations which seem able to lure audiences into consuming serious news with gimmicks such as listicles and clickbait headlines.

Ah well, if you can't beat them..



1. Oh my, we've all gone mobile

With breathtaking speed, the internet has gone mobile, with more than half of the UK population now in possession of a hugely powerful computer in the form of a smartphone.

News organisations still struggling to get to grips with the idea of "internet first" must quickly adapt to "mobile first" - that is where their audiences are going to be.

If you haven't got a mobile app that's as good as, if not better than, any of your existing platforms, you will soon be toast. And as mobile networks improve, text will not be enough - users will expect engaging video content too.

2. I am a camera

The spread of the smartphone means just about everyone inside and outside your news organisation now has a camera and can be a news gatherer. All kinds of wearable cameras are also coming on to the market, though one, Google Glass, has already disappeared.

What this means is that just about any news event is likely to be recorded by someone, so apps that make it easy for anyone to get their footage to a news organisation are going to become more important. And the task for those who must sift through it all will get ever more arduous.

3. Live from the sky

Going live from around the world has been a vital but expensive priority for television news organisations for many years, with satellite costs still very high.

As mobile and broadband networks get faster and cheaper, it's becoming much easier. And now we are entering the age of the drone, you can soon expect to see live aerial pictures beamed down to a reporter or producer's smartphone and then out to the world.

4. Snapchat me your Reddit over WhatsApp

The social media landscape is getting more fragmented - Facebook still has a huge audience, but millions of young people are now using other ways to communicate.

That means news organisations have to dip their toes into all sorts of unfamiliar pools in the attempt to reach this audience. Tweeting is no longer enough, you have to have a presence on everything from WhatsApp to Reddit.

Some may work - Instagram and Vine are proving useful ways of getting short news clips to millions of people. Others will prove a dead end - I can't quite see how Snapchat is anything other than a place for private conversations. But experimentation is vital for journalists trying to stay in touch.

5. The kids are alright

Teenagers are now finding their news in less traditional ways

Which brings us to the depressing fact that 16-24 year olds have better things to do than read newspapers or watch the TV news.

But hold on a minute - ask a British teenager for their views on events in Ferguson, Missouri, or the latest news about Ebola and you may find they're better informed than their parents.

On everything from Tumblr to various games forums, they're sharing links to news stories and discussing issues that matter to them. Journalists just have to find ways of being part of that conversation.

6. Money for something

There is no money in news - that has been the frightening truth that has crept up on news organisations as the internet has laid bare their threadbare economics.

No longer can property and job adverts keep regional newspapers afloat, television channels are asking difficult questions about the cost of their news operations, and on the internet readers and viewers expect to get expect everything for free.

Hold on a minute - some people are making money from news, and lots of it. Two terrible terms - "branded content" and "native advertising" - are behind the healthy finances of expanding media businesses like Buzzfeed.

What they mean, according to the doomsayers, is an increasingly hazy line between journalism and advertising. But optimists say that has always been the case and there is nothing wrong with advertisers wanting to be associated with popular journalism.

7. Content still counts

Here's the good news for those who fear a future of endless live, Snapchatty, linkbaity celebrity nonsense, all sponsored by Evil Megacorp PLC.

There is growing evidence of an appetite for in-depth news. The blog platform Medium found that its most successful articles were around 1,600 words long and took seven minutes to read. Vice News has had nearly four million views on YouTube for a series of reports from Ukraine, all of them a good deal longer than a standard TV news package.

And while technology is making it easier and cheaper for anyone to spread their news to the world, both editors and audiences still value specialist knowledge and skills. And no, everything doesn't have to be in the form of a list.

source : http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30897482

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

Fall 2014 Joan Shorenstein Fellows

Overview
 

The mission of the Joan Shorenstein Fellowship Program is to advance research in the field of media, politics and public policy; facilitate a dialogue among journalists, scholars, policymakers and students; provide an opportunity for reflection; and create a vibrant and long-lasting community of scholars and practitioners. The primary focus for a Fellow is to research, write and publish a paper on a media/politics topic. It is a highly selective program; only a very small percentage of applicants are accepted.

The Center hosts eight one-semester residential fellowships each year (four per semester). Fellows conduct research; engage with students, faculty and the Harvard community; and participate in the various events associated with the Shorenstein Center. Fellows’ research and ideas are presented at weekly research meetings where they discuss and defend their project before a group of peers. Recent projects have been published in the Columbia Journalism Review, Foreign Affairs, The New Republic and Fortune magazine and have been reported on in The New York Times.

