2016 U.N. CORRESPONDENTS ASSOCIATION AWARDS FOR BEST MEDIA COVERAGE OF THE UNITED NATIONS AND U.N. AGENCIES

The United Nations Correspondents Association (UNCA) invites media worldwide to submit entries for its 21st annual UNCA Awards for the best print, broadcast (TV & Radio) and online, web-based media coverage of the United Nations, U.N. agencies and field operations.

The prizes amount to over $60,000 to be distributed among the prize categories and winners.  The UNCA awards are open to all journalists anywhere in the world.

Deadline for submissions is:  September 1, 2016

The Awards are:

1. The Elizabeth Neuffer Memorial Prize, sponsored by the Alexander Bodini Foundation, for written media (including online media). The prize is for print and online coverage of the U.N. and U.N. agencies, named in honor of Elizabeth Neuffer, The Boston Globe bureau chief at the U.N., who died while on an assignment in Baghdad in 2003.

2. The Ricardo Ortega Memorial Prize, for broadcast (TV & Radio) media. The prize is for broadcast coverage of the U.N. and U.N. agencies, named in honor of Ricardo Ortega, formerly the New York correspondent for Antena 3 TV of Spain, who died while on an assignment in Haiti in 2004.

3. The Prince Albert II of Monaco and UNCA Global Prize for coverage of Climate Change. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio) for coverage of sustainable and equitable management of natural resources and the implementation of innovative and ethical solutions in three main categories: climate change, biodiversity, and water.

4. The United Nations Foundation Prize. The prize is for print (including online media) and broadcast media (TV & Radio) for coverage of humanitarian and development aspects of the U.N. and U.N. agencies.

Important Information for Applicants:

• A written transcript in English or French will facilitate the judging process.

• The judges will look for entries with impact, insight and originality, and will take into account the courage and investigative and reporting skills of the journalists.  Entries from the developing world media are particularly welcome.

• Coverage of the U.N. and U.N. agencies is specified in each category; the committee welcomes coverage of all issues particularly on the Sustainable Development Goals for 2030, peacekeeping operations and non-proliferation, including the elimination of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons.

• Work in print, broadcast (TV & Radio) and online coverage must be published between September 2015 and August 2016.

• Entries can be submitted in any of the official U.N. languages (English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Spanish, and Russian).

• Each candidate can submit to no more than two (2) prize categories, with a maximum of three (3) stories in each. Joint entries are accepted.

• Electronic files and web links uploaded to the online Entry Form are required.

How to Submit Your Entry: 

Entries are submitted online by completing the UNCA Awards Entry Form.

On the first page, please complete your personal information and bio and upload your photo, then proceed to submit your work electronically by including web links and or/uploading files directly to the Entry Form.

** Electronic entries are mandatory **

All entries must be received by September 1st, 2016

For Questions regarding UNCA Awards & entries please contact:
The UNCA Office, 1-212-963-7137. Or send an email to uncaawards@unca.com

Click here to ENTER.

WINNERS WILL BE HONORED AT A GALA EVENT WITH U.N. SECRETARY-GENERAL ON
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 16th 2016 AT CIPRIANI, NEW YORK

Kiplinger Fellowship Program

With technical innovation and market instability changing the game for modern journalists, the Ohio State University is offering the Kiplinger Program that educates new digital tools and approaches, to keep journalists relevant in a changing media world.

The Program offers fellowships, workshops, hands-on learning labs, presentations at regional and national journalism conferences, and other training to enhance reporting and storytelling. 25 journalists will be selected for the weeklong fellowship program, which will be held April 23-28, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio.

Ohio State University is one of the largest universities in the USA. It is also home to a diverse group of the best and brightest people in the world.

Eligibility:

• Journalists need at least five years of professional experience to apply
• International journalists are welcome to apply. All training will be conducted in English
• If you are a print, broadcast or online journalist with five or more years of experience (here or abroad), you are eligible to become a Kip
• If you participated in the Kiplinger Fellowship program prior to 2011 (when it changed its focus to social media and digital tools), you may apply

How to Apply:

The applying process is completely on-line. Applications for the 2017 Kiplinger Fellowship will open Sept. 6, 2016.

Supporting Documents:

• A short bio (maximum of 150 words)
• A short explanation of how the Kiplinger Fellowship would benefit you and your newsroom (maximum of 200 words)
• The Web links to three recent stories that showcase your talent
• Two references who know your work well (name, title, organization, email, phone)
• An estimated 25 journalists will be selected for the weeklong fellowship program, which will be held April 23-28, 2017, in Columbus, Ohio

Award Amount:

• The Kiplinger Fellowship will cover hotel accommodations for the week, provide many meals and a tuition-free week of immersive digital training
• Fellows (or their news organizations) will be responsible for arranging and paying for transportation to and from Columbus
• For journalists working outside the United States, limited travel stipends will be available, based on financial need

Application Deadline:
Varies

Follow Link for More Information: http://www.kiplingerprogram.org/kiplinger-fellowship/

2nd Quarter Social Media Index Report on Ghana’s Traditional Media Released

Penplusbytes, has released the 2^nd Social Media Index (SMI) report on Ghana's traditional media, revealing the performance of established newspaper brands, radio and television (TV) stations in Ghana for the 2^nd quarter of the year 2016.

Acknowledging the existence and acceptance of other social media performance metrics such as engagements, reach, influence and share of voice, this SMI report accesses the presence and performance of various media brands largely based on “Followership” and “Likes” on social media as at 30^th June, 2016.

Assessing over 300 radio stations, 28 TV stations guaranteed operation and on air, and 55 newspaper brands in Ghana, the report indicates that only a handful of media brands have and run dedicated social media accounts with stations in the Greater Accra region holding on to their stake as owners of the most active and engaging accounts.  
The report, ranks Joy FM as the best performing media brand on Facebook; marginally overtaking Citi FM who led the chart after the 1^st quarter of the year. Joy FM maintains its lead as topmost performer on Twitter with the largest Following with Citi FM keeping to the 2^nd spot. The report, which is downloadable here, provides detailed insights on similar indices for the TV and Newspaper brands.

As with every consistent index, the 2^nd SMI report provides an update on the performance of Ghana’s media brands as captured in the 1^st SMI report in February 2016.

Among its many outcomes, this report shows in general, the extent to which Ghanaian media recognizes the need to draw closer to their audience, highlighting the use of social media by their newsrooms and by extension their journalists all as an indication of news organizations’ attitudes towards new media platforms – Facebook and Twitter.

The report captures a very uneven regional representation and spread of media houses in social media use in Ghana. The Greater Accra registers more radio stations in online space with Ashanti following in a distant second. This could perhaps be partly explained by the relative infrastructure and technological advantage of Accra as compared to the rest.

According to the Executive Director of Penplusbytes, Kwami Ahiabenu, II, “the value of social media has moved beyond its use as just another medium for friendly chats. Facebook and Twitter are examples of social media platforms that have become critical aggregators of news for consumers, journalists and their organizations as well.”

He added that, it is not in doubt that factors such as the quality of Ghana’s internet infrastructure, which is presently either slow or costly has translated into low internet penetration; making online activities a lot more cumbersome than necessary. These factors notwithstanding, Ghana’s media brands are simply yet to make more pronounced their work in virtual space.

About
Penplusbytes is a not-for-profit organization driving change through innovations in three key areas: using new digital technologies to enable good governance and accountability, new media and innovations, and driving oversight for effective utilisation of mining, oil and gas revenue and resources.