Farm Radio Weekly is a news and information service for rural radio broadcasters in sub-Saharan Africa. It is published by Farm Radio International.
Upcoming Events
Date Posted: May 7th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #199, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund is now seeking entries for its 2012 annual awards in international journalism. Awards will be presented in two categories: local reporters covering events within their home country or region, and freelance journalists covering international news.
Entrants can submit up to three articles each. Articles must have been published between June 1, 2011 and May 31, 2012. The stories can focus on conflict, human rights, cross-border issues, corruption, or any other controversial matter in a particular country or region. Each submission must demonstrate professionalism, meet international journalistic standards, and provide evidence that courage and determination were required to cover the story.
Each winner will be presented with a US $5000 cash prize at a ceremony in London, UK, in November 2012.
The deadline is May 31, 2012.
For more information and full details, visit: http://www.ksmfund.org/awards/submitting-entries
Date Posted: April 30th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #198, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
CTA (The Technical Center for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation) and consortium partners invite abstracts for their 2012-2013 Africa-wide competitions on women and young professionals in science. The competitions recognize and reward the contributions of women and young professionals involved in research, communications or advocacy for policy change. The overall theme is “Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world.”
There are two separate competitions: one for young professionals (25-40 years of age) and the other for women scientists, researchers, educators, extension workers, agro-entrepreneurs or farmers. For both competitions, entries are accepted from individual s or groups anywhere in Africa.
Eligible submissions include any science, technology and innovation-related research and development activity linked to the topic “Feeding 1 billion in Africa in a changing world” which has been undertaken within the last five years and shows measurable impact on agricultural development or rural livelihoods in Africa.
Submit an extended abstract (1000-2000 words) to scicom2012@cta.int and a copy to agsci_award@fara-africa.org. All semi-finalists will be invited to the 6th Africa Science Week and FARA General Assembly scheduled for June 2013 in Accra, Ghana. Cash awards will be presented to the winners. Deadline: 14 May 2012.
For full details on both competitions:
Find the Women in Science competition announcement here:
http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Media/Multimedia/Call-for-Abstracts-2012-2013-Africa-wide-Women-in-Science-Competition
Find the Young Professional in Science competition announcement here:
http://knowledge.cta.int/en/Media/Multimedia/Call-for-Abstracts-2012-2013-Africa-wide-Young-Professionals-in-Science-Competition
Date Posted: April 16th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #197, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The RFPA Awards recognize radio programs that best contribute to peace in Africa. The Awards specifically celebrate radio programs that help to reduce group and community tensions, enhance and give value to shared interests, break down listeners’ stereotypes, or provide positive role models.
The 2012 Awards are open to all African radio broadcasters, both men and women. Prizes will be awarded in the following categories: RFPA Gender Award; RFPA Youth Award; and RFPA Jury’s Special Award. Three prizes will be awarded in each category. The first prize is 600 Euros, the second 300 Euros, and the third 150 Euros. Winners will be honoured at an award ceremony.
Submissions can be in any language spoken on the African continent, but must be accompanied by a translation in either English or French. Radio programs must have been broadcast between January 1 and December 31, 2011, and must be at least 20 minutes long. You can submit more than one entry, but please submit each separately.
Send your submissions to rfpa@sfcg.org or by mail to any SFCG Africa Country Office (list available at http://www.sfcg.org/sfcg/sfcg_world.html), or SFCG’s Brussels Office.
All entries must be received by May 11, 2012.
Previous winning entries are available for listening and download from the audio section of the RFPA website at www.radiopeaceafrica.org
Date Posted: April 9th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #196, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
This year’s International Academy of Journalism Fellowship Program is a ten-month course called “Journalism in the Digital World.” The program starts on September 2, 2012. The course aims to attract professional journalists from countries where there is a shortage of this kind of training. Journalists begin with a three-week training program in Germany, followed by a four-month e-learning phase in their home country. They return to Germany for two more training courses over the following five months, interspersed with a home-based e-learning phase. A stipend is available to assist with travel costs and course fees.
Journalists must constantly build and update their skills in collecting, evaluating and publishing information. This is particularly true in the digital world. The course offers an opportunity to update technical skills and discuss current issues in media ethics. Participation in the program will develop Internet and investigative skills, and explore ethics, freedom, and responsibility in the media.
