All posts by MiaLobel

Narrative Magazine Winter 2011 Story Contest, deadline March 31

Writing competition from the folks at Narrative Magazine. Details below and at http://www.narrativemagazine.com/node/114958.
-Mia

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Our winter contest is open to all fiction and nonfiction writers. We’re looking for short stories, short shorts, essays, memoirs, photo essays, graphic stories, one-act plays, all forms of literary nonfiction, and excerpts from longer works of both fiction and nonfiction. Entries must be previously unpublished, no longer than 15,000 words, and must not have been previously chosen as a winner, finalist, or honorable mention in another contest.

Prior winners and finalists in Narrative contests have gone on to win other contests and to be published in prize collections, including the Pushcart Prize, Best New Stories from the South, the Atlantic Prize, and others.

As always, we are looking for works with a strong narrative drive, with characters we can respond to as human beings, and with effects of language, situation, and insight that are intense and total. We look for works that have the ambition of enlarging our view of ourselves and the world.

We welcome and look forward to reading your pages.

Click here to submit your work.

Awards: First Prize is $3,250, Second Prize is $1,500, Third Prize is $750, and ten finalists will receive $100 each. All entries will be considered for publication.

Submission Fee: There is a $20 fee for each entry. And with your entry, you’ll receive three months of complimentary access to Narrative Backstage.

Timing: The contest deadline is March 31, 2011, at midnight Pacific daylight savings time.

Judging: The contest will be judged by the editors of the magazine. Winners and finalists will be announced to the public by April 30, 2011. All writers who enter will be notified by email of the judges’ decisions.

Submission Guidelines: Please read our Submission Guidelines for manuscript formatting and other information.

Other Submission Categories: In addition to our contest, please review our other Submission Categories for areas that may interest you.

Click here to submit your work.

BRINGING GREAT LITERATURE TO THE WORLD. ONLINE. FREE.

Call for Submissions to the Freedom from Fear Award

Interesting award opportunity from the folks at New America Media. Details below.
-mia

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NAM Media advisory
January 31, 2011

News | Blogs | Events | Directory | Association | J-Schools | Client Services | Polls | About Us

Call for Submissions to the Freedom from Fear Award

The Freedom From Fear Award is a new national award that will honor fifteen ordinary people who have committed extraordinary acts of courage on behalf of immigrants and refugees—individuals who have taken a risk, set an example, and inspired others to awareness or action. The award seeks to honor unsung heroes who are not professional advocates. Based on nominations from people like you, awardees will receive a $5,000 cash award.

Watch the video about the award

And be sure to nominate someone before February 28, 2011

Please share this information with your networks!

NAM Ethnic Media Directory | Advertise With Us | NAM Newsletters
New America Media is a project of Pacific News Service.
New America Media | 275 9th Street, San Francisco, CA 94103 | Tel. 415-503-4170
Copyright © 2009 Pacific News Service. All Rights Reserved.
www.newamericamedia.org

Snap Judgment Call for Stories

Hey all. Another call for stories from Snap Judgment. Details below.
-mia

+++++++++++++++++++++

Snap Judgment, “Storytelling . . . with a BEAT,” is calling for pitches for several upcoming episodes, listed below.


Snap rocks character-narrated and producer-narrated, dramatic, first person, stories and airs on over 100 NPR stations (and growing) nationwide.  Our stories are heavily produced with music and sound effects and need not have a news hook.  Pay scale is on par with other national programs.

The best Snap stories allow listeners to understand the world from the perspective of the protagonist, and start strong, often with a premise that describes the dilemma.  We dig the stories that bob and weave, dance, take listeners someplace unexpected.  And we want the ending to grab you by the throat.  (NO WISHY WASHY ENDINGS!)  

Snap Judgment seeks stories told from a points of view often under-represented on-air, particularly stories told by folks from marginalized communities, international stories, or anything off-the-beaten-path.

