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: August 25th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #34, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Organized as part of a partnership between the European Commission and the Commission of the African Union, the Media & Development Forum intends to provide an opportunity to discuss and share ideas about the importance of media in the context of development, to highlight advances made, and identify best practices. It also seeks to develop proposals for ways forward, including what legal steps, regulations, funding, training, and actions are needed to support media for development in Africa.
This forum is intended for academics, professional journalists, civil society representatives, and political decision makers. Topics for discussion include:
-Media and good governance: Where is the link?
-Media freedom: Legal frameworks and realities on the ground
-Changing stereotypes: The image of Africa in Europe and of Europe in Africa
-The role of local media: Local action for global success?
For more information, visit: http://media-dev.eu/website.php?rub=accueil&lang=en. To register, go to: http://media-dev.eu/website.php?rub=inscription&lang=en.
Date Posted: August 18th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #33, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Young African journalists or aspiring journalists (under the age of 35) can apply for the Fitzgerald Prize to complete a Bachelor of Arts degree at the University of the Witwatersrand’s Journalism Programme in Johannesburg, South Africa. The scholarship covers fees, accommodation, and a modest living allowance. The successful candidate will join Reuters News thereafter for six months’ work experience.
Applicants should have an undergraduate degree or at least three years of professional experience in journalism and must be nominated by a senior journalist, publisher, or academic. They must be fluent in English. To apply, submit a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, writing samples, and at least two letters of recommendation by September 30, 2008, to: fitzgeraldprize@thomsonreuters.com.
For more information, visit http://www.journalism.co.za/opportunities/the-fitzgerald-prize-2.html.
Date Posted: August 18th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #33, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
This year’s OURMedia conference was held in Africa for the first time, specifically in Ghana, from August 11-15 2008. There were over 100 participants, including academics, journalists, community development specialists, researchers, and NGO representatives from all over the world.
The theme of the five-day workshop was Identity, Inclusion, and Innovation — Alternative Communication in a Globalized World. Farm Radio International was well represented. Modibo Coulibaly from AFRRI Mali, Benjamin Fiafor from AFRRI Ghana, and Helen Hamley Odame from Farm Radio International Canada participated, through their presentations, contribution to a panel discussion, and the registration of new Farm Radio Weekly subscribers. Also in attendance were representatives from some AFRRI partner stations such as FADECO-Tanzania, Radio Ada, Simli from Ghana, and many Farm Radio Weekly subscribers from across Africa.
Farm Radio’s two presentations in French and English centred around AFRRI (the African Farm Radio Research Initiative) and Farm Radio Weekly and dealt with the topics of “Support to Journalists and Building the Capacity of Farm Radio Broadcasters.” The presentations raised questions about sustainability of the AFRRI project, the capacity of community radio stations, and the challenges of developing campaigns in multiple languages, among others.
The conference also provided the opportunity to meet new people and interact with key players in the media scene. There were many interesting presentations relevant to our work, such as “The Practice of Participatory Media Production as a Tool of Self Empowerment and Social Inclusion,” “Community Radio Identity, Inclusion, and Innovation,” and “Including the Often Excluded: Community Radio as an Instrument in Ensuring Marginalized Women’s Inclusion in Social Development Processes.” This and many other presentations will be available on the Our Media website (http://ourmedianetwork.org/).
Date Posted: August 11th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #32, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Journalists from Kenya, Tanzania, and the Seychelles are invited to apply for a training course on environmental issues to be held in Zanzibar, Tanzania, from November 3-14, 2008, and April 27-May 1, 2009. The course is offered by the Institute for Further Education of Journalists (Fojo) of Sweden, in cooperation with the Western Indian Ocean Marine Science Association. It will include methods of reporting and planning, accessing and analyzing scientific information, and how to make information interesting to audiences. Participants will have an opportunity to talk to scientists and experts about the region’s environmental and coastal challenges.
Selected participants will receive financial support to cover travel and accommodation expenses. Participants must attend both parts of the course, in November 2008 and April-May 2009. Journalists interested in participating should e-mail Ingemo Johannson of Fojo at: ingemo.johansson@hik.se. The application deadline is August 25, 2008. Fojo’s website can be found at: http://fojointernational.fo.hik.se/index.php/fojo_international/fojo.
Date Posted: August 4th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #31, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Five journalists will be given the chance to interview the world’s top experts on health and the environment at the International EcoHealth Forum in Merida, Mexico, this December. The World Federation of Health Journalists, in collaboration with Canada’s International Development Research Centre, has announced a competition offering journalists a chance to cover the forum.
