Heading: an Ice-Breaker for Journalists

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AN ICE-BREAKER FOR JOURNALISTS

A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO LEARN, REPORT AND NETWORK

INTERNATIONAL FEDERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL JOURNALISTS (IFEJ) CONGRESS

Theme: Bridging North-South Differences in Reporting Climate Change

Venue: New Delhi, October 28-30, 2009

IFEJ, a global network with journalists from nearly 70 countries and founded in Dresden, Germany in 1993 ( in collaboration with the Forum of Environmental Journalists of India (FEJI) and CMS Academy of Communication and Convergence Studies ( New Delhi, is seeking to give 75 professional journalists from around India the opportunity to participate in its 12th congress to contrast how Climate Change is reported in our region and in the West. The meeting will provide a great opportunity to share your views and experiences with journalists from around Asia, Europe and America who report on the issue, to learn about adaptation methods that pertain to South Asian conditions and to subsequently report on them. The meeting will also provide a unique North-South perspective on climate change negotiations, prior to the key UN Climate Change conference (COP15) at Copenhagen in December 2009. The congress is supported by Denmark, the COP15 host country.

The Congress, which will be held concurrently with the 5th CMS VATAVARAN – Environment and Wildlife Film Festival, will also be followed by an exciting six-day all-expenses-paid field trip to Leh in Ladakh from October 31 to November 5, offering journalists an exclusive opportunity to film, photograph and write on Himalayan glacial melt. Seats for this opportunity however are very limited and selected participants need to indicate their interest in the trip with their applications.

Adapting to Climate Change:

There will be a special session on Climate Change and Adaptation during the Congress to accommodate a smaller number of applicants (within the total of 75 sponsored participants), which will be followed up with 2 field trips (one to a drought-prone and one to a flood-prone region) in India. Applicants should cite whether they are specifically interested in being briefed during the Congress about Climate Change and Adaptation Adaptation and either field trip.

Sustainable Transport:

A smaller number of Indian applicants (within the total of 75 sponsored participants) may cite whether they are specifically interested in being briefed on October 29 for the full day during the Congress about the Delhi Bus Rapid Transit System and the media coverage of it, which will include a trip to a Delhi BRTS site. Preference will be given in this category to city reporters and journalists from Mumbai, Bhopal, Indore, Pune, Vishakhapatnam, Ahmedabad and Jaipurwhere BRTS has been, or is being, introduced.

Computer-Assisted Reporting:

Out of Plenary sessions at the Congress, IFEJ, with the collaboration of trainers from the Norwegian Institute of Journalism, is also facilitating training of journalists – including media studies faculty and a few students – in tools like Using the Web for Investigative Journalism and Excel. The workshop is supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Journalists and media faculty/students who specifically register for these sessions will be participating. Only Journalists having their own laptops are eligible to be invited for this session. Applicants should indicate their interest in these sessions.

Financial Support:

IFEJ will pay airfare, hotel and board for all selected participants from outside. Selected participants will be required to commit to either two stories or one broadcast clip after the event. Application details are below.

Eligibility: Professional journalists, including freelancers. Please indicate which publication you work for, scan and send us your ID from the publication. For freelance journalists, please provide a credible media reference with telephone number/email, preferably the editor of the publication you write for.

Requirements. Please send by email:

a) Filled in application form (enclosed in PDF format or click on to download the form)

b) A copy of your professional ID or a credible media reference with telephone contacts as per the application form.

b) Print & Online journalists: Either two published stories on climate change or any environmental story as close as possible to this theme, both in full and its links online. Scanned copies of articles will also do. Only soft copies of material are acceptable, clearly indicating source and date.

c) Broadcast journalists: One clip on Climate Change or any story as close as possible to this theme.

Application deadline: Early Bird: 15th July,2009. Final date: 30th July, 2009.

Application to be sent to: with subject line as ‘IFEJ application INDIAN’.

For any queries, please contact: Keya Acharya, FEJI Vice Chairperson: /

or Landline: + 91 80-2559 4597 or visit or