Happy World Radio Day!

February 13, 2015 /connektivism/ Today, Febuary 13 is World Radio Day - a day to celebrate radio as the most universal medium, used by 95% of world's population. It is also a day to improve international cooperation between broadcasters, and to encourage major networks and community radio alike to promote access to information and freedom of expression over the airwaves. 

Radio is the mass media reaching the widest audience in the world. It is also recognized as a powerful communication tool and a low cost medium. Radio is specifically suited to reach remote communities and vulnerable people: the illiterate, the disabled, women, youth and the poor, while offering a platform to intervene in the public debate, irrespective of people’s educational level. Furthermore, radio has a strong and specific role in emergency communication and disaster relief.

There is also a changing face to radio services which, in the present times of media convergence, are taking up new technological forms, such as broadband, mobiles and tablets. However, it is said that up to a billion people still do not have access to radio today.

For more information visit the official website of the World Radio Day: http://www.worldradioday.org/

Photo: Jos Verhoogen

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Training in radio, TV and online reporting with BBC's 'World Service- Future Voices' in London, United Kingdom

January 28, 2015 /connektivism/ 

Deadline:  15 February 2015

Open to: (aspiring) journalists 

Venue: 2 March – 27 March and 22 June – 17 July 2015, London, United Kingdom

Description

The BBC is launching a new work experience program based in the World Service languages. The program includes a weeklong training in radio, tv and online reporting, followed by a three-week stint in a language service.

We’re starting a work experience scheme based in the World Service languages.  The World Service is one of the world’s leading news broadcasters – we have twenty-nine languages at the moment, including English.  The World Service Group, all the international parts of the BBC, has a weekly audience of over 265 million people around the world.  The BBC reports from more locations than any other international broadcaster, and increasingly we’re training up bilingual reporters, who can bring us the story in English and another language.   We’re trusted and respected by our audiences, and we’re a multi-media broadcaster, on radio, TV, online and via mobiles.  In 2014, we launched TV bulletins in ten languages, in addition to our long-established Persian channel and 24 hour Arabic TV.  We’re a dynamic, ambitious, challenging news organisation bringing the world’s stories to BBC News, at New Broadcasting House in the heart of London. 

Eligibility

Aspiring journalists can apply for this training program in London. You must be over 18, and available to work on the dates stated.  

You must be fluent in speaking, reading and writing in both English and one of the following languages:

Arabic, Azerbaijani, Bengali, Burmese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Dari, English, French, Kinyarwanda/Kirundi, Kiswahili, Kyrgyz, Hausa, Hindi, Indonesian, Nepali, Pashto, Persian, Portuguese, Russian, Sinhala, Somali, Spanish, Tamil, Thai, Turkish, Ukrainian, Urdu, Uzbek, Vietnamese 

Costs

You won’t be paid, but if you are from outside London, BBC will give you accommodation, and pay your living expenses.  If you are from London, BBC will pay for your travel and lunch expenses.

Closing Date is 15 February, 2015

Website: http://careerssearch.bbc.co.uk/jobs/job/World-Service-Future-Voices/10454

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Content Strategy for Professionals: Engaging Audiences for Your Organization - A free online course #MOOC

January 17, 2015 /connektivism/ Content strategy practitioners know how to use words, pictures, video, social, and mobile media to interact with users. Developed by Northwestern University, the Content Strategy MOOC teaches you how to better understand your audiences. It also focuses on ways to develop strategic content to convey and achieve important goals.

The Content Strategy MOOC is for professionals at all levels of a for-profit, non-profit, volunteer or government organization who want to significantly improve their abilities to understand audiences and develop strategic words, pictures, graphics, and videos to convey their organization’s most important goals.

Course at a glance:

March 30, 2015 - May 10, 2015 (6 weeks of study)

2-4 hours of work / week

English

English subtitles

Instructors:

John Lavine, Northwestern University

Candy Lee, Northwestern University

Link: https://www.coursera.org/course/contentstrategy

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Google celebrates Franz Kafka's 130th birthday

July 7, 2013 /connektivism/ Google Doodle celebrates the life of Franz Kafka who was born 130 years ago on this day and was considered one of the most influential authors of the 20th century.

The Google Doodle reflects one of Kafka’s best known works, namely “The Metamorphosis.” The company chose to include vermin instead of regular letters, while the character that steps through the door resembles the novel’s main character. 

Kafka is known for the uniqueness of his works and the Google Doodle clearly illustrates this aspect of the writer. Kafka's other famous works include the novels "The Trial," "The Castle" as well as short stories "In the Penal Colony" and "A Hunger Artist".

Kafka, who was born in Prague in 1883, died in 1924 near Vienna at just 40 years of age.

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