Reporting Rural Poverty and Agricultural Development - Call to journalists

"In order to ensure the daily issues faced by rural poor people and their communities are acknowledged, it is important that their stories are heard and their voices are amplified."

The Thomson Reuters Foundation, with funding and support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), brings together journalists from around the world in Rome to attend the IFAD Governing Council. The objective is to: "build specific expertise and increase familiarity and knowledge of issues faced by rural communities; help journalists to present new viewpoints; and promote discussion and dialogue on how small-scale agriculture can respond to the growing demand for food and the essential need to support rural transformation and smallholder agriculture."

ELIGIBILITY

Applicants must be full-time journalists or regular contributors to a media organisation. Applicants must be able to demonstrate a commitment to a career in journalism in their country, and should have at least two years’ professional experience and have a good level in spoken and written English. They must also provide professional evidence of their interest in the field of rural peoples’ issues and development.

FUNDING

Thomson Reuters Foundation, through IFAD funding and support, offers full bursaries for journalists from developing world countries working for established media organisations. Bursaries would include air travel expenses (economy class), accommodation, local transfers and meals. Participants are responsible for checking their visa requirements and related costs. 

SUBMISSIONS

A short biography of up to 250 words.

Two recent examples of your published work.

A cover letter of no more than 250 words stating why you want to attend this conference.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20 January 2015

[ibimage==33946==small==http://trustorg.force.com/training/training_quiz?cid=Course007706==_bla…]

More information about this course is available here.