WORLD ENVIRONMENT DAY
On World Environment Day (5 June 2013) FAIR would like to share its latest toolkit titled ‘Investigating Environmental Issues for African Media Workers”. The chapter forms part of the FAIR/KAS Investigative Journalism Manual and discusses techniques for ‘selling’ environmental stories to editors while offering a guide to tackling scientific areas and a glossary of key terms. The text offers tips, hints, and links to other resources, to help IJ’s approach the basic science of climate change and environmental issues confidently. An online version is available here:
http://fairreporters.net/2012/10/31/resources-investigating-environmental-issues-for-african-media-workers/
OPPORTUNITIES AND RESOURCES
1. AMI grant to fund storytelling on key African issues
The African Story Challenge will award over 100 reporting grants for stories on development issues. The Story Challenge is a project of the African Media Initiative (AMI), the continent’s largest association of media owners and operators. The new competition will offer journalists grants to support investigative, multimedia and data-driven stories that aim to improve health and prosperity across the continent. An international panel of editors and media experts will judge the entries. Enter online: http://africanstorychallenge.com/
2. IRE website seeks contribution on ‘access to information laws’
Investigative Reportes and Editors (IRE) are looking for an investigative reporter to write 700-900 words for their website around the topic and challenges of “working in Africa without access to information laws”. Please submit your story pitch to director@fairreporters.org, and FAIR will recommend the best contributions to IRE for publication. Register now for the IRE conference to be held in San Antonio (USA) during June 20-23. See:
http://ire.org/conferences/ire-2013/
3. ZAM Chronicle seeks contributors
The ZAM Chronicle is pleased to announce that it will produce, over 2013, 8 issues on line, highlighting work done by and with African investigative journalists. In order to produce the stories, ZAM would like to work with the journalist’s own ideas, in a dialogue. ZAM is seeking investigative story ideas that would be of interest to the worldwide audience that ZAM aims for. If selected, the final stories will be paid at a competitive fee. All subjects can be considered, as it’s new grassroots observation project. Please forward your story ideas to Bart Luirink, ZAM Magazine Editor-in-chief, bart@zammagazine.com
4. Reporting fellowships to US
Early or mid-career journalists who are citizens of Muslim-majority countries can apply for this fellowship. The Alfred Friendly Press Partner seeks applicants for the 2014 Daniel Pearl Fellowship, a six-month program that will place successful candidates at American news organizations to learn practices, standards and values of U.S. journalism which they can adapt, share and apply in their own countries. Deadline is August 1. Apply online here: http://www.presspartners.org/daniel-pearl-fellowship-application/
5. German Development Media Awards
Six regional prizes will be awarded for journalists from Africa, Asia, Middle East/North Africa, Latin America, Eastern Europe/ Central Asia and Germany. Eligible are reports, features and projects across all media (print,radio, TV and online journalism) focusing on human rights and development. Prize Award winners will receive 2,000 euros in prize money and will also be flown to Germany to attend the award ceremony in Berlin on August 14, 2013. See www.GermanMediaAwards.org, and http://journalism.co.za.
6. Global Shining Light Award
In October 2013, the Global Investigative Journalism Conference will again present the Global Shining Light Award, a unique award which honors investigative journalism in a developing or transitioning country, done under threat, duress, or in the direst of conditions. Deadline for submissions is June 15, 2013. Send entries by email or regular post to: Shining Light Award, c/o Kate Willson, 2240 NW 29th St, Corvallis, Or 97330 USA. Email: shininglight@gijn.org.
7. Eight trends newsrooms should be aware of
Using data to make ‘news you can use’ and other tips from Justin Arenstein’s presentation at WAN-IFRA conference in Bangkok. “Newsrooms should be aware that consumers are now less brand-aware and expect news and information to come to them”. Read more: http://www.journalism.co.uk/news/-editors13-eight-trends-every-newsroom-should-be-aware-of/s2/a553130/
8. OSIWA call for proposals still open
Programs will be implemented in one or more of these west Africa countries: Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Ghana, Guinea, Liberia, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal and Sierra Leone. OSIWA receives proposals on an on-going basis between 7th January 2013 to 16th August 2013. Read more: http://www.osiwa.org/en/portal/grants/79/Call-for-proposals.htm
9. CartoDB – the new powerful mapping and data visualization tool
Based in New York and Madrid, CartoDB was created to make it easier and faster to work with geospatial data and big data. It allows users to create beautiful dynamic maps. See more: http://ijnet.org/blog/mapping-platform-cartodb-powerful-data-visualization-tool-anyone-can-use
ALERTS
1. Zimbabwe: Security Forces Pose Election Risk,
http://www.hrw.org/news/2013/06/04/zimbabwe-security-forces-pose-election-risk
2. Bheki Makhubu raises freedom flag in Swaziland,
http://www.cpj.org/blog/2013/05/bheki-makhubu-raises-freedom-flag-in-swaziland.php
3. Monitor, Red Pepper closures spark protests in Uganda,
http://www.cpj.org/2013/05/monitor-red-pepper-closures-spark-protests-in-ugan.php
4. In Guinea, 2 people killed, 15 wounded in peaceful demonstration,
http://www.ifex.org/guinea/2013/06/04/free_elections/
5. Witnesses describe police killings of protesters, bystanders in
Kenya, http://www.ifex.org/kenya/2013/05/23/kenya_witnesses_describe/
FAIR AT 10: FROM NETWORK TO INSTITUTION
Since establishment in May 2003 FAIR has supported quality investigative journalism in Africa with activities including networking, grants, conferences and the FAIR Awards. Although FAIR is a multi-sourced institution with an established office and a base of loyal members, it is trying to move away from complete donor dependency on core and project support.
During 2013 FAIR will seek to develop a Business Plan compatible with the organisation’s mission and vision, and which would generate income through unique content, service and data offerings. FAIR would like to thank Free Press Unlimited (FPU) and Open Society Foundations (OSF) for their ongoing advice and financial support during the past few years, which has enabled FAIR to grow into a valuable professional network for African investigative journalists.
In this context FAIR invites qualified individuals to apply for the following opportunities: 1. FACILITATOR – Strategy Workshop and 2. CONSULTANT – Business Plan Development. See more here: http://fairreporters.net/2013/05/27/opportunity-fair-10-growing-from-network-to-institution/
CONTACT FAIR
Forum for African Investigative Reporters (FAIR)
Tel: +2711 482 8493
Fax: +2711 482 7208
Email: admin@fairreporters.org
Website: www.fairreporters.org
Twitter: @fairreporters
Address: 4th floor Mentone Centre, 1 Park Road, Richmond, Auckland
Park, 2092, South Africa
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