Since 1986, the Fellowship Program has brought more than 250 accomplished journalists, scholars and politicians from around the world to the Center. Joan Shorenstein Fellows work closely with Harvard students and often serve as longtime mentors. Past Shorenstein Fellows include TV news anchors; national and international print, radio and television reporters; digital news innovators; presidential media advisors; leading scholars and policy analysts.

Eligibility

1. Must be a full-time journalist, politician, scholar or policymaker currently active in the field.

• Journalist: Reporter, editor, producer with a minimum of five years experience at a news organization (print, broadcast, Internet) immediately prior to submitting Fellowship application.
• Politician: Someone who has campaigned and been elected to a national or high-level state office.
• Scholar: Tenured or tenure-track professor in political science, political communication, journalism, international political communication with a strong record of book and journal publications. The applicant must be employed by a college, university or research institution for seven years or more.
• Policymaker: High-level official in a cabinet office or adviser to a candidate for national office. Minimum 10 years experience in equivalent role.

2. Must be available to be in residence, full-time, for one semester (September through December or February through May) in Cambridge, MA.
3. The applicant should not have participated in another fellowship within the two years prior to their preferred semester at Harvard.
4. Applicants must be fluent in English – listening, reading, writing and speaking. Non-native English speakers must provide TOEFL or IELTS score.
Applicants who do not meet these requirements cannot be considered.

Financial Assistance

Stipend is $30,000 for one semester. Travel and living expenses are not covered by the Shorenstein Center. Office space, computer and telephone are provided.

Funding

This fellowship honors Joan Shorenstein Barone and is supported by the generosity of the Shorenstein family, the Jessie B. Cox Trust, the Gardner Cowles Trust and the Goldsmith Fund of the Greenfield Foundation.

Apply

Applications are due February 2, 2015. 

Questions? Contact Katie Miles: katie_miles@hks.harvard.edu or by phone: 617-496-8636.

TECHNOLOGY SALON - ACCRA: What Technology Can Help Ghanaians Keep Government Accountable?

January 29th Accra Salon - RSVP Now

Congratulations! Ghana was just deemed to be the 2nd most lawful country in Africa (behind Botswana) by the World Justice Project. While this is a laudable achievement, just how much technology was involved? Did we need Ghana Open Data? Or can Ghanaians enjoy good governance without technology solutions getting in the way?
Please RSVP now to join the inaugural Technology Salon Accra where we will explore four key questions around technology-enabled citizen engagement:

• How has technology played a role in connecting Ghanaians to their government?
  • Which technologies were effective (or not) in holding government accountable?
  • What new technologies can we use to make sure Ghana continues to be transparent?
  • Who are the innovators developing new solutions to encourage greater citizen engagement?

These questions are of paramount importance as new oil wealth arrives, and when so many of Ghana’s neighboring governments are not as transparent, and arguably becoming less accountable to their citizens. Luckily, we’ll have two key thought leaders to guide our discussions and lead a way forward:

• Jerry Sam, Pen Plus Bytes
  • Wayan Vota, FHI 360

Please RSVP now to join them and your esteemed peers at the first Technology Salon Accra. We’ll have hot coffee and catered breakfast treats for a morning rush, but seating is limited. Once we reach our 35-person capacity there will be a waiting list!
Citizen Engagement in Ghana
1st Technology Salon Accra
8:00 - 10:30 a.m.
Thursday, January 29th
New Media Hub at Pen Plus Bytes
No.1 Ostwe Close, Ako Adjei, Osu,
Accra, Ghana
RSVP is Required
About the Technology Salon
The Technology Salon™ is an intimate, informal, and in person, discussion between information and communication technology experts and international development professionals, with a focus on both:

• technology's impact on donor-sponsored technical assistance delivery, and
  • private enterprise driven economic development, facilitated by technology.

Our meetings are lively conversations, not boring presentations. Attendance is capped at 30 people - and frank participation with ideas, opinions, and predictions is actively encouraged.
It's also a great opportunity to meet others motivated to employ technology to solve vexing development problems. Join us today!

Hinrich Global Trade Leader Scholarship

Applications are invited for Hinrich Global Trade Leader scholarship for academic year 2015-2016. Scholarships are open for the students of India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines. Successful candidates will study Master of Arts in International Journalism at Hong Kong Baptist University on a full-time basis. Hinrich Foundation offers full scholarship supports covering tuition and mandatory fees, monthly living & incidental allowance, airfare, visa and educational materials. To be eligible for the scholarship, applicants must have an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, be fluent in English and able to meet all academic, entrance and other requirements of the university. The application deadline is February 1, 2015.