The application deadline is May 7, 2012. For more detailed information about the course, entry requirements, and the application/selection process, visit: http://www.intajour.com/Int.-Academy-of-Journalism/program/Program-description.html
You can find the online application form here.
Date Posted: April 2nd, 2012
Posted in: Issue #195, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Women’s World Summit Foundation is soliciting nominations for its annual “Prize for women’s creativity in rural life.” The Prize honours women and women’s groups around the world who display exceptional creativity, courage and commitment to improving the quality of life in rural communities. Nominees should be women or women’s groups whose work has not yet been recognized by other awards. Nominees may not nominate themselves.
The prize for the winning African women’s organization is U.S. $3000, while the prize for individual women is U.S. $1000.
The deadline for nominations is April 30, 2012. For full details, visit:
http://www.woman.ch/index.php?page=nomination-guidelines&hl=en_US
Date Posted: March 26th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #194, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Dag Hammarskjöld Fund for Journalists is now accepting applications from journalists in developing countries to cover the United Nations General Assembly in September, 2012. The opportunity is open to radio, television, print, and online journalists. Applicants must work full-time for a media organization and have their employer’s approval to spend up to two months in New York, U.S.A.
Applicants must have a passion for international affairs and want to better their audience’s understanding of the United Nations. Four journalists are selected each year.
The Fund is not considering applications from China, Ethiopia, India, and Nigeria this year, in order to rotate recipient countries. Journalists from these countries can apply in 2013.
The application deadline is Friday, March 30, 2012.
For more information and to apply: http://unjournalismfellowship.org/node/660.
Date Posted: March 19th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #193, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Fahamu-Networks for Social Justice, through its Emerging Powers in Africa Initiative, is calling for journalists to apply to its African Union Summit journalist visit. From June 23 – June 30, 2012 the African Union is meeting in Lilongwe, Malawi, and Fahamu is choosing five applicants to attend the visit. The aim is to increase reporting and understanding of the African Union and its role in African and foreign politics.
Print, radio, broadcast and online journalists from Africa, India, China and Brazil are encouraged to apply. Applicants should be fluent in English and have a valid passport to travel to Malawi. Travel, accommodation and visa costs will be covered.
Application deadline is March 30, 2012.
You can download the application here: http://fahamu.org/AUJournalistscall.pdf
Date Posted: March 5th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #191, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Women Make the News (WMN) is a global policy advocacy initiative aimed at promoting gender equality in the media. It is launched annually on International Women’s Day, March 8.
The theme for this year – Rural women’s access to media and information – seeks to underscore and stimulate knowledge exchange on the importance of policies and programs to encourage access to media and information in rural communities, particularly for rural women; and good practices and successes in this area as undertaken by public service broadcasters, commercial and community media, and NGOs working to improve rural women’s access to media and information.
Access to media and information by rural women and men has many important dimensions. Within the framework of media’s function to provide information needed by rural women to enhance their economic empowerment and political participation, WMN 2012 focuses on two of these dimensions:
- Can rural women and men access (listen to, read, or watch) radio, newspaper, and television in their communities, (and if so, how?), and how are community media and new media/technologies helping?
- Are rural women actually in charge of media programming, production, and broadcast?
Please join this effort initiated by UNESCO. For information, ideas, and resources to mark the occasion, please check out: http://www.unesco.org/new/en/communication-and-information/crosscutting-priorities/gender/women-make-the-news/.
Date Posted: February 27th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #190, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The fourth WASH Media Award is now accepting entries. WASH refers to issues related to water supply, sanitation or hygiene (WASH). The competition is open to journalists who publish or broadcast original investigative stories and reports on WASH-related issues and their impact on individual and country development. The awards are administered by the Water Supply and Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC) and the Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI).
The WASH Media Awards aim to promote coverage of WASH issues in the media, and positively influence decision-makers, the private sector, and civil society as well as individuals and households.
Six prizes will be awarded, including the categories of radio, print and online, and TV. The six winners will receive a cash prize and participate in World Water Week in Stockholm in August 2012 as special guests of WSSCC and SIWI. All entries will be evaluated by an international jury of distinguished media professionals.
Entries will be accepted in English, French and Hindi. Works not originally produced in these languages must be translated into one of them. To be eligible, entries must be published or broadcast between April 1, 2011 and April 1, 2012.
