World Press Freedom Day
3 May was proclaimed World Press Freedom Day by the UN General Assembly in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the twenty-sixth session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991.  Since 1993, media organizations around the world have observed the day to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom, to defend the media from attacks on their independence, and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession.

Information on previous celebrations can be found on the official web sites of the World Press Freedom Day1997-2007. click here.

In connection with the World Press Freedom Day, is the annual UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize named after a Colombian newspaper editor assassinated in 1986 for his fight against drug trafficking.  The Prize was instituted in 1997.  For information on the laureates, click here.

The themes for each year’s celebration and the World Press Freedom Prize laureates are as follows:
2008:   Freedom of Expression, Access to Information and Empowerment of People
Lydia Cacho Ribeiro (Mexico)
2007:    Press Freedom, Safety of Journalists and Impunity
Anna Politkovskaya (Russia)
2006:    Media, Development and Poverty Eradication
May Chidiac (Lebanon)
2005:    Media and Good Governance
Cheng Yizhong (China)
2004:    Media in Conflict and Post-Conflict Zones and in Countries in Transition
Raúl Rivero (Cuba)
2003:    Impunity
Amira Hass (Israel)
2002:    Terrorism and Media
Geoffrey Nyarota (Zimbabwe)
2001:    The Windhoek Seminar: “Ten years on: Assessment, Challenges and Prospects”
U Win Tin (Myanmar)
2000:    Media in Conflict and Post-Conflict Areas
Nizar Nayyouf (Syria)
1999:    Safety of Journalists
Jesus Blancornelas (Mexico)
1998:    The 50th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of the Human Rights
Chirstina Anyanwu (Nigeria)
1997:    One Day from 365 Days of Freedom of the Press

WPFD Speech Contest, 2006
In connection with World Press Freedom Day, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) and the UN Information Centre (UNIC) organised a speech contest in May 2006 with representatives of universities from the provincial and the federal capitals. The theme for the 2006 event was “Role of media in the eradication of poverty”.

Media Awards
UNESCO Islamabad supports the Gender in Journalism and Press Freedom Awards through Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF).
The Gender in Journalism Awards recognize excellence in gender sensitive reporting.  The awards are open to both female and male journalists.  Each year one Award is given to a male or female journalist providing the best coverage on gender issues.  The other recognizes competence and contribution of women in journalism in Pakistan.  
The Annual Aslam Ali Press Freedom Award was instituted in 2006.  The Award recognizes journalists who have made significant contribution to press freedom in Pakistan. 
Each year, announcements inviting entries for these Awards are widely circulated throughout the country.  Entries are screened and short-listed in two phases.  Finalists are judged by a panel of judges.  UNESCO and PPF select jury members from among eminent journalists, academic, human rights experts, and journalists associations.  Efforts are made to ensure gender balance and diversity of languages, viewpoints and geographical distribution among the selected judges. PPF acts as both convener and secretariat of the jury. 
Past awardees of the three Awards are listed hereunder.
Gender-sensitive reporting:
2003: Reema Abbasi Hamidi and Hussain Askari
2004: Manzoor Solangi
2005: Fauzia Shaheen
2006: Razia Fareed
2007: Faiza Ilyas

Women in journalism:
2003: Saira Irshad Khan
2004: Shimaila Matri
2005: Huma Yusuf
2006: Afshan Subohi
2007: Fauzia Shaheen

Press freedom:
2006: Hyatullah Khan
2007: Mukesh Rupeta

Media Training
UNESCO considers the mass media a partner in development.  The Organization works with media trainers to build and enhance capacities of journalists for providing relevant information to the public and facilitating the public’s participation in development initiatives affecting them. Some training workshops were organized for young people interested in media as well as journalism students.

Youth in Media Workshop
In March 2007, CI supported a two-week media training workshop organized and implemented by the Himmat Society for twenty 16-19 years old participants selected from Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot and Multan. Through this training the participants obtained a working knowledge of how to conceptualize, write, shoot, anchor and edit a TV programme from inception to conclusion. The final presentation resulting from this training workshop was submitted by the Himmat Society as an entry from Pakistan at the 5th World Summit for Children’s Television Programmes held in Johannesburg, South Africa later the same month.

Media and Democratic Local Governance
Pakistan Press Foundation organized a Training of Trainers workshop for 20 to 25 journalists and locally elected representatives from all over Pakistan in February 2007. The project focused on training rural journalists in effective coverage of local issues and building the capacity of local government representatives to work with the media. This workshop intended to improve the flow and access of information through developing the much needed linkages between the journalists and the locally elected representatives.

