New Media Fellowships for Refugee Studies by UNHCR, CNES
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in India and the Centre for North East Studies and Policy Research today announced three Media Fellowships for journalists in the print media seeking to research and write on refugee issues.
The fellowships, called the UNHCR-CNES Refugee Media Fellowships will each be of three months duration. The first fellowship will begin on March, 2008, and run consecutively through till November 2008 and carry an individual award of Rs. 45,000 each, meant for travel and research.
The following subjects are the themes of the fellowships: The Chins of Myanmar: Refugee Life in a Distant Neighbour (March-to-June 2008), The Need for a Refugee specific legislation in India (June to August) and Sri Lankan Refugees: Away from home across the Palk Straits (September to November).
The fellowships will give journalists an opportunity to look at issues relating to refugee movements into the country, the condition of refugees, the problems of mixed migration (refugee movements combined with
economic/environmental international migrants). The age limit for media fellows
is 30—45 years.
“The effort is to build capacity and better understanding among journalists interested in refugee issues, especially at the middle-level, but also to publish their findings and observations extensively in the Indian
media,” said Sanjoy Hazarika, Managing Trustee of C-NES and senior journalist.
“It is hoped that through this opportunity for an in-depth review of refugee issues, journalists will be strengthened in their efforts to inform public opinion,” said Carol Batchelor, Chief of Mission, UNHCR India.
This would have the impact of both “spreading the word” as well as creating a clearer understanding in the Indian media of the issues, challenges, hopes and despair of refugees, people who cannot go back to their
countries for fear of political, religious and other forms of persecution.
Time Frame
The following are the themes proposed for the Media Fellowships this year, each against a specific time frame so that journalists can apply for the one of maximum interest to them.
Fellowship I (1 March 08 to 31 May ’08): The Chins of Myanmar: Refugee Life in a Distant Neighbour (focus on Protection and Durable Solutions)
Completed Applications to be submitted by: 31 January, 2008
Fellowship II (1 June ’08 to 31 August ’08): The Need for a Refugee specific legislation in India
Completed Applications to be submitted by: 30 April, 2008
Fellowship III (1 September to 30 November) Sri Lankan Refugees: Away from home across the Palk Straits (focus on Protection and Durable Solutions)
Completed Applications to be submitted by: 31 July, 2008
Selection
The awardees will be selected by a Panel comprising of a representative of UNHCR, a senior media specialist and Mr. Hazarika. C-NES has been conducting national media fellowships since 2005 while Mr. Hazarika
conceived, curated and ran the National Foundation for India Media Fellowships for the North-east for five years.
For further details, contact Sanjoy Hazarika at 26121426 or sanjoy@c-nes.org,
sanjoyha@gmail.com