NEWS
2012 IPI News Innovation Contest Winners Named
VIENNA, 25th April 2012. The International Press Institute (IPI) has announced the winners of its 2012 News Innovation Contest, sponsored by Google Inc. The projects will collectively enhance online journalism and innovation efforts via news platforms and training across Europe, Africa and the Middle East.
Foroba Blon plans to revolutionise journalism in Mali
The World Wide Web foundation provides an update on its project Voice-Based Citizen Journalism – an IPI News Innovation Contest winner - and briefly analyses the situation faced by local radio stations in Mali.
Two Top Experts join Advisory Board
The IPI News Innovation Contest 2012 has added the Jordan Media Institute Founder and Highway Africa Director to Offer Broad Expertise during the evaluation process.
Discover the Advisory Board here...
Starting a Digital Media Enterprise? Here are some Tips
IPI News Innovation Contest 2011 winner Francois Neal of Media and Digital Enterprise (MADE) talks about challenges in training digital entrepreneurs, and offers advice on starting a digital media enterprise.
‘Majority of People Living in Rural Areas not able to Express their Opinions’
IPI News Innovation Contest 2011 winner Stephane Boyera of Voice-Based Citizen Journalism discusses the challenges involved in bringing technology to rural communities in Africa, and how the Internet improves the lives of the underprivileged.
Interview with Jun Matsushita
Innovation for Innovators
IPI Kicks off News Innovation Contest 2012
We are open for entries!
The International Press Institute (IPI) has opened the call for applications for the IPI News Innovation Contest 2012 and encourages all potential applicants to submit their applications as soon as possible. We advise everyone to read carefully the Terms and Conditions, and FAQ, for guidelines and proposal improvement suggestions.
Deadline is 23 February 2012, 15:00 CET. No exceptions.
Read more here...
7 Experts Evaluate 26 'Finalist' Projects
IPI News Innovation Contest / Advisory Board
The International Press Institute (IPI) is pleased to report that 26 ‘finalist’ IPI News Innovation Contest projects have been reviewed by our Advisory Board. The IPI News Innovation Contest is aimed at advancing the future of digital news by funding new ways to inform communities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
After short-listing more than 300 applications received from across the world, the IPI News Innovation Contest team reduced the number of projects to 71 – from which the 26 finalists were chosen, based on their innovative ideas. The proposals have been under review by a panel of experts from Europe, the Middle East, Africa and the United States during the past few weeks. The experts offered final feedback on the projects they feel should be funded next year.
Read more here...
71 shortlisted projects continue to the next stage
Over 300 Projects Received
IPI has satisfactorily concluded the second phase of the IPI News Innovation Contest, reviewing more than 300 applications from around the world.
Criteria such as the innovation level of the project, the proposed budget, sustainability and the project’s contribution to press freedom online were key aspects in the evaluation process, leaving a total of 71 projects still in the running.
Read more here...
Over 300 Applications Submitted
Assessment Process Begins
IPI has initiated the second phase of the IPI News Innovation Contest, and is reviewing 309 applications from the 23 February - 1 June submission period. The entries came in from all over the world; most, however, were from the contest’s focal regions: Europe, the Middle East and Africa. IPI also received applications from Mexico, the United States, New Zealand and India, among others.
Internet Freedom Discussed at the Council of Europe
by Katitza Rodriguez; originally published on EFFwebsite
Full enjoyment and exercise of fundamental rights and freedoms on the Internet, in particular freedom of expression and access to information, regardless of national boundaries, are essential for genuine democracy. The Internet should be both stable and free from political interference. In this respect, multi-stakeholder collaboration is crucial. Presently there is no one-size-fits-all model for it.
Syrian Government Intensifies Crackdown on Social Media
by Nayana Jayarajan; originally published on www.freemedia.at
Since journalists are prohibited from entering Syria, social media channels like Twitter, Facebook and YouTube have become essential, not only to spread information outside the country, but also as a means for people within the country to communicate with each other.
Read more here...
Social Media used by nearly all Middle East journalists - but only 60% use it for work!
Issued by Insight and MediaSource, 16 May 2011
The traditional media in the Middle East has embraced the use of social media with 95% of the region’s journalists now using Facebook, Twitter and other social media networks, a major survey published today reveals.
However, personal use - such as keeping in touch with family and friends - is the most popular reason for journalists’ use of social media, with just 60% using it as part of their daily working lives and only 35% valuing it as a source of news.
Slovakia Is About To Introduce Wide-Ranging Paid Content
Article by Robert Andrews; originally published on paidContent.org
Nine of Slovakia's main media operators are about to introduce a shared "paywall" service. Its three national broadsheet newspapers, a tabloid, a TV station and two magazines will, from May 2, introduce services supported by Project Piano, a nascent industry-wide paid content technology. Project Piano will charge readers RUR 2.90 per month or EUR 0.99 per week to access multiple news sites from across Slovakia and, eventually perhaps, the neighbouring Czech Republic, giving participating publishers 70 percent of the take...
Read more here...
Contributing To Democracy Through Innovations
Interview with Alison Bethel McKenzie, IPI Director
Press freedom is a core principal of democracy. I would argue that you cannot have one without the other. The issue of press freedom is so important that we believe every nation’s constitution should include it as a fundamental right. In this changing media environment, technology has meant bringing more information to the masses. It has also meant that as media publish and broadcast more and more online, some countries get nervous and move to limit accessibility to the Internet and try to silence those journalists.
Read more here...