Study Subject(s): Scholarships are awarded in the field of International Journalism.
Course Level: Scholarships are available for pursuing master degree level at Hong Kong Baptist University.

Scholarship Provider: The Hinrich Foundation
Scholarship can be taken at: Hong Kong
Eligibility: Applicants must be citizens of India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines. They must have an undergraduate degree in a relevant subject, be fluent in English and able to meet all academic, entrance and other requirements of the university.

Scholarship Open for International Students: Citizens of India, Cambodia, Vietnam and Philippines can apply for this master scholarship.
Scholarship Description: The Hinrich Foundation is encouraging bright individuals with an interest in international trade to apply for our scholarship, and career development program. To provide quality education and comprehensive career development opportunities for postgraduate study in fields related to trade, communication and business for scholars with proven academic and professional track records, who have the desire to make a positive impact on people’s lives through export trade promotion.

Number of award(s): Not Known
Duration of award(s): Scholarship will be offered for one year.
What does it cover? Hinrich Foundation offers full scholarship supports covering tuition and mandatory fees, monthly living & incidental allowance, airfare, visa and educational materials.
Selection Criteria: Not Known
Notification: Not Known
How to Apply: The mode of applying is online.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is February 1, 2015

Further Official Scholarship Information and Application

Job Opportunity at BBC : Bilingual and mad about news?

There's a brand new work experience scheme about to start in World Service Languages. It's called Future Voices and the aim is to get people in the UK who speak and write two languages fluently through the doors of BBC News to find out what it's like to work here. We're searching for the bilingual talent of the future.

Bilingual reporting is well established in BBC News, with World Service Languages having led the way. There are currently around 40bilingual correspondents working all over the world, some of whom are becoming as familiar to UK audiences as they are to our international ones. Reporters like BBC Africa correspondent Tomi Oladipo (pictured reporting from Nigeria), Anne Soy in Nairobi or BBC Arabic's Rami Ruhayem report adeptly and perceptively in English and another language, telling the same story but adapting it in terms of relevance, context and understanding for each audience.

Now we're looking for talented, enthusiastic people who are passionate about reporting on international news to take advantage of our Future Voices scheme. It's open to anyone based in the UK who is over 18 and totally bilingual in English and another of the other 28 languages of the BBC World Service.

The level of language skills we're looking for is very high. Successful candidates will join us at New Broadcasting House (NBH) for a month and work in the language service relevant to them, as well as spending time with teams across the rest of BBC News and in training - getting to know audiences. The scheme is expected to run up to three times a year, for a month each time. The very first course is running for the whole of March, with the second planned for June/July.

The aim is that by the end of the month all the trainees will have a good understanding of how World Service Languages and the rest of BBC News work. They'll have gained insight into our global audience - the 265 million people around the world who access the BBC each week - as well as our UK audience, which is a key issue for bilingual reporters.

World Service Languages provides audiences with news online, via mobile, social media, radio, and TV. And the range is huge: from well-established BBC Arabic, serving audiences across all platforms 24 hours a day, to the latest short TV bulletin programmes from BBC Hausa and BBC Urdu, distributed through partner stations.

We want to open this scheme out as widely as possible to attract talented people with excellent language skills who might not have thought about applying to the BBC before, and might know little about the organisation. So we've intentionally made the application process as straightforward and accessible as possible.

Candidates have to be UK-based, 18 or over, truly bilingual, and show a keen interest in international news. For those who live outside London, we'll provide accommodation and expenses to enable them to come to NBH for the scheme.

Successful Future Voices trainees will have a mentor to guide them through the month; they'll have intensive training in online, TV and radio; and they'll have the chance to make a short video on a subject they're interested in. This is a great opportunity to experience what it's like to work in BBC World Service Languages, from the inside.

Closing date for applications to the March scheme is 15 February.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/collegeofjournalism/entries/a2b334f8-4eb3-42d8-b0d0-3ab3e3b79dcf?ns_mchannel=social&ns_campaign=bbc_college&ns_source=twitter&ns_linkname=corporate

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

Join Penplusbytes Growing Network Today

In order to help journalists grow in the newsroom, while ensuring they improve on the quality of journalism using new digital technologies, Penplusbytes invite you to join our innovative online networking platforms.

