This is an invitation to a one-week Study Tour “Journalism and Democracy” to Vienna, Austria – Journalists from Egypt apply now!
BACKGROUND INFORMATION ON OUR PROGRAMME
As a result of the Arab spring the media landscape in the Arab world is also changing enormously. For the first time a large amount of new and free media are emerging – from newspapers, to blogs and other online initiatives like youtube channels or facebook pages.
This media development will – driven by a new generation of journalists – also influence the democratic development of these countries.
Many of the newly founded media are maintained or led by young and engaged journalists, who had had no possibility in their life so far, to work in a free media landscape and a pluralistic, open society.
We want to help independent journalists of Arab world countries to get international contacts and knowledge. We want you to be able to work successfully and to create new journalistic standards for a free and democratic journalism in your countries.
With our study tour, by offering information and training opportunities as well as contacts to established Austrian journalists and media houses, we can help journalists of Arab countries to faster reach their goal.
The study tour and training programme “Journalism and Democracy” has been initiated by the renowned Austrian Public Relations agency “The Skills Group”. It is organised in co-operation and under the patronage of the Austrian Federal Press Service, the independent media club “Concordia”, the Austrian Industrial Organisation and other institutional partners.
The first study tour will be organised as pilot project especially for journalists from Egypt in September 2012. Invitations to media representatives from other countries are planned to follow in 2013.
CRITERIA: WHO CAN APPLY AND PARTICIPATE FOR FREE?
The invitation to this first pilot study tour is open and targeted to you, when you fulfill following criteria:
– Egyptian journalist (m/f), which regularly publish in independent media (online / offline) about politics, social or economic topics
– Editors in chief, media owners, head of departments or young talents with a record of at least four published milestone articles on business or political topics
– Articles and/or media of the participants should have played a positive role in reporting about democracy and the Arab spring movement
– Participants should – next to Arabic – also speak English fluently since the study tour programme will be held in English (Arabic translation only limited available)
– Participants need to have valid travel documents at the time of their application for participation
– Equal opportunities: we aim to choose 5 male and 5 female participants.
WHAT TO EXPECT?
– Participating Journalists get at the “Journalism & Democracy” study tour to Austria the opportunity, to personally learn about how the media landscape in Austria/Europe is organised, how media fulfil their control role in a democratic society and how NGOs and civil society are organised and interacting with independent media and political decision makers.
– Participants get the opportunity to personally meet editors in chief of leading Austrian media, communication directors and PR experts of leading institutions, NGOs and agencies.
– With that know-how transfer, we want to enable journalists of Arab World to involve themselves in their countries in structures and organisations to foster press freedom, democracy and an independent media industry in their countries.
– The networking contacts established during the study tour shall also build the basis for future co-operations between institutions, media and journalists of Austria and Egypt and help to improve mutual understanding and inter-cultural communications in a long-term perspective.
APPLICATION FOR PARTICIPATION
Participation is free as all participants are official guests of the Austrian federal press service. Participants are chosen by a jury according to qualification and their application put forward.
All costs of the study tour (training programme, hotel, transport, food & beverages etc. including flight costs Cairo-Vienna-Cairo) are paid by the hosts. Participants only could need a minimum amount of private pocket money for personal needs (shopping etc.)
A maximum of only 10 journalists can take part.
To participate in the selection process, we only need a few things from you per e-mail:
– CV including photo
– Letter about your personal motivation for participation and why you are the right candidate to choose (max. 1-2 pages)
– Copy / Links of the articles you published under your name within the last 24 months
– Copy / scan of your passport
All submission are subject to evaluation of a distinguished jury formed by Austrian journalists and media experts. 20 finalist participants will be in a second round invited to personal interviews in Cairo, where the final 10 participants will be chosen.
Deadline for applications: 30th, June 2012.
Please send your applications via E-Mail to: arab@skills.at (call us, when you don’t receive a confirmation mail within 48 hrs. latest)
Any questions? Please, use the same e-mail address or call +43 664 2000 260.
Link: program of the study tour
CONTACT INFORMATION:
For queries/ submissions: arab@skills.at
Website: http://www.skills-academy.at
READ NEXT:
