Link TV View Change film contest

Greetings,

On April 30th, 2010, Link TV, the largest independent TV broadcaster in the country, launched the ViewChange Online Film Contest - to find short films showing how international development efforts are making progress towards achieving the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Link TV wants to see the personal stories behind these global targets, and is offering $50,000 in cash prizes to the best films.

OPPORTUNITY FOR FILMMAKERS
Online voters will help determine the finalists, after which I will be joined by Gael Garcia Bernal, Wim Wenders, Senator Daniel K. Inouye, Angelique Kidjo, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie on the panel of judges to select the winners, who will be announced in October.

In addition to cash prizes, winners and finalists' videos will be nationally broadcast on Link TV and the finalists' films will be showcased at major events in New York City and Washington D.C. All six category winners will be included in ViewChange.org, a cutting-edge digital media hub launching in November 2010.

CONTEST CATEGORIES & DETAILS
Entrants to the contest will be able to submit films five minutes or less to any one of several categories - learn more here.


You may enter in six categories:


Empowerment
Innovation
Leadership & Governance
Local/Global Partnerships
Overcoming Conflict
Sustainability

The winner in each category will earn a $5,000 prize, and the Grand Prize winner will receive $20,000. Contestants can upload their submissions until August 31st to the project's website: ViewChangeFilmContest.org.


HELP SPREAD THE WORD
Here are a few ways you can help:

Forward this message to filmmakers you know by using this link to view the online version of this message.
Send out information about the ViewChange Online Film Contest through Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.
Please don't hesitate to get in touch if you have any questions or need further information. With your help, we can build awareness, inspire action, and accelerate the worldwide movement to reduce extreme poverty by 2015.


Sincerely,

Danny Glover
Actor, Humanitarian, ViewChange Online Film Contest Judge

Prabha Dutt Fellowship in Journalism

The Prabha Dutt Fellowship in Journalism encourages young women who wish to investigate and research on any topic of contemporary relevance. This fellowship will be given every year. The Fellow may work on a book or monograph for subsequent publication within the given time frame. The work can be executed in Hindi, English or any Regional Language. Deadline for applications: August 31, 2010.

Objective

The purpose of the Fellowship is to encourage young mid career women journalists to develop their potential by pursuing meaningful projects without having to work under the pressures of short deadlines. The Fellowship carries a grant of Rs 1,00,000 including travel expenses. The work can be executed in Hindi, English or any Regional Language.

Eligibility

The Fellowship is only open to women who are Indian Nationals in the age group of 25 to 40. It is exclusively for print journalists.The Fellows will be required to publish a stipulated number of articles in established publications. The Fellow may work on a book or monograph for subsequent publication within the given time frame.

How to apply

Candidates should send a two – page CV and a write up of about 250 - 300 words explaining their project. Full postal and telephonic contact details together with any e-mail id should be submitted to facilitate contact. Five samples of work published. The names and contact addresses/telephones of two referees should also be sent.

The application should bear the title ‘Sanskriti - Prabha Dutt Fellowship’ on the envelope when sent by post.

For further information (including contact details), please go here and/or visit the fellowship website

Article License: Copyright - Article License Holder: Sanskriti Foundation

Jennifer Utz: Traditional forms of media are finding second homes and new audiences on the web

Posted on: 17/08/2010 Multimedia Region: Worldwide
By Omid Memarian, IJNet Contributing Writer

During the last few years, more and more newsrooms have begun producing multimedia stories and video for their websites. Videojournalist Jennifer Utz has been among the pioneers mastering new forms of media in order to keep up with the transformation of journalism and the news industry. A freelancer, Utz has worked for BBC America, France 24 and CBS News, among other news outlets. A frequent contributor to The Huffington Post, she is working on a documentary about Iraqi refugees in Syria and the United States.

In an interview with IJNet, Utz shares what it's like to be a freelance videojournalist, the importance of learning multimedia skills and the expanding media market for multimedia stories and videos.

IJNet: How has video journalism developed over the past few years as news organizations began adding more short videos to their websites?

Utz: Well, for starters, it seems that nearly every news package that airs on television is also posted on the web, so traditional forms of media are finding second homes and new audiences with web viewers. People who might not normally watch the NBC evening news broadcast may still catch some of their news packages online.

