Knight News Challenge: Win upto Rs 25 crore

NEWS RELEASE: The John F. and James L. Knight Foundation has extended upto 15 December 2009, the deadline for the the global Knight News Challenge that awards up to $5 million (approximately Rs 25 crore) for ideas that use digital experiments to transform community news.

The Knight News Challenge is open to innovators worldwide and has three rules: “Projects must use digital, open-source technology, distribute news in the public interest and be tested in a local community.”

The contest, now its fourth year, has chosen 35 winners from 7,000 entries.

Applicants can enter under the “open category, which allows the public to view and comment on their submissions, or the “closed” category, for those who are not ready to make their ideas public.

For more information: see the video, read the FAQ

For applications: click here

Link via Knight Center for Journalism in the Americas

German fellowship open to Indian journalists

The International Journalists’ Programmes (IJP) is inviting applications from newspaper, TV and radio journalists in Asia and the Pacific,  for an eight-week exchange fellowship programme that will take them to Germany in May and June 2010.

Journalists between 28 and 38 years of age, working in India, China, Korea, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam are eligible to apply.

The deadline to apply is November 30.

If selected, delegates will work in German media, research stories and work as correspondents for their home newsrooms. German journalists will simultaneously work in Asian media.

All delegates of the programme will receive a bursary of EU3,600 (approximately Rs 250,000).

For more information, visit the IJP website

Visit the IJP blog

E-mail Martina Johns for further details: johns@ijp.org

Link via Nishant Ratnakar

Journalism can’t be taught, but it can be learnt

The Indian Express group, which announced the setting up of a media school a few weeks ago under the aegies of Newschool Ventures Limited, has announced its first academic course: an 8-month programme beginning October 1.

Content sutra reports the course costs Rs 1.75 lakh.

Download the application form here

Also read: Those who can do, those who can’t teach?

Those who can, do. Those who can’t, teach?

A number of Indian media houses have set up media schools over the years, partly to give something back to the profession, partly because they think existing journalism schools do not turn out recruitment-ready products, but largely to ensure a steady inflow of journalists at a time of heightened competition when everybody is poaching.

The Times of India set up the Times School of Journalism in Delhi, closed it, and then reopened it in Bombay as the Times School of Media Studies. The Indian Express started the Asian College of Journalism in Bangalore which moved to Madras when The Hindu took over.  The Malayala Manorama group opened the Manorama School of Communication. The Pioneer has the Pioneer Media School. And so on.

Into this crowded space, the northern faction of the Indian Express group has bounced into the academic space by launching the Express Institute of Media Studies.

Visit the website: www.indianexpress.com/exims

Fellowship for radio and television broadcasters

One World Media, a UK-based organisation which aims to increase global understanding through effective use of the media, is offering a two-week fellowship for senior radio and television broadcasters from developing countries.

The 2009 fellowship scheme runs from 19 to 30 October. The last date to apply is 21 August.

Download the application form here

Visit the official website: How to apply

Link courtesy Follow the Media

New magazine looking for education reporters

Careers360, the newly launched career monthly, is looking for reporters in Bombay and Delhi, with a flair for writing, a nose for data and numbers, a panache for accuracy, and an unwavering commitment to education.

If you think you fit the bill, send a resume with samples of writing, if any, to publisher Mahesh Peri.

Email: mahesh@outlookindia.com

An all-expenses-paid African safari with NYT

For the third year in a row, New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is offering journalism students an all-expenses-paid vacation to travel with him to Africa to bring “fresh eyes” on the problems and solutions of global poverty. And to bring back stories that will appeal to younger readers.

“This won’t be a day on the beach. But it will be memorable and maybe even life-changing. And together we might shine a light on the world’s forgotten problems,” says Kristof, who played a stellar role in bringing the disgrace of Darfur to the world’s attention.

To apply you need to submit an essay to winatrip@nytimes.com or post a response to his YouTube video. The deadline for applications is February 13. The trip will be between a week and ten days in April or May.

To learn more about how to apply visit Kristof’s blog: nytimes.com/ontheground

Fellowships for journalists on climate change

PRESS RELEASE: The Climate Change Media Partnership invites journalists to apply for a climate change fellowship. Fellows will attend the UN climate change summit held in Poznan, Poland from December 1 to 12, 2008 and produce journalism to highlight climate change issues within their regions.

The fellowship is open to journalists who live and work in Asia, Africa, the Caribbean, Latin America or the Middle East.

Women journalists and journalists from under-represented groups are particularly encouraged to apply.

This is an exciting opportunity for editors to gain coverage of the summit through their staff reporters.  It is also an exciting opportunity for the journalists selected to enhance their knowledge of environmental issues with the support of the Climate Change Media Partnership, and to develop their professional journalism skills through the media activities offered during the summit.

For more information and to download the application form visit: http://www.panos.org.uk/climatechangefellowship

The deadline for applications is Monday, 13 October.

Infochange Media Fellowships for 2008

PRESS RELEASE: www.infochangeindia.org (managed by the Centre for Communication and Development Studies) invites applications for its 2008 media fellowships in areas related to social justice/sustainable development in India.

Three fellowships are on offer to journalists and researchers.

Proposals that illustrate topical issues and contemporary debates in the social sector—from environment, poverty, livelihoods, public health, women and child rights, social exclusion, displacement, migration, gender and sexuality to globalisation, trade and development, intellectual property rights, social entrepreneurship and much more—are eligible for the fellowships.

The fellowship must result in: 1) a series of five or more original articles totalling 7,500 words or more, or 2) A series of three or more short audio reports – not exceeding 10 mins duration each, or 3) A documentary film (of 10-22 mins duration) or a series of shorts.

The fellowships will be announced end-October. Fellows are expected to begin work by the first week of November 2008 and complete it by the first week of January 2009. All outputs are required to reach infochangeindia by 5 January 2009.

The fellowship is open to independent journalists and researchers living in India only. Working journalists may also apply, provided their organisations endorse their application and allow them time off for this fellowship If selected. All applications must be received by 3 October 2008.

The fellowships carry a grant amount of Rs 50,000 (subject to TDS as applicable). 50% of this amount will be disbursed on selection, to fund travel and research expenses. The balance will be released on successful completion of the project, submission and acceptance of stories/films.

Applications may be addressed to:

Infochangeindia Media Fellowships
Centre for Communication and Development Studies (CCDS)
301, Kanchanjunga Building, Kanchan Gully
Off Law College Road,
Pune 411 004

Telephone: 020-26852845/30222156

GroundReport.com wants India correspondents

MEDIA RELEASE: GroundReport.com, a global citizen journalism website committed to “democratising the media”, is looking for India correspondents. Original text news articles and photographs, especially firsthand accounts, are invited from international bloggers. 

All contributors will receive a share of the ad revenue, says Nathaniel Jones.

GroundReport says it is fast emerging as an important news source for the Indian community with its on-the-ground coverage.  It broke the story of the bombings in Bangalore before Reuters and The New York Times.

Contact info@groundreport.com for further details.

Frequently Asked Questions