The forum will bring together researchers, policy-makers and practitioners to discuss the impact of social and ecological changes on the global environment and, in turn, on human health. Special emphasis will be placed on “ecohealth” research in developing countries. The event will be held from December 1-5, 2007. For more information on the event, visit: http://www.ecohealth2008.org/anuncio.php.
To enter the competition to cover the event, you must send the following electronically to info@wfsj.org: your CV, coordinates, copies of the identification pages of your passport, three articles or audio/video files on health and environmental issues (in the original language), and a one-page essay in English on why you should win the competition. The deadline for entering the competition is September 2, 2008.
Date Posted: July 28th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #30, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The One World Fellowship Scheme has announced more details about its 2008 program, which will bring senior radio and television broadcasters from developing countries to the United Kingdom from October 20-31. During this time, they will meet various people from the British media sector – from program makers and journalists to regulators and government officials – to learn about the media scene in the UK, and to share their own perspective on the role of the media in their countries and around the world. Chanda Mfula, from Zambezi FM in Zambia, participated in the program last year and had this to say: “One of the most significant things that the fellowship has done this year is try and narrow the gap between the developed world and developing world, and to bring common understanding. Everywhere we went we did not just learn, we shared.” For details on last year’s program, visit: http://www.owbt.org/pages/Fellowships/Fellowships%202007/fellowship2007_fell
owsprogramme.html.
Specific selection criteria for the fellowship include: fluency in written and spoken English; at least 2/3 years’ experience at a senior level of broadcasting; hands-on broadcaster or manager (not an academic or theoretician); has a practical and worthwhile idea of how the time in Britain might best be used. Successful applicants will have their international travel and accommodation expenses paid for the duration of the program, and will be given a daily living and travel allowance. The closing date for applications is noon (GMT) on August 22, 2008. For more information or to access the application form, visit: http://www.owbt.org/pages/Fellowships/apply.html.
Date Posted: July 14th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #29, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Ten fully-funded placements for radio and print journalists are available for an upcoming workshop on “Better Science Reporting.” WRENmedia will hold the workshop from October 4-9, in conjunction with the Institute for Tropical Agriculture’s conference, Banana 2008, in Mombasa, Kenya. Areas of training will include: content-gathering, news and feature writing, photography, and digital audio editing. During the conference, the media team will work together as a production house to produce print, radio, and online reporting on banana science, as well as individual pieces for their own readers/listeners.
Lazarus Laiser, a radio journalist with Radio Habari Maalum near Arusha, Tanzania, a Farm Radio International partner, attended a “Better Science Reporting” workshop in March of this year. He said, “This week has helped build relationships and friendships between the research community and the media. The participants have also learned we are an effective channel for them to convey messages to farmers and the wider public.”
For more information on applying for sponsorship to attend the “Better Science Reporting” conference, visit: http://www.banana2008.com/cms/details/conference.aspx?articleid=19&zoneid=1, or e-mail training2008@wrenmedia.co.uk.
To learn more about the Banana 2008 conference, “Banana and plantain in Africa: Harnessing international partnerships to increase research impact,” visit: http://www.banana2008.com/cms/details/index_details.aspx.
Date Posted: July 7th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #28, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The University of the Witwatersrand in South Africa is offering an eight-day investigative journalism training workshop from July to September 2008. Workshop sessions will aim to provide participants with basic investigative reporting skills and encourage the production of post-course investigative work. Workshop sessions will be conducted by experienced trainers and will be highly interactive and practical.
At the end of the eight-day training, participants are expected to produce an investigative story. The best stories will be presented as case studies at the 2008 Power Reporting Workshop which will take place from October 27-29, 2008, in Johannesburg.
Journalists from all media are welcome to attend, but participation will be limited to a maximum of 15 investigative reporters. Workshop fees are 960 South African Rand (124 American Dollars of 79 Euros) for the entire eight-day series. Fees should be paid in advance in order to secure a space. Full bursaries, including transport and accommodation, can be applied for.
Please send applications to sibongile.msimanga@wits.ac.za with a portfolio of your work, your CV, a written commitment to attend all three workshops, and a letter of support from your editor. The deadline to apply is Thursday, July 10, 2008. For more information, please visit: http://www.journalism.co.za/opportunities/investigations-training.html.
Date Posted: June 30th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #27, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Gender Links, in partnership with the Gender and Media Southern Africa (GEMSA) Network and the Media Institute of Southern Africa, will hold the third Gender and Media summit from August 10-12, 2008 in Johannesburg, South Africa. The theme of the summit is: “Whose news, whose views? Critical citizens, responsive media.” The summit will bring together media practitioners, trainers, gender activists, and all those who subscribe to the GEMSA slogan “making every voice count, and counting that it does” to share best practices in creating a more responsive media.