But in addition, a number of print publications have started video journalism departments, most notably, the New York Times, the L.A. Times, and the Washington Post. Their videos are, most of the time, a companion piece for a print story. And then you have places like The Nation, which has some original content, but also aggregates video from other news sources

IJNet: What are the differences between a news story in print and a video script of the same length in terms of cost, time and material you use?

Utz: Creating a video news package as a "one-man-band" video journalist requires that you can research and write scripts, as well as shoot and edit video.

Producing a video news piece is more expensive than a print story. As a video journalist, I've had to invest in my own equipment. A high-definition video camera will cost into the thousands of dollars. Then you need microphones for different situations, a lighting kit and a tripod. A computer and video editing system will cost you a few thousand [dollars] more. And then there is the cost of tapes or memory cards for your footage.

As far as time is concerned, video is arguably more time-consuming than print, because you are dealing with the technical aspects of storytelling. As a video journalist you need visual representation of all those details that enhance a story, and that takes time.

IJNet: Do the news organizations cover all of the production costs of a freelance video journalist? Or do they provide the equipment?

Utz: In my experience, news organizations that buy finished packages are not covering the cost [of] equipment. Generally I'm paid a flat fee per package, regardless of the cost of production. Occasionally, I've had jobs where I'm paid a day rate and use the employers' video production equipment. But with situations like this, I typically have less ownership over the finished product. Being a one-man-band freelance video journalist is a harder life than [that of] a staffer. You're expected to cover the costs of travel, equipment, fixers and other incidentals. But on the other hand, you have more ownership over the final product.

IJNet: How much video do you shoot for a 5- to 6-minute piece?

Utz: My typical shooting ratio is probably about 20:1. So for a 5-minute piece, I'm shooting 100 minutes of footage. Shooting ratios vary depending on the story and the person shooting. I imagine that spot news reporters have a much lower shooting ratio, because they have to respond to a quick turnaround.

IJNet: When you work as a multimedia reporter, how much does it help to know Flash? Does it make sense that a reporter do all the reporting and editing and also all of the Flash? or is it better to have multiple people and work as a team?

Utz: I've found it very helpful to know Flash, because I can envision a project from start to finish. However, it's not necessary. What I would recommend is that a journalist who wants to make multimedia pieces take a short course on Flash online, not with the intention of learning the program, but in order to get an idea of the capabilities it can offer. It will help them better visualize their own story. On another note, doing everything yourself can get exhausting, and you can often get caught up in the technicalities of a video and lose sight of the story. It's easier to work with a team, especially when you're out in the field.

IJNet: Many news organizations have laid off a number of their reporters that cover international affairs, due to the financial crisis many of them are facing. Has this opened up more opportunities for freelance journalist?

Utz: The downsizing of newsrooms has not necessarily made life as a freelancer easier. From what I hear, news organizations are training the ones they keep on staff to do more than one discipline. A lot of my staff photographer friends are now expected to shoot video as well. From what I can tell, they are not being asked to do any post-production yet, though.

Youth Forum Empowering Youth with Earth Observation Information for Climate Actions 1-6 October 2010, ICIMOD, Kathmandu

Background:
The Youth Forum, 1-6 October 2010, is being organized recognising the far reaching consequences of climate change in the Himalaya and to make aware young professionals in the region about how parts of these problems can be addressed though application of modern day technologies, like earth observation (EO). The Forum will serve as a platform to share and learn experiences regarding climate change issues, for which we will bring about 30 youth climate enthusiasts from the region , who will be familiarised with potential benefits of EO derived information and demonstrated relevant practical actions.

The Youth Forum is one of the key attractions of the International Symposium on ‘Benefiting from Earth Observation: Bridging the Data Gap for Adaptation to Climate Change in the Hindu Kush-Himalayan Region’, 4 - 6 October 2010 being organised by the International Centre for Integrated Mountain development (ICIMOD) together with the Group on Earth Observations (GEO) and the GIS Development, India.

The event will provide opportunity among youths to familiarize with basic RS/GIS skills with practical hands-on sessions, demonstrate case studies related to use of EO in climate actions, internet related resources and project work to take local action in community. This initiative is being organized in the framework of SERVIR- Himalaya initiative and is supported by USAID and NASA.

Who should apply?
Young climate change enthusiasts, media persons, youth activists, development professionals etc. However you don’t have to be an expert on earth observation, climate change or mountain development, but you should have familiarity with the environmental issues mountains are facing and a strong commitment to contribute towards problem solving process with the use of modern tools and approaches like EO, particularly in the context of changing climate, which has posed serious threats to mountain ecosystems.

