Do indigenous press exist in the Philippines?

I have a narrow definition of indigenous press at the moment, for the purpose of this blog entry: I mean newspapers and magazines published by members of indigenous groups. Thus, my answer is (a qualified) yes (because I'm not sure if all the publishers of the papers I know identify themselves as IPs:-)

In the Cordillera, we have the Baguio Midland Courier (owned by the Hamadas), Cordillera Today (former Gov. Rocky Molintas), Zigzag (Atty. Antonio Pekas), Northern Philippine Times (Alfred Dizon) and High Plains Journal (Victor Luacan). This list is as far as I can recall. I'm not including here the newspapers published by LGUs (Mt. Province and Ifugao have their own provincial papers).

But I have a few nagging questions. You might be able to help me answer the following:

1. How many indigenous newspapers exactly do we have?
2. Where are they published in the country?
2. Who owns them?
3. What types of articles do they publish?

What about in other areas where there are IPs? For instance, in Nueva Vizcaya and Quirino? And what about the south where there's a large number of indigenous groups? I asked two journo friends from the south if they are aware of any IP-owned paper in the area and they both said nada. Hmmm. Bakit kaya?

Potato photo contest and other media-related opportunities

From the International Centre for Journalists

1. Photo contest to highlight global importance of potatoes

To recognize the potato’s importance in developing countries, a contest is seeking the best photographs illustrating potato biodiversity, cultivation, processing, trade, marketing and consumption. Deadline: September 1.

The United Nations and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) are sponsoring the contest, to tie in with the International Year of the Potato in 2008.

There are separate categories for professional and amateur photographers, and participants can submit single digital images or “photo stories” of four to eight related images, in either black-and-white or color. Cash prizes will total US$11,000 as well as Nikon cameras.

For more information, go to the FAO page.

2. Video journalists invited to submit non-fiction films

The 2008 VJ Awards is seeking non-fiction films from video journalists who are single authors –responsible for all production, including research, editing and publishing. The deadline to submit an entry is October 15.

The theme of this year’s International Video Journalism Awards is “unlimited access” and how the Internet converges different media technology. The awards will cover many aspects of video journalism, including films from television stations, publishing companies and more.

The awards will be presented in Mainz, Germany.

For more information, visit http://www.vjawards.com or go to http://viewmag.blogspot.com/2008/07/entries-international-video-journalism.html

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3.Funding available for development of a documentary project

Documentary filmmakers from Africa, Asia or Latin America are encouraged to apply for the Alter-Ciné Foundation Grant that will assist in the production of a documentary project. The deadline to submit applications is August 15.

The Canadian-based Alter-Ciné Foundation, which supports documentaries that enrich understanding of the world, is giving CAD$10,000 (US$9,730) to complete a documentary project in the language of the filmmaker’s choice.

Applicants must submit a five-page summary in French, English or Spanish describing content, characters, situation and theme; a DVD or VHS of a completed documentary work; a production budget and financing plan, and two letters of recommendation for the project.

For more information, go to http://www.sextans.com/altercine/index2.html or contact alter@mlink.net. To apply, visit http://www.sextans.com/altercine/formulaire_an.pdf.

4. Knight International Journalism Fellowships available

The Knight International Journalism Fellowships program sends international media professionals to key countries where there are opportunities for meaningful and measurable change. Working with partner organizations on innovative media projects, they build skills and enhance the standards of independent news organizations.

Knight International Fellows work in these key regions: Asia/Pacific, Eurasia/Former Soviet Union, Latin America, Middle East/North Africa, and Sub-Saharan Africa. Fellowships are open to any nationality.

Qualifications and Skills:

- Strong leadership qualities
- Fluency in the local language of the host country
- Demonstrated knowledge of project focus
- Training experience is a plus
- Minimum of 10 years journalism experience
- Fellowship open to any nationality
- Fellowship duration is a minimum of one year

Application: For more information and to apply, please visit our website at http://knight.icfj.org/GetInvolved/BecomeaFellow/tabid/878/Default.aspx

An orientation for new Knight International Journalism Fellows will be conducted October 20-24. The deadline for applications: Aug. 29, 2008.

Fellowship Openings:

* Bangladesh. Project focus: Television programming and production.
Language requirement: Bangla/Bengal
* Brazil. Project focus: New media/print. Language requirement: Portuguese
* El Salvador. Project focus: New media/radio. Language requirement: Spanish
* India. Project focus: Environmental journalism. Language requirements: English (Hindi and/or Tamil preferred)
* Indonesia. Project focus: Digital media. Language requirement: Bahasa
* Malaysia. Project focus: Digital media. Language requirement: English
* Montenegro. Project focus: Digital/convergence/Web development. Language requirement: Montenegrin/Serbo-Croatian/Croat-Serbian
* Mozambique. Project focus: Health journalism. Language requirement: Portuguese
* Pakistan. Project focus: Radio journalism. Language requirement: Urdu
* Philippines. Project focus: Digital/investigative/community journalism. Language requirement: Filipino (based on Tagalog), English
* Senegal. Project focus: Health journalism. Language requirement: French
* South Africa. Project focus: Health journalism. Language requirement: English
* Syria/Lebanon. Project focus: Digital media. Language requirement: Arabic
* Venezuela. Project focus: Investigative-journalism/print. Language requirement: Spanish
* Zambia. Project focus: Health journalism. Language requirement: English