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Final
Call for Applications: Media Sponsorship to
cover UNCCD Events
This
is the final call for applications from
journalists requiring sponsorship to cover the
14th Session of the Conference of the Parties to
the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (2-3
September) and the World Day to Combat
Desertification (16-19 June). Selected
journalists, based on the terms set out in the
call below that was issued on 12 April 2019 will
receive a return air ticket and financial
support to cover food and accommodation for the
duration of the events, in accordance with UN
rules and procedures. The submission for
application will close as scheduled on
Sunday, 28 April 2019 at 11:59pm CET.
There will be no extension. Application and
attachments that are over 10MB will not get
through. ------------ The
selected journalists will be sponsored to cover
and report on the high-level
global observance event on 17 June 2019, to
mark World
Day to Combat Desertification and a
celebration of 25 years since establishment of
the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. The
event will take place in Ankara, Turkey, and
will be held in conjunction with the International
Soil Congress. The second event is the 14th
session of the Conference of the Parties
will take place on 2-13 September 2019, in New
Delhi, India.
This
is a long capacity-building initiative,
therefore journalists with an interest in
drought, land use and management issues that are
available to cover these events are especially
encouraged to apply, and indicate their
availability.
Sponsored
journalists are expected to publish independent
articles as long as they pertain to these events
and their issues of focus. However, they will be
required to participate in all the media
activities taking place at the venues, which are
designed to enhance their reporting, for
example, workshops, briefings, press conferences
and field trips. Detailed information about
COP14 will be issued later. These
capacity-building activities will be developed
with experienced independent media trainers.
Journalists
from Turkey are also encouraged to apply. A
number of seats at the workshop and the field
trip are reserved for successful applicants
based in Ankara.
Selection
Criteria
A:
Journalists meeting the criteria below stand a
high chance of selection.
- A
demonstrable history of publishing media stories
about desertification, land degradation and/or
drought, and related issues, subjects and topics
- Ability
to publish for global media
- Proficiency
in English (the main language of the WDCD and
Soil Congress). Ability to publish in a second
UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Spanish
and Russian) will be a clear advantage.
- Evidence
of publishing articles after conferences
- Availability
to cover the UNCCD Conference of the Parties in
New Delhi, 2-13 September 2019 is an advantage
B:
Each applicant must submit a
complete application:
- A
self-introductory letter with a request for
financial support, specifying which events s/he
will cover
- A
copy of a press card or other equivalent
official documentation confirming professional
status
- Copies
of the picture and signature pages of a passport
that is valid up to 15 March 2020
- Employer’s
authorization to participate and cover the
meetings, for full-time employees
C:
Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit
independent proof of the competencies above, for
example:
- Links
of published articles - more is better
- A
letter of support from a sub/editor of a global
outlet with whom the applicant has published
before
- A
letter from an editor committing to publish
articles submitted by the journalist on these
events
- Reference
letters from UN colleagues whose events they
have reported about
While
preference will be given to developing country
journalists, consideration will be given to
applicants from all Parties to the UNCCD, and a
balanced representation of the Convention’s
regional groupings, namely, (i) Africa, (ii)
Asia, (iii) Latin America and the Caribbean,
(iv) Northern Mediterranean, (v) Central and
Eastern Europe, and (vi) Western Europe and
Others Group (WEOG).
Journalists
who qualify for WDCD sponsorship will be
considered for COP14 sponsorship. However, their
sponsorship to cover COP14 will depend both on
the availability of resources and performance in
covering the World Day events. For journalists
in formal employment, a support document showing
pre-authorization to cover COP14 will be an
important consideration.
The
complete request for sponsorship should be sent
to pr...@unccd.int
by 11:59 pm Central European Time (CET)
on Sunday, 28 April
2019.
https://www.unccd.int/news-events/call-applications-media-sponsorship-cover-unccd-events |