Young professionals of 18 to 29 years of age (by September 1, 2010) and coming from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Myanmar, Nepal, and Pakistan are eligible to apply. Please use this form to apply for the youth forum. All applications will be reviewed by an international review committee. Based on the evaluation of the quality of the application by the review committee and taking into account the need for a balanced group in regard to scientific discipline, geographical background and gender, about 30 applications will be accepted for participation in the Forum. Accepted applicants will be notified by 6 September 2010.

Please note, all the accepted applicants are expected to prepare a poster (hand-made or printed or in any other forms) reflecting their understanding about mountain environment, earth observation and climate change adaptation or any other relevant topics. Further details on this will be communicated later.

In case you have any problems in accessing the application form please write to tmahat@icimod.org.

Financial support:
Participation cost (round-trip airfare, local transport, and food and accommodation in Kathmandu during the Youth Forum will be covered by ICIMOD)

Important dates and links:
Application deadline 1 September
Selection notification 6 September
Youth Forum 1-6 October

Event details: http://geoportal.icimod.org/Symposium2010/SpecialEvent.aspx
Application form: http://bit.ly/defa4g OR
https://spreadsheets2.google.com/viewform?hl=en&formkey=dC13Qjc2Z3FXU3gyel9Gb0lCYUFSNVE6MQ#gid=0

Webby Talents is the video-sharing site designed by and for the disabled people across the world.

Anyone can submit a video (non-disabled or disabled persons, artists, organizations, etc...).It is free of charge.

DISCOVER WEBBYTALENTS
(English, French, Spanish, Italian languages)

Webbytalents is a new website sharing for films made by or for people with disabilities.It is also a new kind of platform at the crossroads between a social site and a sitemedia designed to help break down barriers for the world's disabled.On Webbytalents you’ll be able to share and discover videos from around the world.Use Webbytalents to share your talents. Everyone can participate and become an agent of change for better integration of disability.Join Webbytalents to learn, share experiences,stories and testimonies.Webbytalents helps you publicize activities and events. It is also a good way to see what people or communities from different countries think about disability.

Discover or encourage talents and events from the other side of the world on www.webbytalents.com.


info@webbytalents.com
www.webbytalents.com

Panos South Asia fellowship grant for HIV oral histories

Panos South Asia is currently working on a publication highlighting the voices of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in different regions of India. This will be a novel compilation of Oral Testimonies from the states of Tamil Nadu, Bihar, Nagaland and Manipur. PSA is offering three fellowships for mid-career print journalists to research and write on the HIV/AIDS scenario in the northern, southern and eastern regions of India. The writing should give a critical overview of the situation in the regions, backed by primary and secondary research, with specific focus on access to healthcare for people living with and affected by HIV.

These overviews are intended to be lead-ins to the Oral Testimonies of Positive women that PSA has compiled. The applicants can be working journalists or freelancers with in-depth interest in the subject, the region and HIV/AIDS reportage, as one of the prime objectives of PSA fellowships is to foster opportunities for the media to engage in research and placing it in the public sphere.

Each fellowship grant is of 50,000 INR(tax deductible);a travel allowance of 30,000 INR against actuals is also available.

The fellowship is open to Indian journalists and runs from September 5th 2010 to October 30th 2010. Applicants are requested to send in two samples of their work along with their bio-data to panos@panosindia.org with the subject HIV/AIDS print fellowships no later than August 31st 2010.

खामोश रात ...
आज की रात उन बहुत सी रातों से अलग
ज्यादा खामोशी के साथ मेरे मन पर
उनके होने की दस्तक लगातार बार-बार
चांद भी नहीं था यहां रोशनी के लिए
आंखों की खोज जारी थी फिर भी चांदनी के लिए

मैं मन ही मन उनसे बातें करती
और जवाब देती उन सवालों के
जो कभी पूछे ही नहीं गए
अब गुत्थीयां सुलझ गई थीं
जो उलझनें बनी उनके सामने
नजर आती थी मेरे चेहरे पर

एक नहीं कई बार ऐसा ही हुआ
और आंखों ही आंखों में रात गुजर गई...