Photojournalism for Effective Reporting
The training workshop in 2006 on photojournalism skills in disaster area for effective reporting provided a group of young media professionals and journalism/ photojournalism students to develop their photojournalism skills so as to be able to effectively articulate with images in reporting natural calamities. The workshop defined ways to select photographs that better communicate a message. The workshop was conducted in two parts. The first in Lahore dealt with the theoretical and technical requirements to shoot a story. The second was a field trip to the earthquake zone. The trainees selected individuals whose lives where changed by the 2005 earthquake as their subjects.  The lives of the chosen individuals were portrayed through words and pictures.

HIV/AIDS Media Workshop
A training workshop for young TV producers on HIV and AIDS issues and information was organized in November 2006 in collaboration with PTV, HUM TV, AIBD-Malaysia, UNAIDS and UNDP.  As a result, 12 TV producers from National Broadcasting organisations acquired proper skills to cover HIV and AIDS issues. As part of their assignment, all participants were given an allowance to produce a short documentary on HIV and AIDS which will be compiled onto a DVD/VCD for a wide dissemination in the region in 2007.  These young TV producers became a part of the network of young Asian TV producers on HIV and AIDS.
Broadcasting Development
UNESCO Islamabad partly-funded the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD) to conduct a 2 weeks in-country course on Radio News and Current Affairs in Islamabad. The training was requested by Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) and took place in November/December 2006. The workshop was designed and conducted by Mr Tom Fayle, Senior Journalist, ABC Radio Australia.
The course centred on the fundamentals of radio news and current affairs. Elements of production, presentation and reporting were covered through daily theoretical and practical exercises.  Special attention was given to news/current affairs story writing, planning and construction.  Examples from local and foreign media were brought into play to illustrate the importance of simplicity, clarity and brevity in writing for both news and current affairs.

Participants were asked to analyse their own organisation’s daily output, providing an opportunity to emphasise the importance of balance, independence, focus and news worthiness in bulletins. The need to maintain focus and ethical journalistic standards was constantly reiterated throughout the training. The course was developed for news and current affairs journalists and was generally well received by participants.

Access to Information
UNESCO Islamabad supports activities aiming at enhancing people’s access to information.  Making available relevant information is a means of empowering the people so that they may be able to make informed decision and choices.  Moreover, with access to information, people can better participate in development process as well as contribute to further flow of information. 

Aao Zaroorat ki Baat Karein (Lets talk about the essentials)
UNESCO Islamabad in collaboration with Uks produced a radio programme in two parts of 1 hour each. The programme was broadcast in December 2006 on FM Power 99. Based on issues of and around women, the programme was intended to be the first step in taking the information to them in a bid to promote easy access to information. The programme was non-commercial and dedicated to public interest broadcasting. A lawyer working on these issues was invited to participate in the dialogue and provided information on the key elements of a nikkah nama (Islamic marriage certificate) and their implications for the listeners. Questions and comments were answered by the guest lawyer through live phone-calls in the show.

Lorenzo Natali Prize
Applications now invited for the 16th edition of the Lorenzo Natali Prize. 

The European Commission has officially launched the 16th edition of the Lorenzo Natali Prize.  Journalists committed to the fight of human rights, democracy and development are invited to take part in the Prize.  For the first time this year, the Lorenzo Natali Prize also involves radio and television journalists.

Fifteen laureates will be chosen from among the applicants.  Each laureate will receive a trophee and a prize. 

For further information or to apply, visit the web site www.nataliprize2008.eu or contact:

Laurent Avignon
ProPager/Prix Lorenzo Natali
70, boulevard de Reuilly
75012 Paris – France
info@prixnatali2008.eu

Journalists Required.
Professional journalists from the developing world for ten-month fellowship in U.S.

The Humphrey Fellowship Program offers a ten-month stay at a leading American university to study journalism and undertake professional affiliations at top U.S. news organizations.The non-degree program includes financial support for studies, travel, workshops and seminars, a monthly stipend, funds for books and a computer subsidy.

• Fellows take classes in journalism, public affairs, government, or other fields of their choice.
• Fellows participate in field trips, workshops, lectures
• Fellows often use some of their professional stipend for travel within the U.S.

REQUIREMENTS:
Applicants should have:

• a minimum of five years of substantial professional experience,
• limited or no experience in the U.S.
• demonstrated leadership qualities and commitment to their communities.
• Most applicants should have good English skills and university degrees.

To APPLY:
Contact the Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy or the Fulbright Commission in your home country.

DEADLINE:
Varies by country, but usually June to September for the following year (Now for the 2009-2010 year.)

For more information: http://www.humphreyfellowship.org and/or http://www.journalism.umd.edu/Humphrey/