Deadline for entries is April 1, 2012.
For more details and entry procedure, visit: http://www.siwi.org/washmediaaward
Date Posted: February 20th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #189, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Journalists and reporters from the SADC region are invited to submit one of more stories to the 2012 SADC Media Awards Competition. There are four award categories: print, radio, television and photo journalism. A prize of US$2000 will be awarded in each category.
Entries should have been broadcast or published in 2011. Broadcast materials should have a minimum duration of five minutes and a maximum duration of thirty minutes. Print journalism submissions should be between 600 and 2000 words. Entries can be submitted in English, French or Portuguese.
All entries must be submitted to the National Adjudication Committee no later than March 31, 2012.
Rules: http://www.gcis.gov.za/newsroom/events/sadc_awards/2012/sadcrules2012.pdf
Entry form: http://www.gcis.gov.za/newsroom/releases/advisories/2012/120214.htm
SADC countries include: Angola, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Swaziland, Botswana, Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, United Republic of Tanzania, Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
Date Posted: February 13th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #188, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) is seeking nominations for its annual Knight International Journalism Award.
The Award recognizes media professionals worldwide, whose reporting has made a difference to the lives of people in their country. It highlights the efforts of committed journalists who have overcome difficult conditions to keep communities informed. Past recipients include correspondents who have exposed government corruption or war crimes.
Nominees can be reporters, editors, media managers, citizen journalists or bloggers. Award winners will be honored at ICFJ’s Awards Dinner in Washington, D.C., on November 13, 2012. The deadline to apply is February 27, 2012.
For more information and to apply, visit http://www.icfj.org/call-nominations-2012-knight-international-journalism-award
Date Posted: January 30th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #187, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
An international conference to debate the theme “Young People, Farming and Food: The Future of the Agrifood Sector in Africa,” will take place on March 19-21, 2012 in Accra, Ghana.
As part of the conference, organizers are holding a competition to find the best media reporting in Africa on young people and agriculture. The competition is aimed at young African journalists and media specialists between the ages of 18 and 40. Entries should investigate the challenges and opportunities associated with young people’s engagement in agriculture, or highlight successes or best practices.
Entries should be original pieces that are based in the country or region in which the journalist operates. Applicants must submit their entry in English only by email. Entries should be submitted to: post@wrenmedia.co.uk and copied to: info@future-agricultures.org
The deadline for entry is Friday, February 17th. For further information, see: http://www.future-agricultures.org/events/young-people-farming-a-food
Date Posted: January 23rd, 2012
Posted in: Issue 186, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
African journalists are invited to enter the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Awards 2012. The awards aim to reinforce the importance of journalists’ role in Africa, and to recognize and develop journalistic talent across all disciplines.
There are 16 award categories, including Radio General News. Entries must have been broadcast or published − in English, French or Portuguese only − between January and December 2011.
An independent judging panel will select a group of finalists. Each finalist will receive a cash prize, with each category winner also receiving a laptop computer and printer. The overall winner will receive an opportunity to participate in the CNN Journalism Fellowship at CNN Headquarters in Atlanta. The deadline to apply is January 26, 2012.
For more information and to apply, visit: http://edition.cnn.com/WORLD/africa/africanawards/index.html
Date Posted: January 16th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #185, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
AMARC Africa will hold its first capacity building conference, “Enhancing the Impact of Community Radio Broadcasting in Africa,” in Dakar, Senegal, on January 24-26, 2012. The event will be an opportunity for more than 70 community radio broadcasters and practitioners from Eastern, Western, Central and Southern Africa, along with partners and scholars, to evaluate the effectiveness of community radio stations engaged in current projects on water and sanitation; HIV and AIDS; and women’s participation in radio, civil society and good governance in Africa, as well as to share knowledge and define common strategies to increase the social impact of community broadcasting.
The Conference will feature five thematic workshops to train trainers on the main topics in AMARC Africa’s Action Plan for 2012-2014: achieving the MDGs, women’s empowerment, climate change and mitigation, agriculture and food, and governance, notably elections.
AMARC Africa will also present its Program of Activities for 2012-2014, and share ideas on how best to enhance the impact of community radio broadcasting in Africa in the next five years and mobilize support for the program.