To hear what we’re talking about, please listen to a show.  Any one is cool, but to get an idea of the range of Snap storytelling, episodes you may want to try include:

Superheroes: Origin Stories (http://snapjudgment.org/superheroes-origin-stories)


Utopia (http://snapjudgment.org/utopia )


The following is a list of the episodes we’re working on.  But if you have an amazing story, and it doesn’t hit one of these general “themes” – no worries!  Send it to us anyway.  Nothing is set in stone:

Episodes We’re Busy Cooking Up

Fame:  Stories about 15 seconds of fame, brushes with greatness or a moment in the sun. Examples include the story of a failed actor whose dog makes it to the big time, and the life of a central character in a chart-topping song.  

Road Trip: This episode features stories from the open road, cross-country or ‘round the world, life on the highway, pitch us your stories of breakdowns, hold-ups, train-hopping, dog-sledding or coast-to-coast skate boarding.

Lying Liars: Stories about the consequences of lying, and the lives of lying liars. Our definition of lying includes misleading, going under cover, scams, trickery and fraud.

April fools:  For this episode we’re looking for stories of amazing pranks, hoaxes or practical jokes, and the fallout when the dust clears.


Justice League: This is a follow-up to our superheros episode, and we need stories about heroes for justice, criminal do-gooders, prison breaks, weekend-warriors and peacekeepers.

BoyGirlBoyGirl: Stories about gender-bending, breaking down sex barriers, reversing parental roles, living within the constraints of biology or breaking from them entirely, stories of a new generation of boys and girls, of female firsts or ground-beaking guys.

Border Crossing: Stories of international boundaries, life on the border, refugees, asylum seekers, ex-pats and immigrants. These stories must have a narrative arc that takes listeners across an international boundary.

Best Intentions: Stories of the best laid plans, going horribly wrong: international aid resulting in famine, loving a bunny to death, surprise parties ending in cardiac arrest, gifts misunderstood or any stories of well intentioned ideas resulting in chaos, mayhem or disaster.

Mere Mortals: Stories of brushes with death, stupid or brave acts of heroism, encounters with mortality, stupendous survival or coming back from the dead.

International Intrigue: Stories of espionage, spies, secret agents, clandestine missions, sneaking across borders, midnight phone calls from the CIA, and concealed identities. Examples include the story of a man recruited by the CIA.

All In It Together: Go team. Stories about working together, feeling outcast, being accepted, signing-up or going AWOL. Examples include the story of a young man who finds himself at a bar on the night of 9/11 listening to the stories told by emergency workers.

The Wiz: Stories with a Wizard of Oz theme. Think creatively, not just searches for brain, heart and courage, but stories about going home, emerald cities, fake wizards, good witches, tornadoes and your little dog too. Examples include the story of a heart transplant recipient experiencing the memories of his donor.

Tilt: Stories about reaching a tipping point, changing your tune, convincing others, falling from grace, rising to fame, giving-up, standing-up, or more literal stories about tilting, tipping or toppling over.

Waste: Stories about trash, time wasted, lives wasted, money wasted, garbage dumps, e-waste, wasting resources, wasting talent, finding treasure in trash. Examples include the story of a high powered attorney’s slow decline into crack addiction.

Cha-Ching : Stories about the value of a dollar. Stories about learning the worth of something, something that’s value changes with time or with events, losing money, finding money, inheriting money, dirty money, money laundering, winning money, greed or generosity. Examples include the story of a robber who returned his victim’s wallet upon learning that his victim was homeless.


Pitch Procedure

1.     Listen to Snap Judgment.

2.     Check out the “Is your story right for Snap Judgment?” flowchart.

3.     Send your pitch to pitches@snapjudgment.org.

4.     The Snap team will discuss your pitch and do our best to get back to you in two weeks.


We can’t WAIT  to hear your stories!


–Snap

a bunch of fellowships posted by the National Association of Hispanic Journalists

Hey folks. FC member Kara Andrade forwarded me the newsletter from the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. There's a lot of great stuff in here – so I'm passing along most of it. Check it out.

