Call for Participants

“Painting a Fairer Picture: Improving the Coverage of Ethnic and other Minorities”

A distance learning journalism course for media professionals and bloggers from Central Asia

Transitions Online (TOL), a Prague-based international publishing and media development organization and partner site of neweurasia, is currently offering a distance course, focused on covering minority issues. The course was developed by TOL, specifically for the region of Central Asia.

Applications will be accepted from media professionals and citizen journalists from any of the countries of Central Asia (Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkmenistan). Citizens of those countries that are currently resident elsewhere are also invited to apply.

Participation is free of charge.

During the course participants will take 5 theoretical modules. Each module consists of a text on a specific subject, questions about the text, and a practical task (writing exercises). Throughout the course an experienced trainer will answer any questions from participants and provide detailed feedback on the written assignments. The working language is Russian.

The duration of the distance-learning course is 5 weeks.

Participants that successfully finish the course will be awarded TOL certificates and those that score the best will be eligible for fully funded places at TOL journalism training courses in Prague.. Also, successful participants will be offered an opportunity to become paid contributors on Central Asian issues to TOL’s award-winning Internet magazine (www.tol.org).

The National Endowment for Democracy – a private, nonprofit organization created in 1983 to strengthen democratic institutions around the world – funds this project.

To learn more and to register http://www.tol.org/client/training/course/21726-painting-a-fairer-picture-improving-the-coverage-of-ethnic-and-other-minorities.html

You can apply submitting your CV and cover letter to  <balanovskayal@tol.org>

Please provide a 600-word statement of interest explaining why you would like to attend the training.

1. Explain why you should be selected for this course.
2. Indicate your intention to apply knowledge gained during the course.
3. Suggest a current problem in minority coverage in Central Asia.

For any questions, please contact Larisa Balanovskaya balanovskayal@tol.org.

Applications are accepted until September 20th, 2010.