EUROPEAN UNION

OSCE Permanent Council Nr 923

Vienna, 6 September 2012

The European Union recalls its statement of 26 July about tensions in the Gorno-Badakshan Autonomous Region of Tajikistan.

We remain concerned about the situation and urge the Tajik authorities to allow early access to the region for international organizations and diplomatic missions. Given its mandate for early warning and conflict prevention and its broad field presence in Tajikistan, the OSCE could play an important role in assisting the Tajik authorities.

We call on the Tajik authorities to ensure transparent investigations into the recent killings of the Head of the Gorno-Badakshan branch of the Islamic Revival Party of Tajikistan, Mr Sabzali Mamadrizoev and the former field commander of the United Tajik Opposition, Mr Imumnazar Imumnazarov. We call for due legal process to be followed in any trials of those detained as a result of recent events.

A number of websites in Tajikistan remain blocked. We recall the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media’s statement of 27 July when she noted that “blocking is a restriction on free media and, most importantly, deprives citizens of their right to know, to receive and impart information about developments in their own country”. The EU calls on the Tajik authorities to lift these restrictions to allay any misunderstandings that inevitably emerge when access to information is restricted.

www.eeas.europa.euu/delegations/vienna

Experienced journalists worldwide who wish to learn more about democracy can apply for a fellowship.

The Washington-based National Endowment for Democracy (NED) invites journalists to apply to be part of the 2013-2014 Reagan-Fascell Democracy Fellows Program. This federally funded program enables democracy activists, practitioners, scholars and journalists to deepen their understanding of democracy and enhance their ability to promote democratic change. Selected applicants will be in residence at the National Endowment for Democracy in either Fall 2013 (October 1, 2013–February 28, 2014) or Spring 2014 (March 1–July 31, 2014).

The program is intended primarily to support practitioners, scholars and journalists from developing and aspiring democracies; but distinguished scholars from established democracies may also apply. Projects may focus on the political, social, economic, legal and cultural aspects of democratic development and may include a range of methodologies and approaches.

All fellows receive a monthly fellowship payment, health insurance, travel assistance at the beginning and end of their fellowship, and research support. Awardees my not receive concurrent funding from the Endowment or its family of institutes during the fellowship period. The program does not fund professional training, fieldwork or students working towards a degree. A working knowledge of English is required.

The application deadline is October 15.

For more information, click here: http://www.ned.org/fellowships/reagan-fascell-democracy-fellows-program

http://www.ned.org/fellowships/reagan-fascell-democracy-fellows-program

Photojournalists worldwide can participate in this contest.

Kepesita is accepting submissions for its 2012 Hitchhiking Photography Contest, which aims to highlight the cultural aspects of hitchhiking.

Hitchhiking can be viewed as a gate to different cultures and local communities through people, as a «greener» way of traveling, as an adventure, as a lifestyle, as a low-budget way to get around built on a simple human gesture and trust, or as a feared and in some places forbidden way of traveling.

Photographers are invited to submit images that are clearly related to hitchhiking. The photographs must be submitted electronically.

The first-place winner will receive US$500; the second-place winner will receive US$200; and the third-place winner will receive US$100.

The deadline for submissions is September 30.

For more information, click here: http://www.kepesita.org/details.htm

http://www.kepesita.org/details.htm

Professionals and amateur photographers can enter a contest.

Photographs submitted for judging have the chance to appear in an upcoming edition of National Geographic. The complete guidelines for submitting photos are available here.

Each day, editors pick a dozen top photos which are then voted on by readers of the website to arrive at the best photo of the month.

Any nationality may participate, but photographers must be over the age of 18. Photos can be digital or digital scans and only one entry is permitted per person in the monthly contest. All winners retain ownership of copyright.

The submission deadline is September 14.

For more information, click here: http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/your-shot/your-shot

Investigative journalists can apply for a reporting grant.

The grants, sponsored by the Fund for Investigative Journalism, are intended to support investigative projects around the world.

The average award is US$5,000, which should cover out-of-pocket expenses such as travel costs. The Fund does not cover grantees’ salaries or equipment. The first half of the grant is given once an application is approved and the second half is paid when the project is complete.

All proposals must be submitted in English and include a detailed budget.