The starting point is our mailing list https://dgroups.org/groups/Penplusbytes. This list is designed as an information and knowledge sharing online discussion space. If you need new ideas, support, information, tips and skills, you can turn to Penplusbytes list.

Currently, and with about 1,000 members spread over 60 countries, the mailing list remains a key information and knowledge resource center supporting the growth of journalists interested in new digital technologies.

Apart from Facebook, Twitter, Google plus, you can as well join our dedicated social media platform at http://penplusybytes.ning.com/, connecting you with other key professionals across the globe.

As a leader in using new digital technologies to enable good governance and transparency, we have launched a number of projects including the African Elections Project (AEP) (AEP on Facebook, AEP twitter and AEP LinkedIn group) to cover elections on the continent using new digital technologies, Citizens’ budget, Connecting citizens to Parliament (on Facebook and Twitter) and Civil Society platform on IMF bailout (CS Platform Ghana on Facebook and @csplatformghana on Twitter) to enable citizens to contribute to and monitor IMF bailout programme for Ghana

In order to support good governance of oil, gas and mining (extractives sector) resources and revenues on the continent, Penplusbytes provide capacity building for journalists in Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania and Liberia so that they can provide better oversight of oil, gas and mining revenue. Follow us on twitter, Facebook and visit www.reportingoilandgas.org website for regular updates.

With over 13 years of experience in the areas of governance and accountability; new media and innovations and oil, gas and mining, the International Institute of ICT Journalism, Penplusbytes, is your key partner for cutting edge journalism and ensuring democracy in Africa delivers better dividends for its citizens.

END NOTES
Established in 2001, Penplusbytes is a leading organization in Africa working in 3 areas: governance and accountability, new media and innovations as well as oil, gas and mining.

Knight-Wallace Journalism Fellowship

University of Michigan is awarding Knight-Wallace Fellowships for US and international journalists. Fellows devise a personalized study plan with access to the courses and resources of the University of Michigan. A typical Knight-Wallace Fellowship class comprises 12 U.S. journalists and six international colleagues. U.S. fellowships are offered for eight months. International fellowships are offered for either four months or eight months, as funding is available. U.S. fellows receive $70,000- distributed as $8,750 monthly-from September through April. Stipend details vary for international fellows and are worked out on an individual basis. Application should be submitted till February 1, 2015.

Study Subject(s): Fellows devise a personalized study plan with access to the courses and resources of the University of Michigan.
Course Level: The four to eight months Knight-Wallace fellowship programme is available to journalists.
Scholarship Provider: University of Michigan
Scholarship can be taken at: USA

Eligibility: Applicants must be full-time journalists, with a minimum five years professional experience, whose work appears regularly as an employee or freelancer. Print, broadcast, photo, documentary and Internet journalists are eligible. There are no academic prerequisites.

Scholarship Open for International Students: US and international applicants can apply for this Knight-Wallace fellowship.

Scholarship Description: A Knight-Wallace Fellowship is the rarest of opportunities: an academic year of study, reflection and growth at one of the world’s finest universities, nestled in one of the nation’s most livable cities. It is a time of expanding perspectives, intellectual growth and personal transformation. Each year, the fellowship brings together exceptional journalists from the U.S. and abroad to share this life-changing experience. Fellows devise a personalized study plan with access to the courses and resources of the University of Michigan. Twice-weekly seminars bring the best from the worlds of journalism and academia directly to you.

Number of award(s): A typical Knight-Wallace Fellowship class comprises 12 U.S. journalists and six international colleagues.

Duration of award(s): U.S. fellowships are offered for eight months. International fellowships are offered for either four months or eight months, as funding is available.

What does it cover? U.S. fellows receive $70,000 – distributed as $8,750 monthly – from September through April. Stipend details vary for international fellows and are worked out on an individual basis. All tuition and course fees at the University of Michigan are paid for by the fellowship. Spouses and partners are invited to partake in university courses as well. In addition, all fellowship trips – domestic and international – are covered. If the fellows’ employer does not contribute to insurance coverage, health insurance is provided to fellows and their family members who join them in Ann Arbor.

Selection Criteria: Fellows are selected on the basis of past performance, future promise and above all, leadership in some aspect of journalism. Great care goes into assembling classes of fellows that mix the type and size of news organizations as well as personality, geography and background. Typically, 12 Americans are joined by six international colleagues.

