For your Agenda
January to 1 February 2004 - International Film Festival Rotterdam
Of the 16 selected films for the VPRO Tiger Awards Competition, 5 were produced with the support of the Hubert Bals Fonds. Hivos works closely with this fund to support filmmakers from developing countries.
More information on www.iffr.nl
New study on southern africa media laws launched
The Nelson Mandela Institute has published a new study on media laws in four southern African
countries, which should be a welcome resource for press-freedom campaigners and journalists in the region, reports IJNet (www.ijnet.org).
"SADC Media Law: A Handbook for Media Practitioners" gives a detailed overview of media laws and journalistic practices in Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe. It surveys each country's media landscape and analyses laws governing press freedom, including those concerning access to information, defamation and privacy.
The study also outlines the regulatory structures controlling print and electronic media in each
country, as well as ethical codes used by journalists. Interviews with various journalists provide a
glimpse into the challenges facing the media.
Funded by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung (KAS), a German foundation, the study will include other southern African countries in upcoming years.
The handbook is available in print or electronic PDF format from KAS. Visit:
http://www.kasmedia.org/PublicationsIndex.asp
Contact KAS by telephone (+27-11) 214-2900 or by E-mail: g.neujahr@kas.org.za .
For more information on the Mandela Institute, visit:
http://wwwserver.law.wits.ac.za/mandela/mandela1.htm
Amnesty seeks nominations for global journalism award
Amnesty International is inviting non-governmental organisations (NGO) to submit nominations for the 2004 Global Award for Human Rights Journalism. The award recognises the best article written anywhere in the world that raises awareness and understanding of human rights issues on a local, national or international level.
NGO's can submit up to three entries. Each entry must comprise one article published in a newspaper, magazine, journal or on the Internet between 1 March 2003 and 28 February 2004.
Articles can be in any language, but must be accompanied by an English translation. A copy of the article in its original published form should be included. If sent by e-mail, precise details of
publication should be included.
Entries will be judged by an international panel of experts, who will announce the winner at the
Amnesty International Media Awards in London, England, on 13 May 2004. Entries from journalists, newspapers or other media will not be accepted. The deadline for nominations is 1 March 2004.
Send nominations to: Alex Grace, Amnesty International Media Awards, 99-119 Rosebery Avenue, London EC1R 4RE; E-mail: alex.grace@amnesty.org.uk