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(June 27 – August 3, 2023)

Introduction

Media and Journalism Webinars is a virtual certificate program that emphasizes experiential and hands-on learning through intensive workshops, webinars, mentorship, and interactive discussions with professional journalists for hands-on field experience. This program aims to prepare journalism students and young professionals to succeed in their professional careers while fostering experiential learning by translating knowledge and skills into experience through research and article writing that lead to a meaningful understanding of journalism, communications, and the media professions. The webinars provide participants with profound information on up-to-date trend topics and rising opportunities as well as challenges which will empower participants to raise awareness and influence public opinion on various issues of local, national, and global concern. Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth, which is a driver for all other human rights”.

“For three decades, on World Press Freedom Day, the international community has celebrated the work of journalists and media workers. This day highlights a basic truth: all our freedom depends on press freedom.

Freedom of the press is the foundation of democracy and justice. It gives all of us the facts we need to shape opinions and speak truth to power. And as this year’s theme reminds us, press freedom represents the very lifeblood of human rights.”

António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations

As United Nations World Press Freedom Day 2023 highlighted “Freedom of expression is a driver for all other human rights”. According to various media and press institutions that monitor and report on developments and new trends in contemporary media, freedom of expression and the safe space of journalists have been in constant turmoil, particularly in the last decades. Access to independent and credible information is an important pillar for sustainable positive peace. While the rise of digital technologies enables the free flow of information online, it poses new challenges for undemocratic and authoritarian states to attack media members. According to UNESCO, disinformation, and misinformation, both on online and offline outlets underpins the rule of law and human rights for all.

Program Description

The Media and Journalism Webinars certificate program is designed for a cohort of 40-50 journalism students and young professionals who want to make a positive social change as journalists and opinion builders through writing articles and stories on social, economic, political, and environmental issues. This interactive platform aims to reaffirm the role of a pluralistic media, inform young professionals about new challenges media professionals encounter, disseminate best practices of press institutions that empower journalists, and build partnerships to defend media from systemic attacks.

Our summer program will be a blend of engaging discussions with professional speakers and networking with other participants as well as mentorship. Our strategy is to expose participants to journalism and media through networking with media personalities providing an important opportunity to attain advocacy and collaborative skills from experts in journalism, media, and communications across sectors, including the United Nations. Participants will communicate, interact, and exchange ideas about journalism and media studies from multiple perspectives that enrich their learning experiences. The participants will engage in an online interactive discussion on why press freedom matters, the importance of access to public information, the role of freedom of speech and opinion for democracy and the rule of law, investigative journalism to reveal the state-led atrocity crimes, and how a free press facilitates stakeholders to provide inclusive and sustainable solutions to world`s contemporary conflicts, environmental crisis, and gross human rights violations.

As a part of the program, participants are encouraged to write news and opinion articles on a variety of social, economic, political, or environmental topics based on research, interviews, and policy documents from open sources. Participants’ news articles will be published on JWF’s blog and shared with its global partners through mainstream social media platforms for global visibility. This hands-on experience will help participants develop professional and personal growth in media and journalism.

The Media and Journalism Webinars also promote diversity and multiculturalism through social and intellectual engagement among young professionals from diverse backgrounds worldwide. We believe that all participants have the potential to become great leaders and our goal is to inspire them with opportunities for positive social change. It is our shared responsibility to provide equal opportunity and resources for them to fulfill their potential and realize their dreams.

As a part of our mandate and association with the United Nations Department of Global Communications, the Journalists and Writers Foundation is dedicated to the advancement of the culture of peace, human rights, and sustainable development at the local, national, and global levels. The JWF also contributes to the United Nations Global Agenda 2030 by implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals through various programs and projects on social, economic, and environmental issues.

Program Goals:

To provide opportunities for participants to meet professional journalists from different parts of the world
To foster experiential learning through hands-on projects in journalism
To transfer knowledge and skills into practice through research, interviews, and article writing on social, economic, political, and environmental issues
To protect and promote press freedom, human rights and strengthen democratic values
To support the right to access information through independent media outlets

Program Outcomes:

Participants will learn from the practical knowledge and experience of journalists
Participants will have access to a network of media professionals, journalists, and experts
Participants will write new articles that will be published on JWF’s blog and social media
Participants will receive a Certificate of Participation upon completion of the webinars

Program Format

The Media and Journalism Webinars consist of five virtual sessions. Each session will focus on a different contemporary topic in accordance with the latest media reporting and priority working areas underlined by the United Nations agencies and prominent media institutions. Webinars will take place in the form of an interactive discussion as the JWF team will host professional journalists and media experts in their respective fields.

The webinars will be held online via Zoom. Professional journalists and media personalities will discuss the following topics through an interactive dialogue with the participants. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange innovative ideas, and share multiple perspectives on issues while building a network of journalists across the globe.

It is at the center of this program to engage in meaningful engagement and interactive discussions by addressing participants’ questions, comments, and feedback. Therefore, we expect our participants to actively join the sessions from places with strong internet connection and keep their cameras open, if possible, for successful interactions. While facilitating effective engagement is the priority of the program, we certainly understand some situations where visual engagement is not possible.

This webinar series is open for all participations without any discrimination or prejudice based on race, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, age, socioeconomic status, disability, religion, national origin, diversity of thought, and political ideology.

Application

Participation fee of this certificate program is $25 for professionals and $15 for students. Scholarships are available for students based on needs.

Click here to fill out the application form. Application deadline is 5 June 2023, Monday.

After filling out the form, you should receive a confirmation email by 9 June 2023, Friday latest with a link to submit your participation fee.

Please note that completing 3 out of 5 sessions is mandatory to receive a certificate.

CONTACT US

Journalists and Writers Foundation

Phone: +1 (646) 838-4882

E-mail: info@jwf.org

Websites: www.jwf.org | www.jwfAcademy.org