Notification: Finalists are interviewed at Wallace House in April and announced in early May.
How to Apply: The mode of applying is online. Applications may also be send by email.
Scholarship Application Deadline: The application deadline is February 1, 2015.
Further Official Scholarship Information and Application

Read more: Knight-Wallace Fellowships for US and international Applicants Scholarship Positions 2015 2016
http://scholarship-positions.com

Google Journalism Fellowship

Last summer, Sunlight's Google Journalism fellow, political science Ph.D. candidate and former newspaper reporter Stan Oklobdzija, wrote about how Philly television stations got enough cash from political ads in July of an off-election year to "buy about 348,000 wiz cheesesteaks at Geno's." He mapped how Koch affiliated organizations gobbled up airtime at more than 100 TV stations. And he documented how big taxi companies far out spend new ride services such as Uber and Lyft when it comes to political contributions. This summer, that could be you!

 

The Sunlight Foundation is proud that the Google Foundation is again sponsoring a paid summer internship for an aspiring data journalist in our Washington, D.C. offices.

If you are a student of politics, journalism or data — undergraduate or pursuing a graduate degree — we want to work with you. You will join our experienced reporters and talented developers to tell stories of political influence and tech innovation.

Our Internet tools will be your playground; you'll have the chance both to work with them, make them better and maybe even think of something new. Here are a few of the things you'll use:

• Ad Sleuth and Ad Hawk, allowing us to follow spending by super PACs and nonprofit organizations trying to influence elections with television ads.
• The Political Party Time project collects political fundraising invitations into a central, searchable database.
• Open States gives us the ability to follow state bills at each step of the legislative process.
• Docket Wrench lets us track the lobbying on regulations that follows the passage of laws — think health care reform and the Dodd-Frank financial reform law.

We seek detail-oriented fellows with a strong news sense, who are not afraid of code and are eager to tell a story.

The deadline is approaching — Jan. 31 — so please check out the link below and consider applying for our fellowship. And if you are not a student, but know some who would be interested, please pass this announcement along.

 

Sunlight fellows will receive a stipend of $8,500 for 10 weeks during the summer of 2015 and will also get a travel budget of $1,000. They will spend their first week at Google in Mountain View, Calif., then join Sunlight in Washington, D.C. on June 15, finishing on August 14. Applications are due by midnight on Jan. 31, PST.

 

Click here to find more information about a Google journalism fellowship at the Sunlight Foundation in summer 2015.

The Journalism Fellowship Programme

The Journalism Fellowship Programme

The Journalism Fellowship Programme enables mid-career journalists* to improve their knowledge and to study issues important to their professional development in greater depth than is possible under deadline pressure.

Around 25 journalists from around the globe study in Oxford each year on Fellowships of either three, six or nine months, covering one, two or all three terms of the academic year. See available fellowships.

Applications are now open for the Journalism Fellowship Programme 2015-16.

* A minimum of 5 years' full time professional journalistic experience and a high level of spoken and written English are essential. See eligibility.

Programme Content

Requirements of the Journalism Felllowship Programme are to conduct academic research and to actively participate in the activities of the Reuters Institute.

Research

Journalist Fellows are expected to submit a substantial research paper of publishable, academic quality (approx. 8,000-10,000 words).

Each Fellow is assigned a supervisor, usually an Oxford academic specialising in the journalists' chosen subject, to advise them on their research.

Fellows are required to present their research findings in a seminar open to the University.

Programme Activities

Journalist Fellows are required to actively engage in and contribute to the events organised specifically for them. These include:

• Business and Practice of Journalism Seminars
• Media and Politics Seminars
• Trips to news organisations; and
• Social events and visits

Fellows are also warmly invited to participate in the numerous academic and extracurricular activities of the Reuters Institute.

Additional Support and Activities/Opportunities

Fellows are given access to the world famous Bodleian Library and other Oxford University facilities and resources.

They will be granted Visiting Scholar status of Green Templeton College.

Fellows are strongly encouraged to attend university seminars, lectures and classes on all relevant subjects.

The University boasts numerous specialist facilities such as regional centres for African, Middle Eastern, South Asian, Eastern and Western European, Japanese and Chinese Studies, which Fellows are encouraged to engage with.

No academic credits or qualifications can be obtained through the Fellowship Programme although a certificate is awarded on submission of the Fellows’ Research paper.

More information on how to apply for a Fellowship

Can a city sue a TV channel?

The mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo, has said she plans to sue Fox News for a broadcast that described parts of the French capital as "no-go zones" for non-Muslims. But is it possible for a city to take out a libel action against a TV channel, asks Thomas Dahlhaus?

Deputy mayor Patrick Klugman confirmed to the BBC on Wednesday that the mayor was "definitely serious" and that action would be taken "in the coming days".

Fox News had rubbed salt into the wounds of the Charlie Hebdo attack, he said, by spreading "totally fake, false information" about the city - including popular tourist areas such as Montmartre.

"It was like a pain after the pain to be insulted by such a lack of fact-checking in broadcasts all over the world," he said.

Legal experts, he added, were currently deciding whether to bring the action in New York or Paris.

A number of legal experts have chorused that the case would be a non-starter in a US court.

"I believe there is no cause of action in the United States, period," Jane Kirtley, a media law professor at the University of Minnesota, told the Reuters news agency.

"Start Quote

We want Fox News to assume responsibility because they hurt us, they hurt the city of Paris"

Patrick Klugman Deputy mayor of Paris

"This is an example of someone from another country not recognising the force of the First Amendment, which allows criticism of governmental entities," she said, referring to part of the US Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech and freedom of the media.

But what about a French court?

London-based media barrister Matthew Nicklin QC says there would be serious obstacles.

Unlike a person or company, he says, the "city of Paris" is not a legal entity - it cannot sue for defamation. What it might be able to do, he says, is to help bring a "representative claim" on behalf of individual Parisian businesses.

These businesses would have to prove that they had been negatively affected as a result of the Fox News item - by suffering financial losses, for example.

Fox has already accepted that the report was incorrect, with an anchor apologising on air for the channel's "errors".

The next difficulty would be deciding which end of Fox News to sue.

"Start Quote

We've all moved on - end of story   James McKay Birmingham city councillor

No US-based network would submit to French jurisdiction, Nicklin says. And while it might be technically possible to sue a part of Fox News based in France, it would be necessary to demonstrate that this French part of the company was in charge of Fox's coverage at the time.

If Paris did succeed in overcoming these hurdles, any court would take into consideration that Fox News offered apologies, both to Paris and Birmingham - which was described by pundit Steve Emerson as "totally Muslim, where non-Muslims just simply don't go in".

The prospects of achieving compensation are much diminished when apologies are offered quickly and repeatedly, Nicklin says.

"The comments about Birmingham were a bit bonkers. We said so. Fox News corrected them. We've all moved on. End of story," Birmingham city councillor James McKay said on Wednesday, making clear that the city would not take part in the Parisian legal action.

There are two other difficulties standing in Paris's way.

One is the European Convention on Human Rights, which enshrines the right of freedom of expression. If the case ever came to court, Fox News would point out that France is a signatory.

Then there is a US law passed in 2010 - the Speech Act - which gives media outlets special protection against decisions of foreign courts.

"Even if a judgment were obtained in France, it would be impossible under American law to enforce it here," Robert Drechsel, a professor of media law at the University of Wisconsin at Madison told Reuters.

But Klugman, a lawyer before he became deputy mayor, appeared undaunted. He disagreed with Nicklin's assertion that Paris was not a legal entity, saying the city could "take anyone to justice and… has done it many times".

"Our logic is very simple," he said. "We want Fox News to assume responsibility because they hurt us, they hurt the city of Paris."

http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30918379



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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

BBC Job opportunity : BBC World News Komla Dumor Award/ Deadline 19 January 2015

Job Introduction

Applications are invited from 19th of January.

Komla Dumor was a journalist of Africa. His passion was to tell African stories to the world with honesty and integrity.

It's a legacy that the BBC wants to continue.

The BBC World News Komla Dumor Award will be made to an outstanding individual living and working in Africa, who combines strong journalism skills, on air flair, and an exceptional talent in telling African stories with the ambition and potential to become a star of the future.

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Role Responsibility

The winner of the BBC World News Komla Dumor award will receive a once-in-a-lifetime training and development opportunity with the BBC in London, starting in early September 2015 and running for three months.  Working with teams from across BBC News, the winner will produce an African story for the BBC and have their story and their voice shared across the continent and the world.  They will be supported by a high-level BBC mentor and attend courses run by the BBC's world-class training department, the BBC Academy.