For more information, see http://africa.amarc.org/dakar_conf_2012/dakar_2012_EN.html http://africa.amarc.org/index.php?p=home&l=FR [VC1]
The conference registration form is available at: http://africa.amarc.org/dakar_conf_2012/form/index.php?lang=EN
For further enquiries, please contact Alymana Bathily, Regional Coordinator, AMARC Africa, at: alymanab@yahoo.fr
Date Posted: January 9th, 2012
Posted in: Issue #184, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
This Special Award from One World Media targets local radio and media projects in the developing world that work on social or development issues. It recognizes initiatives which have had a real impact on those living or working nearby. Last year’s winner was Shujaaz FM in Kenya.
Entry is by email, with a project description and two letters of reference. For full details visit: http://oneworldmedia.org.uk/awards/how_to_enter/special_award
The deadline for entries for the Special Award is Monday, January 30, 2012.
Date Posted: December 19th, 2011
Posted in: Issue #183, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Center for International Media Ethics (CIME) is offering a year-long fellowship for media professionals who are interested in the ethical aspects of journalism. Selected fellows will conduct research about ethics in their chosen region (preferably in their country of residence), supported by a mentor from CIME. They will also participate in online trainings in media ethics and represent CIME at events, workshops, and conferences.
The fellowship lasts one year, starting January 2012. Applicants should have a minimum three years of professional experience related to journalism/media and a strong interest in media ethics. Fluent English is needed; other languages are a benefit. The deadline to apply is December 23, 2011.
For more information and to apply, visit http://www.cimethics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=84
Date Posted: December 12th, 2011
Posted in: Issue #182, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Thomson Reuters Foundation is offering a course entitled “Writing and reporting news.” The course will focus on practical exercises aimed at improving journalists’ writing and news reporting skills. It will cover accuracy, structure, and clarity. The course combines face-to-face teaching, in London, England, with an online module to be completed over six months.
Applicants must currently be working as journalists, have two years’ professional experience, and have a good level of spoken and written English. Bursaries are available for journalists from the developing world. Deadline: January 6, 2012. See full details here: http://www.trust.org/trustmedia/journalism-training/writing-and-reporting-news-london-20120319
Date Posted: November 28th, 2011
Posted in: Issue #181, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
RNTC, a centre for media, development, and education based in the Netherlands, is offering two courses which broadcasters might find interesting. Some fellowships are available to cover costs. Click on the relevant link below for more details.
Internet for journalists. This course will deepen participants’ understanding of the internet as a tool for research and publication. Participants will learn how to create blogs, dossiers, audio, video, and photos for use online.
Course dates: September 10 – October 19, 2012
Deadlines for application: online between November 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012 (on paper until January 1, 2012). For more information, visit: http://www.rntc.nl/content/internet-journalists.
Educational program production. This course focuses on how journalists can design and produce attractive and effective educational programs and multimedia material by, with, and for young people. The course will deepen understanding of issues relevant to youth and development.
Course dates: September 17 –December 7, 2012
Deadlines for application: online between November 1, 2011 and February 1, 2012 (on paper until January 1, 2012). For more information, visit: http://www.rntc.nl/content/educational-programme-production.
Date Posted: November 21st, 2011
Posted in: Issue #180, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The competition for the 2011 United Nation Environment Programme (UNEP) Young Environmental Journalist Award is now open!
The award seeks to recognise the very best in original, accurate and inspiring reporting on the environment by young African journalists (between 21 and 35 years old). The award is open to print, broadcast and online journalists who have reported on environmental issues in 2011. Reports should demonstrate relevance to local and / or regional communities in Africa. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to the United States. Entries must be submitted in French or English. The deadline to apply is December 16, 2011.
For more information and to apply, visit http://www.unep.org/yeja/about.asp
Date Posted: November 7th, 2011
Posted in: Issue #179, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Journalists are invited to apply for a John S. Knight Fellowship. Each year, 20 qualified journalists are chosen from around the world for the Fellowships. Selected journalists will spend the 2012-2013 academic year at Stanford University in the United States, developing their knowledge and skills. The program is particularly looking for innovative or entrepreneurial proposals this year. The program encourages applications from journalists in countries where the press is either under threat or still in the process of becoming independent.
Fellows receive a stipend, plus Stanford tuition and some expenses. The deadline to apply is December 1, 2011. For more information and to apply, visit http://knight.stanford.edu/application/