-mia

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http://nahj.ihispano.com

 Metcalf Institute For Marine and Environmental Reporting

 

The Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental reporting is offering a fellowship for a science training opportunity: a Science Seminar on oil spill impacts, April 6-8, 2011;

In response to the need for clear, accurate and sustained coverage of the impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster, Metcalf Institute will offer two 2011 programs on the emerging science of the spill.

Metcalf Institute, Louisiana State University, and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium (LUMCON) will offer a 2.5-day seminar for journalists and informal science educators from the Gulf of Mexico region. The science seminar, Impacts of the Deepwater Horizon Oil Disaster, will be held in Cocodrie, Louisiana, April 6-8, 2011. Participants will gain hands-on knowledge of oceanographic techniques in labs and on board the R/V Acadiana and discuss the latest research on the Deepwater Horizon oil disaster with leading experts. Seminar is tuition free and includes room and board. Applications must be postmarked by January 31, 2011.

Applications for the programs may be downloaded at www.metcalfinstitute.org. For additional program information, call 401-874-6211 or email fellowships@metcalfinstitute.org.


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The Persephone Miel Fellowship for Crisis Reporting

 

This fellowship is intended to give non-native English speaking media professionals the opportunity to reach audiences beyond their home countries on critical under-reported issues.  The fellowship, overseen by the Pulitzer Center in collaboration with Internews, is designed to help media professionals outside of the United States do the kind of reporting they've always wanted to do, and enable them to bring their work to a broader international audience. The fellowship will benefit those with limited access to other fellowships or international distribution of their work.

 

The Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting will provide a travel grant of $7500 for a reporting project on topics and regions of global importance, with an emphasis on issues that have gone unreported or under-reported in the mainstream American media.
 

The Persephone Miel fellowships are open to all journalists, writers, photographers, radio producers or filmmakers; staff journalists as well as free-lancers who are non-native English speaking media professionals seeking to report from their home country.

Deadline: February 1, 2011 http://pulitzercenter.org/persephone-miel-fellowship

 


Who Will Win the $75,000 Grantham Prize in 2011?


Metcalf Institute for Marine and Environmental Reporting seeks entries for the 2011 Grantham Prize for Excellence in Reporting on the Environment. The book entry deadline has passed, but all other entries, including print, broadcast and web, must be postmarked by Friday, February 4, 2011.

 

Grantham Prize contest rules, entry and eligibility information, forms, and a helpful checklist are available online at www.granthamprize.org. Specific inquiries may be directed to info@granthamprize.org.

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American Press Institute Fellowship

The Institute will award thousands of dollars in fellowships to newspaper employees and journalism educators from the United States and Canada to attend API seminars. These fellowships are financed through the generosity of individuals, organizations and trusts.

 

The list of programs, fellowship details and an application form are available HERE. The application deadline for seminars held March-June 2011 is Tuesday, Feb. 1, 2011.

As API adds seminars to its programming schedule on a rolling basis, additional fellowships will become available.  Questions? Please contact the fellowship coordinator at: fellowships@americanpressinstitute.org

_____________________________________________________________________________

 

Apply Now for IRP Gatekeeper Editors' Trip to Indonesia

 

The International Reporters Project (IRP) is pleased to announce a two-week Gatekeeper Editors Trip to Indonesia on May 6-20, 2011, for senior U.S. editors and producers interested in learning more about this important country in Asia.

 

This trip will focus on issues such as health, climate change and environment, economic development, the role of religion, minorities and human rights and Indonesia's rising importance in Asia and the world.

 

Application forms for this trip must be received by the IRP by March 11, 2011.

 

 

NCI Health Communications Internship Program

 

The National Cancer Institute (NCI) recognizes that health information dissemination is key to raising public awareness about new cancer treatments, support for cancer patients and their families, and prevention strategies.   To that end, in 1975 the NCI established the Health Communications Internship Program (HCIP) to attract and developindividuals interested in careers in health communications and science writing.   