The BBC will pay for the winner's flights to and from the UK and for their visa.  We will also arrange and pay for the winner's accommodation in London during their placement.  The winner will receive £2,000 per month for the three month placement to cover their living expenses and a one-off payment of £5,000 as a contribution towards loss of salary in their home country.  Some of the above may be subject to taxation (and deductions will be made as appropriate).

The Ideal Candidate

To apply for this prestigious award, you must be currently living and working as a journalist in Africa with 3 to 10 years' experience as a professional journalist in Africa. You must also have the following skills and experience:

• Excellent journalism skills, including in digital and social media.
• Broadcasting experience is preferable.
• An excellent broadcasting voice and strong presenting skills with the ability to perform at the microphone with flair.
• The ability to identify and pitch a strong original African story idea, aligned to the BBC editorial guidelines http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/
• Wide and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the African continent, including politics, business, culture, history and sport.
• Fluency in English as a first or equivalent language.

Additional requirements for all applicants

• You must provide a CV (maximum two pages) / complete a careers hub profile.
• You must hold or be able to obtain by 1st March 2015 a passport that is valid until at least 31st January 2016.
• You must not be a current or former member of BBC staff.
• If successful, your employer must be willing to release you for three months from September 2015 for you to travel on your own to take up your placement in London.
• The visa requires that you hold a degree or are studying towards a degree equivalent to a UK Bachelor's degree from a recognised university.
• References, proof of employment, birth certificate, passport, an appropriate UK visa and proof of level of English will be required from shortlisted candidates.

Terms and conditions

• You must provide the BBC with your name, email and postal address if you wish to enter for this award.
• The BBC will only ever use your personal details for the purposes of administering this award, and will not publish them or provide them to anyone without your permission.
• The deadline for receiving entries for the award is final. This is 23.59 hours on Monday 2 February 2015. No entries received after this date will be considered.
• The BBC will not be liable for any costs incurred in the application process for this award.
• The BBC does not accept any responsibility for late or lost entries. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt. No responsibility is accepted for incomplete entries or entries made fraudulently.
• This award is not open to employees of the BBC, any person directly involved in the BBC or the running of the competition.
• The judges' decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into thereafter.
• The BBC reserves the right to use the names and images of shortlisted candidates in publicity material.
• The award winner will be contacted personally.
• The award must be taken as stated and cannot be deferred. There will be no cash alternative.
• The BBC reserves the right to cancel this award scheme at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside of its control.
• The awardee must be able to secure an appropriate UK visa, which the BBC will arrange and pay for on the awardee's behalf.  The BBC will withdraw the offer of a placement, if an appropriate UK visa cannot be obtained.
• The awardee assigns all copyright or other intellectual property rights in the contribution they supply to the BBC as a result of placement.
• The awardee grants the BBC the unlimited right to edit, copy, alter, add to, take from, adapt or translate the contributions and, with regard to such contributions and any BBC content in which they may have been included, waives irrevocably any 'moral rights' they may have under any laws of any jurisdiction.
• The BBC reserves the right to withdraw the award at any stage if the awardee brings the BBC into disrepute.
• The awardee is expected to return to their home country at the end of their BBC placement.
• This award is administered by the BBC.
• Entrants will be deemed to have accepted these rules and to agree to be bound by them when entering for this award.

 

The award entries will be judged and the winner decided by:

Andrew Roy – World Editor, BBC News. Formerly Head of News for BBC World News

Vera Kwakofi – Current Affairs Editor, BBC Africa

Charles Onyango-Obbo – Author and Editor, Mail & Guardian Africa. Formerly Executive Editor for Africa at the Nation Media Group.

http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/komladumoraward/10717

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

Penplusbytes to Hold Strategic Briefing for Newsroom Online Editors

In order to ensure online editors are kept abreast with global trends and new development in the online ecosystem, Penplusbytes, will on Wednesday, 4th of February, 2015 hold a Strategic briefing for selected newsroom online editors drawn from media houses in Ghana at Penplusbytes’ New Media Hub, Osu, Ako-Adjei, Accra.

The online editors strategic briefing is designed to focus on trends and new developments in online news environment in order for newsrooms to boost their effectiveness and efficiency as they strive to meet growing online audience with sophisticated 24/7 news  needs.

Most newsrooms in Ghana now have an online presence with some media houses having full-fledged online news department. This, coupled with a few exclusive online news outlets are creating a wave of opportunities for online news delivery to becoming more influential in serving growing online news demand needs of not only Ghanaians living in-country, but also the global news market place which includes a lot of Ghanaians living abroad.

