European Media Work Exchanges

The MARS programme builds upon previous actions and recommendations made by Council of Europe bodies regarding media pluralism, diversity, fight against discrimination, and intercultural dialogue. Regarding the wide range of media productions, it will focus, though not exclusively, on sport media coverage. If Sport is a major field of investment for the media production and is an important area for building social cohesion, it can be a source of tensions between groups, communities, or even nations.

By working with all the media actors and by making them work together, MARS offers a way of exchanging and fostering intercultural dialogue between the various groups of the public within the media reach. In this sense, the MARS programme wants to foster mutual understanding, to counter stereotypes and to reduce discriminatory and racist attitudes.

To go towards achieving this outcome, the MARS programme is offering media professionals (journalism students and trainers, journalists, media managers, etc.) the opportunity to participate in European Media Work Exchanges.

The MARS Media Work Exchanges are a unique opportunity for media professionals, and future ones, to widen the scope of their media practices and contact pools.

Media professionals will have the opportunity to host a media colleague/counterpart and be hosted themselves by a media related organisation in return (training organisations, media, self-regulatory and regulatory bodies, professional unions… ) to exchange professional experience and to produce together with the participating colleague, a common output (training exercises, media reports, case studies, etc.).

To help with the process, the Council of Europe will provide participants the financial and logistics support to travel and work with European Union colleagues in 10-day work exchanges (5 days as guest / 5 days as host).

Where can you do your Media Work Exchange ?
In any of the 27 member states, apart from your own state, knowing preference will be given to participants coming from priority countries chosen by the MARS joint programme. These are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom.

When can you do your Media Work Exchange ?
Any time between October 2011 and November 2012 once you have found someone to partner with; please note that November 2012 will be dedicated to the second/return leg of the 5-day session of the Media Work Exchanges. 

Eligibility

A/ In the field of Journalism & Media Training & Literacy, priority will be given to:

• Journalism and/or Media Trainer/Teacher/Lecturer,
• Professionals and staff members of regulatory bodies (Press councils, audiovisual regulatory bodies), of media professional unions (of journalists, editors and broadcasters…), of human rights, anti-discrimination and anti-racism bodies, of sport clubs, of sports persons’ unions and of sport associations.

B/ For Ethics & Editorial Management, priority will be given to:

• Managing Editor, Executive Editor, Deputy Managing Editor, Publisher, Editorial Operations Director, etc. belonging to any kind of media support,
• Professionals and staff members of regulatory bodies (Press councils, audiovisual regulatory bodies), of media professional unions (of journalists, editors and broadcasters…), of human rights, anti-discrimination and anti-racism bodies, of sport clubs, of sports persons’ unions and of sport associations, in particular Communication and press officers and managers, public relations officers and managers linked to human rights, anti-discrimination and anti-racism bodies, sport clubs, sports persons’ unions and sport associations.

C/ For Media Cross-Production, priority will be given to:

• Journalist, Photographers, Photo journalist and Journalism Student linked to any kind of media support,
•  Communication & press officers and managers, public relations officers and managers linked to human rights, anti-discrimination and anti-racism bodies, sport clubs, sports persons’ unions and sport associations.

Any media professional listed in the application form can apply for any kind of Media Work Exchange. We have indicated on the application who might be best to benefit from the Media Work Exchanges; however arrangements are flexible so feel free to advise. 

Remuneration

For any participant accepting these conditions, the Council of Europe will:

• Provide a prepaid flight or train ticket economy class for each of the MARS Media Work Exchange participants
• Cover living expenses through a fixed €310 grant for each of the 5 days period to MARS Media Work Exchange Participants
• Layout and design of the output
• Publish the output on the MARS website in the two Council of Europe official languages.

Application

There are two ways to participate in the Media Work Exchange programme:

•  You can apply directly on behalf of yourself and another participant in European media organisation of your choice if you have already defined a common project.
• Otherwise the Council of Europe will support each motivated applicant to find a possible applicant partner in one of the EU countries.

Apply by filling in the application form

 

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