The International Women's Media Foundation is accepting applications for its 2005 Fellowship Program for International Women Journalists. The fellowship provides international women print and broadcast journalists with experience working for leading US media companies. One journalist will be selected to spend four months working with a US media company. In 2004 two fellows came from Nigeria and Zambia. The deadline for applications for this year's programme is 15 November.
(IWMF)

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Journalists from 13 Arab countries participated in a workshop in Beirut, Lebanon, on the media's role in educating the public about HIV/AIDS. UNESCO organized the event to help Arab media understand its role in preventative health education. Participants discussed ways to inform infected people about their rights and to improve communication between information, education and health sectors in the fight against HIV/AIDS. (IJNet)

Barcelona 2004, organized by the UN and Spain, is a series of meetings of the world's diverse cultures, a celebration of ideas, dialogue and diversity in a Cultural Olympics. Included are thinkers, artists, storytellers, musicians, actors, experts, business professionals, associations, planners, activists, tourists and citizens. The 'Cultural Diversity and the Media' sessions focus on the crossroads that technology and globalization have brought the world to. Organisers say that media conglomerates threaten local programming and diversity of views, and that while the Internet has caused an explosion of worldwide communication, there are those who would stifle its great potential for free speech and democracy. Join distinguished speakers, recognized experts, and celebrated personalities from the world of media to debate and discuss the basic concepts of Media and Cultural Diversity.

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A working conference that will present and discuss analyses and strategies for change on media and diversity. Special attention will be paid to the role the media play in today's multicultural societies in portrayals of - and dialogue between - Europe's different ethnic and religious communities. The 150 delegates will be those prominently involved in the fields of media and minorities, selected and individually invited by the organising committee on the basis of their expertise, field of work and commitment for change.

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The OSCE's second conference on this subject attracted more than 700 government, NGO and other representatives. The conference ended with a declaration condemning all forms of racism, xenophobia and anti-Semitism, while urging OSCE member states to respond effectively to acts motivated by intolerance. MDI, in partnership with the Romanian Roma Center Aven Amentza, ran an exhibition on the Roma Holocaust at the conference's session on 'Media and Fighting Discrimination against Roma and Sinti: Media as a tool against anti-Gypsyism'

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Journalists and communications students are invited to participate in a course on human rights and freedom of expression, scheduled for September 11 to December 11 in Mexico. Participants will examine practical and theoretical guidelines regarding human rights issues in Mexico and abroad, discuss freedom of expression and information, and explore journalists’ duties as it relates to legal, economic, social, cultural and environmental rights.

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Russian print journalists (including freelancers) are eligible to enter a competition aimed at exposing ethnic and religious intolerance. Reports, articles, interviews, feature stories, reviews or comments published from January 1 to August 31, 2004 can be entered. There are two competition categories: ethnic and racial intolerance and religious intolerance.

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Aspire, a UK support network for black media professionals, has teamed up with Pearson, owner of the Financial Times, to debate "What is the future of black media professionals: stay in the mainstream or go independent?" Racial representation and participation in Britain's media remain controversial with the sacking of BBC radio broadcaster Henry Bonsu and former Choice FM presenter Geoff Schumann, events that caused outrage in the black community. The event, which coincides with Aspire's first anniversary, will be held at the Pearson building on the Strand, London, Great Britain, on July 31 from 1pm-5.30pm.

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The Centre for the Study of the United States, at Toronto University is organizing a conference ‘Collateral Damage: Civilian Casualties from Antiquity Through the Gulf Wars'. International scholars will present a range of papers on civilian casualties from classical times to the first Gulf War. Keynote speakers will be: the Swedish writer, Sven Lindqvist, author of “Exterminate All the Brutes,” and the British journalist and war correspondent Robert Fisk of "The Independent". MDI director Milica Pesic will speak about media coverage of sexual violence during and after the conflict. For further information email Rick Helper at rick.halpern@utoronto.ca or http://www.utoronto.ca/csus/damage/

Nationalism, xenophobia, discrimination and racism in Europe's former communist countries will be the main themes of an international media conference in May in the Czech Republic. Representatives of youth media, working on anti-racist and anti-discrimination issues, and members of youth ethnic minority organizations, are eligible to participate.

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The Brazil-based News Agency for Children's Rights (Andi) is organizing a contest for media projects on the rights of children and adolescents. The aim is to promote responsible and professional dialogue among journalists, social actors and the mass media about the protection of children's basic rights. The deadline to submit projects is April 18.

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The 2004 Eliav-Sartawi Awards for Middle East Journalism are designed to encourage reporting which promotes understanding and political dialogue in that region. Articles entered should “open windows of understanding on the peoples of the region and on the issues which divide them”. Winning articles will provide insight into regional issues and debates, expose readers to new perspectives, and help lay the groundwork for peaceful solutions to the region’s problems. The deadline for entries is April 1. Winners receive 1,000 Euro.

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Representatives of both the media and a variety of faiths met to explore the positive power of the media to contribute to an integrated multi-faith society. Organised by the Media Trust in association with the Inter Faith Network for the UK and Respect (with MDI as an event sponsor), it aimed to highlight constructive and informed media coverage of religious and inter-faith issues, and to enhance the relationships between the media, faith communities and inter-faith bodies.

The British Council is funding three media training seminars in Nigeria to encourage fairer and better-researched reporting on Islam. The "Connecting Futures" seminars aim to raise awareness and combat 'Islamphobia' through constructive and proactive education. It will encourage journalists to moderate their reporting on fundamentalist extremists by seeking alternate views and voices in their stories. (IJNet)

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The International Women's Media Foundation is seeking nominations for its 2004 Courage in Journalism Awards and Lifetime Achievement Award. The only awards program exclusively for international women journalists, the 'Courage in Journalism Awards' honor women journalists who have demonstrated extraordinary strength of character in pursuing their profession under difficult or dangerous circumstances. The Lifetime Achievement Award recognizes a woman journalist who has a pioneering spirit and whose determination has paved the way for future generations of women in the media. Nominations for the 2004 awards will be accepted by the IWMF between January 1, 2004 and March 15, 2004. For further information about the awards and to learn how to nominate a journalist, visit the IWMF website at www.iwmf.org/courage/nominate.php

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is accepting entries for the IFJ Journalism for Tolerance Prize, which recognizes journalistic work of excellence that combats racism and discrimination.

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The "Real Life Matters" award has been established to encourage better reporting on HIV/AIDS issue - reporting which promotes wider understanding of the complexities of the disease and issues confronting those people who contract it. The competition recognizes the media's responsibility in raising public awareness and safeguarding the fundamental rights of drug users and people with HIV/AIDS.

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Is the main responsibility of journalists in wartime to support the 'national cause' or to promote peace and reconciliation; how do governments treat journalists in times of war; how should war reporters protect them selves in hostile environments? These were among the issues discussed by journalists from more than 15 of the world's most conflict-prone nations, at this four day conference, organised by the UNESCO Centre, University of Ulster and the Commonwealth Journalists Association. An MDI representative ran a workshop on patriotism and professionalism.