According to Yaw Frempong Ampomah, Programme’s Coordinator, “People are increasingly accessing news on the go and like every rational consumer, the choice of patronage is largely affected by how much quality there is to find on any particular online news portal. Meaning, the need for online editors to provide high quality news is critical to the survival of their online news outlet.”

Users are increasingly hungry for “always on news” via online, social media, mobile and other internet enabled devices. However, most online news outlets in Ghana though providing news to meeting growing demand are struggling to stay abreast with new technologies, digital story telling trends and how to make money online. Therefore, Penplusbytes New Media Hub’s one day strategic briefing for online editors will go a long way to assist online editors to stay ahead of the curve.

Jerome Kuseh, Editor of Inform Ghana said “I look forward to participating in Penplusbytes New Media Hub strategic briefing for online editors and I expect to reap from the rich experience of Penplusbytes with their reputation in imparting new media skills. Also I believe the event presents a unique opportunity to interact and network with other online editors in Ghana while sharing my experiences with them as well. Hopefully, we can all learn new and innovative ways to improving our online reporting,”

This online editors strategic meeting is the first of its kind in the country and has one of its goals to enhance the capacity of participants to match up to the growing status of online Journalism as a mainstay.


ABOUT

Penplusbytes is a leading organization in Africa, established in 2001 and working in 3 areas: the use of technology to drive governance and accountability, new media and innovations as well as oil, gas and mining.

Penplusbytes set to Deepen Democracy in Africa through New Digital Technologies in 2015

In 2014, the International Institute of ICT Journalism, Penplusbytes, leveraged on the advantages of technology application to remarkably execute a number of key projects aimed at enhancing the efficiency of hundreds of Journalists and Civil Society Organization, while opening up governments across the African continent for greater participation by citizens.

Last year, Penplusbytes successfully championed a series of events and training programs that included the Data Journalism training programme for the staff of Graphic Communications, Social media training on news generation for Multi TV staff whiles selected Journalists in the Volta region also received training in data Journalism under the “Open Ghana: Data Journalism for improved Maternal Health” project.

Penplusbytes in partnership with other civil society organizations launched the Civil Society platform on the International Monetary Fund bailout (www.csplatformgh.com) in 2014; an initiative to promote accountability. In furtherance of its purpose, the project will continue to keep tabs on government dealings with the IMF at all stages going in 2015 and beyond.

In ensuring good governance in the exploitation and management of Ghana’s nascent oil and gas sector, the organisation took selected Journalists through courses on effective reporting on oil, gas and mining.

“We plan on consolidating our gains from the past year into recording greater success going forward by introducing innovative, cutting edge programmes and events aimed at equipping the media and other stakeholders,” said Kwami Ahiabenu, II, President of Penplusbytes.

Forecasting into 2015, Penplusbytes’ GOVERNANCE and TECHNOLOGY focus will seek to create more public awareness on Government assurances; engaging them on and about the various digital platforms created to boost citizen based advocacy on service delivery. Through the “Providing Effective Feedback to Parliament through Digital Technologies” project, citizens at all levels are now able participate in the governance process by tracking and monitoring Government assurances (www.assurances.gov.gh).

The organisation will engage with its partners where necessary and other appropriate agencies in deploying the use of ICT tools in monitoring the upcoming elections on the African continent in the year 2015. According to Razak Musah, Coordinator of Penplusbytes’ African Elections project (AEP), “This is important as it gauges the role of technology in creating transparency and fairness through the utilization of new media.”

On OIL, GAS, AND MINING, rolling out newer programmes such as the “Drilling down: Ghana extractives data dive” training event in collaboration with the Natural Resource Governance Institute (NRGI), will in 2015 add onto the progress of the “Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sectors” project (www.reportingoilandgas.org).

Under the NEW MEDIA AND INNOVATIONS thematic area, Penplusbytes will hold series of training programmes at its ultra-modern New Media Hub facility; the first of which is the “Strategic briefing for Newsroom Online editors” course tailored to focus on trends and new developments in online news platform management in February.

According to Mr. Ahiabenu, II, "with a growing membership of over 1,000 persons spread across the globe, Penplusbytes is positioned to serve its audience in an effective way by making a change in our 3 key areas of work. At the end of the day we believe our work will ensure citizens gain tangible benefits from democracy."

END NOTES

Established in 2001, Penplusbytes is a leading organization in Africa working in 3 areas: governance and accountability, new media and innovations as well as oil, gas and mining.