Ghana Editors to Upgrade their Knowledge on Oil and Gas

In order to strengthen the capacity of Editors in covering Ghana's fast growing oil and gas sector, Revenue Watch Institute and International Institute for ICT Journalism (Penplusbytes) in collaboration with the Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) would be organising a three-day retreat for Editors on Oil and Gas from March 2-4 in Koforidua.

 

This retreat will bring together senior editors from print, radio and television as well as government officials, Members of Parliament, Oil and Gas companies, leaders from Civil Society Organisations (CSO) working in the oil and gas sector to deliberate on key areas such as the latest development in the extractive industry. Hon. Emmanuel Kofi Buah, the Deputy Minister in charge of petroleum is expected to participate in the deliberations.

 

This retreat is a follow up of an earlier one held in 2011 and it forms part of "Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sector Pilot Program" in Ghana and Uganda. The programme aims at promoting good governance and an effective oversight of the oil, gas and mining (extractive) resources and revenues.

 

Topics such as "Ghana Gas and its Implications for National Development"; "Opportunities for Local Participation in Ghana's Emerging Oil and Gas Industry"; "Parliament's Role in Ensuring Transparency and Accountability in the Oil and Gas Sector.", "Civil Society Concerns on Ghana's Oil and Gas Sector"; "The Role of Oil and Gas Capacity Building Project in Strengthening Ghana's Oil and Gas Sector" and " The Status of Oil and Gas Legislations, Policies and Regulations" will be addressed during the retreat.

 

Highlight of the retreat will be a focus group discussion on how to stimulate oil and gas stories in the Ghanaian media and strategies for strengthening the overall capacity of the media in oil and gas reporting.

   

The "Strengthening Media Oversight of the Extractive Sectors Pilot Programme" aims at promoting good governance and an effective oversight of the oil, gas and mining (extractive) resources and revenues. The ultimate objective is to have a knowledgeable and active media which is critical to having an informed and engaged public, civil society and Parliament that can hold government to account.

 

Mr. Kofi Mangesi, Penplusbytes emphasized that "this follow up retreat will ensure that issues surrounding the extractive sector is brought to the fore in media discussions and keep the editors abreast with the latest development in the sector which will enable the media better inform the citizenry who will be able to hold government accountable."

 

He revealed that it was during the last retreat  that the defective flow meters on FPSO was brought to the public attention and believes retreats of this nature is necessary  in ensuring that Ghana keeps to international standards and making sure the country is not shortened in terms of revenue mobilization in the sector.

 

 

Editors' Note

 

PENPLUSBYTES www.penplusbytes.org is a registered not for profit since 18th July 2001 with the vision of driving excellence in ICT journalism. www.reportingoilandgas.org is a project of Penplusbytes.

 

GHANA JOURNALISTS ASSOCIATION (GJA) founded in 1949 as the key professional umbrella organization representing Ghanaian Journalists.                                                                                                       

 

REVENUE WATCH INSTITUTE www.revenuewatch.org promotes the transparent and accountable management of oil, gas and mineral resources for the public good.          

 

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

Announcing the Knight News Challenge - 2012

Today, Knight Foundation is announcing the details of the revamped Knight News Challenge, offering funding for the best new innovations that digitally inform and engage communities. For the first time, the challenge will be offered three times this year, in short, more focused rounds, as a way to better mirror the pace of innovation. Themed "Networks," round one is our search for ideas that leverage and maximize the impact of the best existing media platforms to convey news and information. Applications for funding for the first challenge will be accepted Feb. 27 - March 17. Read more about it on KnightBlog.org.

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

4th Penplusbytes Global Online Course in ICT Journalism (April 20 to July 20 2012)

Dates: April 20 to July 20 2012

Duration: 4 months

Location: online

Introduction

Penplusbytes' innovative global course in ICT Journalism provides a unique online training opportunity for journalists in the exciting area of ICT Journalism. Participants will be exposed to the wider context of ICTs assisted journalism including how these technologies are impacting on the world of journalism, how to harness the power of ICTs in producing high quality impactful stories, and how to manage change process in using innovative ICT tools. This course provides skills and knowledge within a practical interactive learning environment with the main goal of strengthening capabilities in both multimedia and online news production while increasing understanding of the rapid changing environment in newsroom operations due to opportunities and challenges Information and communication Technologies revolution brings. After successfully completing the course, each participant should be able to produce and implement a variety of creative solutions for online news operations.