 

The HCIP gives highly qualified graduate students and recent graduate degree recipients the opportunity to participate in vital health and science communications projects in one of the many offices that make up the NCI.  Interns will select an area of emphasis: Health Communications or Science Writing.  Six-month and one-year internship terms are available. 

 

Additional information about this program including an online application can be found by visiting http://hcip.nci.nih.gov/

 

 

International Center for Journalists: Arthur F. Burns Fellowships

 

American print and broadcast journalists have until March 1, 2011, to apply for a two-month professional exchange program in Germany. Successful applicants will spend August and September living, working and reporting for their home and host news organizations from across the Atlantic. The Arthur F. Burns Fellowships is a competitive program open to media professionals between the ages of 21 and 37 who are employed by a newspaper, news magazine, broadcast station, news agency or who work free-lance and/or online. For more information go to http://www.icfj.org/burns

 

 


 
2011 Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy

 

Ian Axford (New Zealand) Fellowships in Public Policy give outstanding American mid-career professionals the opportunity to research, travel and gain practical experience in public policy in New Zealand for seven months.  Established and funded by the New Zealand Government in 1995 to reinforce links between New Zealand and the United States, the program aims to advance all areas of public policy by cross-fertilization of ideas and experience and to continue building a network of public policy experts on both sides of the Pacific.

 

Axford Fellows have the opportunity to gain first-hand knowledge of the New Zealand government sector and its economic, social or political reforms and issues. Fellows will identify a particular policy topic they wish to explore and will be based at an appropriate government ministry or department. They will be carefully paired with a leading policy expert who will serve as their mentor.  In addition, Fellows will be expected to spend a substantial part of their Fellowship in contact with other relevant organizations to gain practical experience in their field in New Zealand.  They are required to produce a policy report for publication by the Fellowships Office (Fulbright New Zealand) and report their findings in public seminars in New Zealand before returning and in the USA after their return.

 

Three to five Fellows are selected each year.  Applicants must be US citizens with at least five years experience in their professions, and must submit a formal application. 

For further information and an application form, see Fulbright New Zealand's website at http://www.fulbright.org.nz/awards/am-ian-axford.html

 

Applications Deadline March 1, 2011 

 

For inquiries please contact:

 

Stefanie Joe                                         OR                Frank Cain

Program Team Leader                                               US Program Coordinator

Fulbright New Zealand                                               Phone +1 202 460 0609

Phone +64 4 494 1507                                               Email:  axford@fulbright.org.nz

Email stefanie@fulbright.org.nz

 

To view a list of New Zealand Government Ministries and Departments with the names of the Chief Executive Officers please visit http://www.ssc.govt.nz/display/document.asp?NavID=264

Upcoming events at the UC Berkeley J-School

Some great events coming up at the UC Berkeley J-School. Details below.
-mia

++++++++++++++++++++++

The Future of Music Journalism: Computer or Curator?

When: Wednesday, February 2,  6:00 PM

Where: North Gate Hall Library

Critics and tastemakers have been talking about, reviewing, and exposing music to the masses for generations. With the advent of sophisticated algorithms, computer programs such as Pandora and Apple Genius are now suggesting new or unusual music for listeners.

Our panelists debate "algorithms and blues" — whether technology has freed listeners from music journalists — or made them more valuable than ever.

Tim Westergren, Founder, Pandora
Doug Brod, Editor-in-Chief, Spin
Joel Selvin, Senior Pop Music Critic, San Francisco Chronicle

Niema Jordan, Executive Editor, 38th Notes

Moderated by Ben Manilla, lecturer at the Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism

Basketball and Books

When: Thursday, February 10,  12:00 PM

Where: North Gate Hall Library

Three guests talk about reporting on the sport and its impact on race, education and society.

George Dohrmann, investigative reporter for Sports Illustrated and author of Play The Hearts Out: A Coach, His Star Recruiter, and the Youth Basketball Machine.