Fellowship for a human rights activist - semester at Colby College in Maine (US)

Dear Colleague,

Can you think of a human rights activist (or an organization where one might be working) in need of a short respite from on the ground human rights work? I am pleased to announce a call for nominations for the 2011 Oak Human Rights Fellowship, sponsored by the Oak Institute for the Study of International Human Rights at Colby College in Waterville, Maine (USA). The fellowship is a one-semester appointment for a scholar-in-residence. It is designed to provide human rights practitioners doing "on-the-ground" work at some level of personal risk a respite from front-line duties to enable them to reflect, write, and communicate their work to our campus community. We are writing to ask your help in identifying the Oak fellow for the fall of 2011.

Each year, we target our search for a human rights activist either regionally or functionally. This year, the focus of our search is for a frontline human rights activist who works outside the USA on problems created by or associated with poverty.

In this call, we highlight our concern about the physical and emotional violence, the potential loss of security and dignity, often associated with deprivation. Our next Oak Fellow will work to promote human rights threatened by poverty. Such rights include but are not limited to: the right to work in safe conditions and earn an adequate and stable income; access to basic food and shelter; freedom from forced evictions; access to adequate health care and medical attention; access to basic services and infrastructure; the right to a healthy and safe living environment, including access to clean drinking water; access to education; freedom from discrimination based on class or income.

The appointment is for the fall semester of 2011 (September through mid December). Responsibilities include participation in a lecture series or symposium in the Fellow's area of expertise and regular interaction with Colby students through a one credit non-graded discussion class. The College provides a stipend of $32,000, plus transportation, housing, health care coverage, and other fringe benefits. We encourage the fellow to bring family through limited financial support for their travel as well.

To identify candidates for our annual search, we rely heavily on nominations from NGOs, other journalists, human rights lawyers, and academics -- you are most likely to know of the work of on-the-ground professionals. Since your network has been active in the field of human rights or migration, we would like to solicit your nominations for the fellowship. Please submit nominations to us no later than November 1, 2010. We will contact nominee(s) and encourage him or her to apply; you might also suggest that your nominee(s) apply directly. Your nomination letter(s) will become part of the applicant's file, underscoring your recognition of this person's important contributions to human rights. The deadline for completed applications is December 15, 2010. For more information and application materials, please access our web page atwww.colby.edu/oak ; we call your attention to the frequently asked questions sidebar to clarify terms and eligibility.

Sincerely,

Walter Hatch
Associate Professor of Government and Director of the Oak Institute for the Study of Human Rights
Colby College
5300 Mayflower Hill
Waterville, ME 04901

WAVE supports REDEFINE:FREEDOM - a participatory video project

Freedom is indicative of Free Will; of the right- God-given, Nature-blessed, Constitutionally-protected- to decide. It is the freedom of expression, the freedom of choice, the freedom to express that choice.

We have been free from British rule for sixty three years. But sixty three years on, how do we define freedom? What is freedom to you? To the world around you?
Are you free? Why do you think you’re free? Why do you think you’re not?

A woman in Manipur wishes the Indian Army would just leave.

A farmer, somewhere, wishes that he could retain the right to say ‘No’ to Genetically Modified seeds.

Someone in a relief camp in Gujarat wishes that they could go back home.

And someone, somewhere wonders that while there may be sixteen brands of bottled water, do we really have to pay for water.

A Naga girl back in Bombay wonders when they will stop asking her, “Which country are you from?”

Freedom, sometimes, is simply when families accept the fact of your sexual orientation.

Here’s the proposal: we’re soliciting videos. Off cell-phones, off high-def cameras. A succession of still images. One shot. Archive footage. A testimonial to a webcam. Shoot yourself. Shoot for someone who doesn’t have access to a camera and internet.

It’s simply an idea. Hoping to attract other ideas. Trying to become a bigger idea.

All we’re seeking is a definition of ‘Freedom’. In one sentence. We’ll take what we get; three films, seven films, eight hundred and seven clips and we’ll put it together as a film and upload it on the 15th of August, 2010.

Put your name on it. And tell us where you’re from.

The rest is down to your imagination. And the identity of the country that only you know.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Send in your images/videos to: redefinefreedom@gmail.com

Send in your videos by the 10th of August 2010 and we'll string them together and put them up on the 15th (hopefully!).

If your videos are in a regional language, do send us the text translated to English or Hindi

For large file sizes try the following websites:

- www.yousendit.com
- www.transferbigfiles.com
- www.sendspace.com

Dear Friends,

HAPPY FRIENDSHIPS DAY to you all

aVni :)