The summit will feature the third Gender and Media awards, recognizing good practice in mainstreaming gender in reporting across the Southern African Development Community. This year the awards will also recognize progressive institutional practice in adopting and implementing HIV and AIDS policies as part of the Media Action Plan on HIV and AIDS and Gender.
For more information on the summit, visit: http://www.genderlinks.org.za/page.php?p_id=400.
Date Posted: June 23rd, 2008
Posted in: Issue #26, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Thanks to social networking websites like Facebook and YouTube and instant messaging on cell phones, more people can not only consume journalism, but produce it. Welcome to the age of citizen journalism. But is it really journalism for citizens? Organisers of Highway Africa’s 2008 conference invite you to tackle these issues and more in South Africa this September.
Highway Africa, a partnership between Rhodes University and the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), is dedicating this year’s conference to examining the surge of citizen journalism, from what it means to what technology best supports it, and how it can create new freedom of expression possibilities in Africa.
“Citizen Journalism, Journalism for Citizens” will also look at the challenges, such as the response of the traditional media, or how citizen journalism can affect the quality of journalism and the professionalism of trained reporters.
This year’s conference will be held from September 8-10, 2008 at Rhodes University in Grahamstown , South Africa. It is open to journalists, academics, bloggers, students, publishers and other interested media professionals.
A limited number of scholarships will be made available for participants who are unable to cover their costs. The application deadline is June 30th.
For more information, email: Highway Africa director Chris Kabwato at: c.kabwato@ru.ac.za or visit: http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za or http://highwayafrica.wordpress.com/.
Date Posted: June 16th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #25, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association invites submissions of radio and television programs on human rights, development, science, and other topics, for its annual awards.
Applications can be team or individual entries and all programs or projects should have been broadcast for the first time or completed between August 2007 and July 2008. Program entries may be in any language but they must be subtitled in English for television entries. Radio programs in languages other than English must be sent with a clear text in English explaining the concept of the program and its impact.
Completed forms with DVD for television programs and CD for radio programs should reach the CBA Secretariat by August 1, 2008. CBA members and affiliates can send one entry free in each category.
For more details about the award, including specific award categories and details on how to enter, visit: http://www.cba.org.uk/awards_and_competitions/2009_CBA_Awards.php. For information on how to become a CBA member, visit: http://www.cba.org.uk/membership/index.php.
Date Posted: June 9th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #24, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Print and broadcast journalists committed to the fight for human rights and democracy in the developing world are invited to submit one journalistic work printed or aired between January 1, 2007, and June 30, 2008, (in one of the European Commission’s 23 official languages) to this year’s Lorenzo Natali Prize.
The Lorenzo Natali Prize, named after a former European Commission official in charge of cooperation and development, offers awards to journalists working in one of the five following regions: Africa, Asia and Pacific, Latin America and the Caribbean, Europe, and the Arab World and the Middle East.
For each region, prizes will be awarded to the three best entries. First prize winners will receive 5,000 Euros (US $7,700), second prize winners will get 2,500 Euros (US $3,900), and third prize winners 1,500 Euros (US $2,300). The best overall entry will also receive an additional grand prize of 5,000 Euros (US$ 7,700).
For more information or to apply, contact: info@prixnatali2008.eu. You can also fill out the online entry form at the following address: http://www.nataliprize2008.eu/en/registration/index.php.
For more information on the organizers, partners, and contest rules, and for answers to other Frequently Asked Questions, visit: http://www.nataliprize2008.eu/en/index.htm.
Date Posted: June 2nd, 2008
Posted in: Issue #23, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
1) SciDev.Net Science Journalism Award
All English-speaking journalists with an interest in science reporting and its impact on decision makers in developing countries are invited to apply. The winner will receive a six-month internship placement with SciDev.Net, consisting of three months based in SciDev.Net’s office in London, England, and three months travelling and working on behalf of SciDev.Net in one or more developing countries. The deadline for applying is June 20, 2008.
For more information, visit: http://www.scidev.net/en/announcements/idrc-scidev-net-science-journalism-award-2008.html.
2) One World Fellowship Scheme
The One World Fellowship Scheme is aimed at senior radio and television broadcasters from developing countries, and brings a group of senior broadcasters to the United Kingdom for a two-week period every year. During this time they meet various people from the British media sector – from program makers and journalists to regulators and government officials – to learn about the media scene in the UK, and to share their own perspective on the role of the media in their countries and around the world.