Tm Keown, a senior writer for ESPN the Magazine and author of several books, including Skyline One Season, One Team, One City.
Doug Merlino, a North Gate alum and author of the newly released Hustle: One Team and Ten Lives in Black and White.

****** EVENTS OF INTEREST ******

Fred Korematsu Day Celebration

When: Sunday, January 30,  2:00 PM

Where:  Wheeler Auditorium

The program includes keynote speaker Reverend Jesse Jackson, spoken word artist Beau Sia, as well as tributes from Karen Korematsu, California Assembly Members Warren Furutani and Marty Block.  

Tickets available now!

Click here for more details.  

Event Contact: info@korematsuinstitute.org | (415) 848-7727

Doing Dance Criticism

When:
Friday, January 28,  4:00 PM

Where:  Wheeler Hall, Maude Fife Room (315)

Four of the nation's leading dance writers will discuss the roles and responsibilities of the critic and the changing nature of arts journalism.

Sarah Kaufman, dance critic for The Washington Post, won the 2010 Pulitzer Prize for Criticism.
Wendy Lesser, editor of The Threepenny Review, regularly writes about dance, music, and opera. She is the author of eight books, including The Amateur: An Independent Life in Letters and Nothing Remains the Same: Rereading and Remembering.

John Rockwell, former dance critic, music critic, and editor of The New York Times Arts and Leisure section, is the board chairman of the National Arts Journalism Program.
Lewis Segal, formerly the staff dance critic for the Los Angeles Times, is a freelance arts writer based in Hollywood and Barcelona.

Event Contact: mpugh@berkeley.edu

Civil Liberties in the Age of Obama

When: Thursday, February 3,  4:00 PM

Where: Sutardja Dai Hall, Banatao Auditorium

Glenn Greenwald is a US lawyer, columnist, blogger, and author. Greenwald worked as a constitutional and civil rights litigator prior to becoming a contributor (columnist and blogger) to Salon.com, where he focuses on political and legal topics. He has also contributed to other newspapers and political news magazines.

Greenwald is the author of three books: How Would a Patriot Act? (2006) and A Tragic Legacy (2007), both New York Times bestsellers; and Great American Hypocrites (2008).

In March 2009 he was selected, along with Democracy Now's Amy Goodman, as the recipient of the first annual Izzy Award by the Park Center for Independent Media, an award named after famed independent journalist I.F."Izzy" Stone and devoted to rewarding excellence in independent journalism. The selection panel cited Greenwald's "pathbreaking journalistic courage and persistence in confronting conventional wisdom, official deception and controversial issues."

Event Contact: iis@berkeley.edu


Julie Hirano
Event & Fundraising Coordinator

Graduate School of Journalism
121 North Gate Hall
University of California at Berkeley
(work) 510.642.3394
(fax) 510.643.2680
http://journalism.berkeley.edu

online Social Media Class @ Center for Doc. Studies – Wednesdays, Feb. 2 thru Mar. 10

Pass this on to your friends/colleagues in North Carolina, or be prepared to partner with a Durham-based community organization from afar. Details below.
-Mia

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Katina Parker is teaching her Exploits in New Media and Emerging Technologies class at Center for Documentary Studies. This on-line course offers step-by-step guidance on how to launch a social media project from scratch. You’ll learn everything from the basics of securing a domain name and using freeware to build your site to shooting and uploading web video; from choosing the right viral video distributor for your project to creating a web advertising campaign to drive traffic to your site in order to generate revenue. Please note: Students will be expected to create a sample social media campaign in collaboration with a Durham-based community organization.

We will focus on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, web advertising, viral outreach, on-line fundraising options, promotional press strategies, and e-mail campaigns.

>THIS IS AN ON-LINE CLASS<<

The class meets on-line weekly for 6 sessions beginning Tuesday, February 2 from 6pm to 8pm and ending March 9.

Cost for the course is $265. Please note that the course fee does not include the $15 materials fee that is due at the first class.