If the proposed project addresses an issue that has already been in the news, the applicant must acknowledge the work previously done, and explain how the project would break new ground.

The deadline is September 28.

For more information, click here: http://fij.org/fij-seeks-grant-proposals-2/

http://fij.org/fij-seeks-grant-proposals-2/

Experienced journalists who are fluent in Persian and English can apply for this position.

BBC Monitoring is seeking a media analyst promote the understanding of media sources and the media environment in Iran. The successful candidate will provide insight into the use of traditional and new media there, by producing analyses, features, background briefings and media guides.

The media analyst will act as a point of reference on issues related to the Iranian media, and speak on behalf of BBC Monitoring in public forums. The analyst will be expected to anticipate developments related to Iran and the Iranian media, and to contribute to forward planning of key monitoring events.

Applicants should have substantial research experience and a proven track record of publishing features and analyses in English, in reputable online media outlets. The candidate must have excellent knowledge of international affairs and politics, especially in relation to Iran, and will also have significant journalistic and translation experience.

The application deadline is August 30.

For more information, click here: https://careers.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?newms=jj&id=44264&newlang=1

https://careers.bbc.co.uk/fe/tpl_bbc01.asp?newms=jj&id=44264&newlang=1

Russian filmmakers worldwide can participate in this contest.

Russian national film and television competition Lavrovaya Vetv was established by the Union of Cinematographers of the Russian Federation and Documentary Film and Television Industry Guild.

Filmmakers from around the world can enter, but submissions must be in Russian. Submitted films must be unreleased, and production must have been completed no earlier than July 15, 2011.

Participation is free.

The deadline for submissions is September 10.

For more information, click here: http://www.lavrdoc.ru/

http://www.lavrdoc.ru/

ASTANA — The independent Kazakh media-rights organization Adil Soz says an opposition Kazakh journalist has been severely beaten by unknown assailants in Astana.

The group said Ularbek Baitailaq was attacked near his house early on August 8.

It said Baitailaq sustained severe injuries and was currently being treated in a hospital.

Baitailaq, who is a Kazakh National Archive employee, has contributed articles to the opposition «Dat» weekly, the «Chetvyortaya vlast» newspaper, and the «Altyn Tamyr» magazine.

The city police department has so far been unavailable for comment.

Opposition and independent journalists are often targeted by unknown attackers in Kazakhstan.

Four months ago, Lukpan Akhmedyarov, a journalist in the western city of Oral, survived an attack by unknown assailants who stabbed him and shot him with a pneumatic pistol.

http://www.rferl.org/content/kazkah-journalist-attacked/24671363.html

Arts journalists worldwide are eligible for this award.

The International Anthony Burgess Foundation, in collaboration with The Observer, is accepting applications for the Observer/Anthony Burgess Prize for Arts Journalism.

The prize will award the best writing on new work in the arts that has not previously been published, whether in print or on the internet. The winning essay might take the form of an interview or profile of a writer, artist or musician; a piece on a new artistic movement or venture; or a review of a book, film, a concert, a ballet or a stage play. The word limit for entries is 1,500.

When choosing the winner, the judges will be looking for imaginative, original, and thought-provoking arts journalism that would be suitable for publication in the Observer. They will be looking for emerging talent, innovative approaches and writing from outside the mainstream, and are especially interested in entries from those who have not previously had work published by major media organizations.

The winner will receive £2,000 (about US$3,109). The entry fee is GBP£10 (about US$15.5).

The application deadline is September 15.

For more information, click here: http://www.anthonyburgess.org/about-the-foundation/observer-competition

http://www.anthonyburgess.org/about-the-foundation/observer-competition

Journalists worldwide can participate in a day of events dedicated to media ethics.

The Center for International Media Ethics (CIME) presents the second International Media Ethics Day — an opportunity for the journalism community to gather online and in person to discuss ethical dilemmas.

Journalists can participate in a one-day online J-ethinomics course. A combination of journalism, ethics and economics, the course teaches how ethics builds trust in news that sustains demand economically.

Other online events include hourly blog posts, discussion forums and the announcement of the CIME film contest winner.

Events will be held in Romania, Russia, Vanuatu, Afghanistan, Pakistan, Germany, Peru, Ghana and Benin.

For more information, click here: http://www.cimethics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88

http://www.cimethics.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=88