Details on how to apply for the 2008 One World Fellowship Scheme will appear in mid-July 2008 on this website: http://www.owbt.org/pages/Fellowships/fellowship_apply.html
Date Posted: May 26th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #22, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Reuters Foundation is offering an international news course for francophone African journalists, in Dakar, Senegal, from July 14 to 18. Using practical exercises, the course will cover a variety of topics in journalism, from writing briefs and analyses, to covering economic and international news.Scholarships are available for transportation, housing, and a modest allowance for living expenses. The deadline to apply is June 2.
For more information (in French only), visit: http://www.reuterslink.org/courses/Techiquesjournalistiques_dakar_july08.htm, or e-mail: foundation@reuters.com.
Date Posted: May 5th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #21, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
Heads of state and government ministries will gather in Rome, next month, to discuss how the challenges of climate change and bioenergy affect world food security. The conference will be held at the UN Food and Agriculture Organization’s (FAO’s) headquarters in Rome, Italy. According to the FAO, the goal of the conference is to assist countries and the international community in finding sustainable solutions by identifying the policies, strategies, and programs required to safeguard world food security. Civil society organizations such as La Via Campesina –The International Peasant Movement – also plan to attend and present their views during stakeholder consultations.
“High level” conferences such as this typically generate a lot of discussion around an issue and produce government commitments to action. But connecting them to what’s happening in your area can be a challenge. Here are some suggestions for news stories or other radio programs:
-Find out who will represent your country at the conference, from the government and from civil society. (To find out what civil society organizations are involved, La Via Campesina (http://viacampesina.org/main_en/index.php) is a good place to start.) Ask these representatives what they plan to share and hope to accomplish at the conference.
-Follow the discussions and outcomes from the conference. (For official news and documents, visit the FAO website, http://www.fao.org/newsroom/en/focus/2008/1000829/index.html.) If you make contact with a civil society representative who will attend the conference, ask him or her to update you through e-mail.
-After the conference, find out what the government has committed to do, and what plans it is making to act on its commitments. Contact civil society and average people (farmers, consumers, etc), to find out what they think of the government’s commitments and any alternative suggestions they may have.
-If the government announces specific plans, find out how they will impact people in your broadcast area. If there is a program to support people, find out how locals can benefit.
Date Posted: April 28th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #20, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
May 3 is World Press Freedom Day, a day to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom and inform citizens about violations to press freedom. The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) has organized a two-day conference in Maputo, Mozambique to coincide with World Press Freedom Day. The conference will look at how press freedom contributes to empowerment, the role of community media, and the importance of access to information. Guest speakers from across Africa and around the world are scheduled to participate.
For more information about the conference, or to access resources that UNESCO has compiled for the event, visit: http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=25877&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html.
Date Posted: April 21st, 2008
Posted in: Issue #19, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The World Association of Christian Communication will hold its fourth global congress on communication in Cape Town, South Africa, from October 6 to 10, 2008. The theme is “Communication is Peace: Building viable communities.”
Registration for people living and working in sub-Saharan Africa and other parts of the “Global South” is 400 Canadian dollars (approximately 400 American dollars or 250 Euros). The deadline to apply is June 30. For more information, visit: http://www.waccglobal.info/.
Date Posted: April 14th, 2008
Posted in: Issue# 18, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization and the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation are offering an online course on networking in support of development. The course will cover how different information and communication technologies (ICTs) in a country – local, national, and international – fit together to provide a means of communication, and the issues that affect each level. The course is free and offered to members of the e-agriculture.org community in Africa who are currently, or would like to be, involved in the development and use of ICTs to support existing communications traditions and networks, especially in rural areas. The course runs from May 6-9, 2008, and applications are due by April 23, 2008. For more details, visit: www.e-agriculture.org.
Date Posted: April 7th, 2008
Posted in: Issue #17, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The New People Media Centre is offering a two-week course entitled “Digital Audio Production with Adobe Audition 1.5 & Sound Forge.” Topics include: introduction to radio editing, Adobe Audition, Sound Forge, and reporting and recording. Classes will run from April 14-18 and 21-25. The course fee is 3,000 Kenyan shillings (approximately 48 American dollars, or 30 Euros). For more information, e-mail director@newpeople.co.ke or call +254-3867229-3877407. You can also visit The New People Media Centre at: http://www.newpeople.co.ke.
Date Posted: March 31st, 2008
Posted in: Issue #16, Past Issues, Upcoming Events
The Johannesburg-based Institute for the Advancement of Journalism (IAJ) is holding a Summer Academy for African journalists. The institute has not yet posted details about the courses to be offered, but more information may be obtained by e-mailing info@iaj.org.za or calling 011 4841765. You may also visit the IAJ’s website at: http://www.iaj.org.za/
