World Perspectives: Minority Voices

World Perspectives: Minority Voices – a conference for young media makers that will take place in Budapest, Hungary, on 22-28 April, 2013 – will bring together 26 young media makers, from across Europe, to study how the international news media portrays issues affecting minorities, migrants and refugees. Participants will learn through practice based training, to critically analyse different forms of news media and also to further develop their own skills to more effectively participate in the creation of responsible media. In particular, the study session will motivate and enable young media makers to develop strategies to ensure minorities, migrants and refugees are themselves able to influence how issues affecting them are portrayed in the news.

Project Aim

The project aims to support civil society in the participants’ countries by raising their awareness about biased information presented in mass media and developing their competences as young media makers.

After the study session, participants will:

• Have greater awareness of issues affecting minorities, migrants and refugees in Europe.
• Know how to recognise and quantify biases that appear in the media and in political discourse.
• Be able to apply improved media and journalistic skills to develop responsible and balanced news media.
• Be able to develop improved strategies to ensure the participation of minority, migrant and refugee communities within mainstream media.

The study session will also seek to work with participants to establish a platform for young media makers in Europe, working on issues relating to minorities. As well as develop networking opportunities between young media makers.

Participant Profile

The study session is planned for 26 participants. This call is open to legal residents in countries which are members of the Council of Europe. We aim to give priority to participants from the following countries: Belarus, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Georgia, Hungary, Italy, The Netherlands, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, and Ukraine. Young media makers of minority backgrounds are especially encouraged to apply. Participants should be between 18-30 years old. Participants should be active or able to show a demonstrated interest in any of the following; journalism and media, working with young people, human rights, issues relating to minority, migrant and refugee communities and also the Middle East and North Africa. These can include, for example:

• Young journalists and media makers, working in the field of news media
• Representatives of civil society and youth organisations, working to involve young people in different forms of media
• Representatives of civil society organisations working on human rights issues, especially those related to minority, migrant and refugee rights
• Young leaders from minority, migrant and refugee communities, who wish to learn how to better represent their community in the media

Priority will be given to those applications from participants, who, as well as showing an active commitment to the study sessions topics, can demonstrate they are able to act as multipliers and are able to develop effective strategies to share their learning with the organisations and communities they represent.

Selection of participants will take into account both geographical and gender balance, and will seek to ensure a diverse range of participants. We actively encourage applications from participants from minority, migrant and refugee communities, in particular those from Middle East and North African backgrounds.

The language of the study session will be English; therefore participants should feel confident in working in English, including drafting articles and other media.

Financial Information

The study session is supported financially by the Council of Europe and will be held at the European Youth Centre in Budapest. International travel costs will be covered 100% and reimbursed to participants during the training. Accommodation, all meals and local transport will also be provided for in Budapest.

A 50-Euro participation fee will be charged by the European Youth Centre and will be deducted from the participant travel reimbursements. Although travel costs will be reimbursed, participants will be expected to make and book their own travel arrangements.

Application and Deadline

Deadline: February 3rd, 2013, 24:00.

Please submit the following:

• Your CV
• 2 media clips (of any type) (media clips that are not in English should have an English summary).

to Katarzyna Mortoń at k.morton@youthpress.org 

The study session is organised by European Youth Press - www.youthpress.org, Minority Rights Group Europe – www.minorityrights.org, and Concordia International in cooperation with the Youth Department of the Council of Europe.