Course Description and Goals

At the end of the course, the participants will learn five main sets of skills and knowledge

· You will learn and understand the broad spectrum of ICT tools changing the face of journalism

· You will learn how to research and publish content online

· You will learn how to leverage the power of social media in news settings

· You will learn that despite the proliferation of technology for journalism the fundamental principles of journalism still apply.

· You will learn to undertake digital story telling

Course Outline

The course is divided into eight modules:

1. ICT Journalism – concept, theory and definition

2. ICT tools for Journalism – online production, social media, content management system, online newsroom management and publishing platforms

3. The role of information and knowledge management in the newsroom

4. Writing for the web

5. Online Security

6. Online Research

7. Data Journalism

8. Business Models of Online Journalism

Prerequisites

This course does not have any special prerequisites though participants will need to have basic computer skills such as sending and receiving mails, managing files and browsing the Internet. The course assumes participants are practicing journalists who have mastered journalism skills. Applicants should exhibit a passion for news, interest in the use of technology for the improvement of journalism and speak and write fluently in English.

Class Meeting

Participants are expected to meet online via group discussion weekly, it is expected that each participant must devote at least five hours per week online.

Materials

Participants will be provided with regular resources throughout the duration of the course, these resources will mostly be available online.

Grading

Participants are expected to undertake weekly assignments, participate in online discussions, create and publish content using ICT tools and produce a final project work to be published on www.penplusbytes.org

Certificates

All participants who complete the course successfully would be awarded a certificate.

Important Dates

· Closing date for receipt of application and statement is 29^th February 2012.

· Notification of acceptance: 5^th April 2012

· Course starts on April 20^th 2012.

Application
To apply, go to http://www.africanelections.org/email_form.php to fill out application form and upload documents required

Requirements

1. Application form

2. Letter of Motivation (250-300) explaining how this course will contribute to your professional growth and development; how you plan to implement knowledge and skills gained from the course and strategies of sharing knowledge and skills with members of your organization.

3. CV

4. Letter of consent from your editor or supervisor

For more information send an email to training@penplusbyes.org

Visit course blog: http://mediaictrain.blogspot.com

Join our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/groups/7775446390/ and join our network of ICT Journalists at http://penplusybytes.ning.com/

Follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/penplusbytes

Engaging, informative, and high-quality online training course created and offered by www.penplusbytes.org

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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org

RWI Accepting Applications for Media Training Program- oil and gas

This May, in Kampala, Uganda, Revenue Watch will begin our third class for African journalists seeking new expertise in reporting on oil, gas and minerals.

Without an informed, responsive media community providing oversight of the money from these industries, governance weakens, corruption rises and citizens lack the knowledge to hold their governments accountable and the opportunity to benefit fully from their country's natural resource wealth.

The application process is open to journalists from Ghana and Uganda. The program is designed for individuals with a demonstrated interest in reporting about the extractive sectors of oil, gas and minerals. To fill out an application now, go to:www.revenuewatch.org/mediatraining2012.

This latest class in our ongoing media training program is conducted in partnership with the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) in Uganda, Ghana-based Penplusbytes and the Thomson Reuters Foundation. After the initial Uganda session from 14-23 May, two parallel workshops will be held, one for Ugandan participants in Kampala on 20-29 August, and one for the Ghanaians on 3-12 September in Accra.

RWI and our partners take a holistic approach to our journalist trainings, combining workshops, roundtable discussions and field trips with expert dialogues, mentorships, reporting grants and presentations on topical issues.

The most recent training included a study trip to Cameroon, where Ghanaian journalists met with their counterparts in local media, as well as civil society activists, company executives and government officials in the oil, gas and mining sector in the commercial capital of Douala. In December, three of our Ugandan trainees were recognized for their reporting on extractives with awards from ACME, a leader in journalistic expertise and a partner in the RWI program.

Applications for the upcoming class will be accepted through 29 February, 2012.

http://www.revenuewatch.org/news/rwi-accepting-applications-media-training-program
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International Institute for ICT Journalism
www.penplusbytes.org