To register go to: http://www.asaponlinereg.com/CourseDetail.aspx?CourseId=5602

Katina Parker has served as a communications/social media consultant for the Ford Foundation, the National Black Justice Coalition. Southerners on New Ground, the Association of Independents in Radio and several other progressive public media projects. She has employed her talents as a filmmaker, photographer, and graphic/web designer for such clients as Will Smith, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Saul Williams. Prior to founding the nonprofit New Orleans: A Labor of Love, she worked as a creative director and as a media strategist for the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD). Parker received an M.F.A. in film production from the University of Southern California and a B.A. in Speech Communications from Wake Forest University.

Middlebury Fellowship in Environmental Journalism deadline May 16

This from our fabulous FC west correspondent Molly Samuel. She's happy to chat with anyone who has questions – contact her at molly.samuel@gmail.com.
-Mia

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Middlebury Fellowship in Environmental Journalism is accepting applications until May 16. The program accepts 10 journalists at the start of their careers, and works with them for a year-long reporting project (plus sessions with visiting journalists, a retreat in Bread Loaf in the fall and Esalen in the spring). I was a 2009 fellow, and recommend the program highly. I'm happy to talk with anyone about it, and the fellowship directors are also open to questions.

Check it out here http://www.middlebury.edu/sustainability/fech/fellowships

Africa photo opening TOMORROW at Rayko in SF – 1/27, 6pm

Hey Bay Area folks. Come out tomorrow night to support my friend and FC member Chris Smith. Rayko has a gorgeous gallery and Chris' images are amazing. Details below.
-mia

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

I'm one of four photographers taking part in Rayko gallery's next show, "4xAfrica." I've got 15-20 images in the show, spanning a full decade of work, from Cairo to Cape Town.

The opening reception is Thursday, January 27, from 6-8 pm, at Rayko in San Francisco (3rd @ Harrison). The show will be up until February 27. 

Details:
http://raykophoto.com/?page_id=38

For more about the images:
http://www.ca-smith.net/blog/2011/01/urban-africa/

Hope to see you there,
Chris

—–
Chris Smith
web: www.ca-smith.net
twitter: chrisasmith

Free Webinar TONIGHT 1/26, 7pm EST – How to Charge What Your Writing is Worth

Huh – this looks really interesting. Might be worth checking out.
-mia

++++++++++++++++++++++++

At a time when anyone with an Internet connection can get published, freelance writers — from independent journalists to contract copywriters — need entrepreneurial savvy to set themselves apart as professionals and earn a good living. Requisite skills include identifying worthwhile clients, pricing services competitively and negotiating lucrative contracts. Writing Coach (http://www.writingcoach.com) plans to offer a free webinar, "How to Charge What Your Writing Is Worth," on Wednesday, January 26, 2011, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. (EST) to help freelance writers to improve their businessacumen and sales results.

Led by Maya Payne Smart, The Business Coach for Writers, the one-hour webinar will provide expert insight, helpful tips and specific details about:

  • How to convey a professional image and set yourself apart from the ranks of amateurs;
  • What the typical rates are for various media and industries;
  • How to position yourself to earn more and why you must maintain a strong online presence to maximize your earnings;
  • How to decide which types of clients are right for you; and
  • What you need to do to get repeat assignments and negotiate higher fees.

Moreover, writers will leave the call with a clear, step-by-step action plan for raising their freelance rates. All registrants will receive an audio recording of the call after the fact, so professionals are encouraged to sign up for this free webinar even if they can't attend live.

"After 23 years as a newspaper reporter, my position was eliminated. I wanted to take control of my writing career but I was intimidated about starting a freelance business," says freelance writer Robin Farmer. "So I turned to Maya Smart. Working with Maya as my business coach has empowered me and kept me focused so I can flourish."

To register for "How to Charge What Your Writing Is Worth," visit http://www.writingcoach.com/webinar


Maya    MSJ '05


Maya Payne Smart
330.329.1614
maya@writingcoach.com
http://www.writingcoach.com




617-923-9073
www.DanGrossmanMedia.com
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