Women's Edition Call for Applications

The Population Reference Bureau (PRB) is inviting applications to Women's Edition. This program, which began in 1993, brings together senior-level women journalists � editors, writers, and producers � from developing countries to examine key topics related to women's reproductive health, development, and population and to increase their news coverage of them. Participants identify the most pressing and timely issues, then collaborate to find the most appropriate ways to cover these in their publications or broadcasts.

Women's Edition offers participating editors, writers, and producers a wonderful opportunity to become part of an international network of leading women journalists interested in women's health and development. In 2004, PRB will host two one-week Women's Edition seminars that will examine key topics in women's reproductive health, development, and population. The seminars will include sessions with health and development professionals, editorial meetings to develop strategies for covering these issues, Internet research training, and site visits where journalists can see innovative programs in action. Women's Edition is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID).

The first week-long seminar of Women's Edition will be hosted in Washington, D.C., in late April 2004 and will cover basic reproductive health issues, including family planning, safe motherhood, and obstacles to women's reproductive health. At that seminar, PRB will invite the Women's Edition participants to identify the location and theme of the next seminar, which will take place in late August or early September 2004. In recent years, Women's Edition seminars have been held in Washington, D.C.; New York; Barcelona, Spain; San Jose, Costa Rica; and Durban, South Africa.

PRB seeks to include women

• Who hold influential editorial positions � senior-level women editors, writers, and producers � with leading media outlets that have large audiences, such as national and regional magazines, newspapers and television and radio stations;
• Whose publications or programs are produced at least six times a year;
• From all major developing regions of the world (Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, and the Middle East);
• Who are clearly interested in women's health, development, and population issues;
• Who demonstrate a commitment to covering these topics in their media; and
• Who can communicate comfortably and effectively in English during meetings.

Applications must be received at PRB by Friday, January 23, 2004. Participants will be selected on a competitive basis by a panel of PRB staff and outside media professionals and will be notified by the third week in February. Those selected will be asked to submit a letter from their managing editor or director in support of their participation in Women's Edition.

PRB can cover travel and seminar expenses for a limited number of participants from countries receiving assistance from USAID. PRB also can offer limited financial assistance to participants for the publication or production of Women's Edition features in their media. Therefore, interested candidates are encouraged to seek other financial support to cover all or part of the costs to participate in the network. Interested candidates from countries not receiving USAID assistance must seek full funding for all network-related expenses, including travel and accommodation. Funding can come from their home organizations or from national or international agencies. (See the Supplemental Funding Statement of the Application Form.) However, qualified candidates should apply regardless of funding status.

Selected Women's Edition members make a commitment to

• Participate in both 2004 seminars;
• Publish or produce at least one in-depth supplement, series of articles, or broadcast program after each seminar on the issues explored during the seminar;
• Send to PRB copies of each supplement, series of articles, or broadcast program immediately after its publication or broadcast; and
• Send copies of the supplements/articles/programs to their country's health policymakers and members of Parliament.

Applicants must complete all sections of the Application Form in order for their application to be considered. Also, print journalists must submit two samples of their work and broadcasters/producers should submit one sample. (NTSC/VHS is the preferred video format.) Applications and samples of work should be sent to Deborah Mesce, Women's Edition Coordinator, Population Reference Bureau, 1875 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Suite 520, Washington, DC 20009, USA; faxed to 202-328-3937; or e-mailed to [email protected].