AusAID Pacific Media Initiative 1999-2001

AusAID website: http://www.ausaid.gov.au/

Webfile at USP's Pacific Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/courses/ausaid.html

AusAID Pacific Media Initiative 1999-2001

Application For Tertiary Scholarship In 2001

Background
At annual South Pacific Forums since the mid-1990s, Pacific Island governments have committed themselves to more effective economic and political governance. Governments in the region are developing an increasingly specific shared 'agenda' for policy development and change in areas including economic reform, public accountability and trade and investment policy. The media has a key role to play in informing the community of these wide-ranging reforms. The Pacific Media Initiative (PMI) provides customised media training for media practitioners to strengthen their ability to articulate and debate key public policy issues in an accurate and balanced manner. It also encourages the involvement of government officers and NGOs in these training programs. Accompanying the reform agenda in the Pacific has been a major transformation in the operations of media organisations. An increased emphasis on efficiency and cost-effectiveness has resulted in many countries corporatising and privatising government media units. These changes have necessitated new management styles as well as changes in the way these organisations relate to government. Another key objective of the PMI is to assist media organisations respond to these new challenges by providing training in human resource, financial and administrative management skills to both commercial and government-run organisations.

What is the PMI? The PMI is funded by the Australian Government's Overseas Aid Program, and provides customised short-course training to media professionals, including government, private sector and community media liaison officers, scholarships, and scholarship funding. This application form is specifically for a Tertiary Scholarship for ONE YEAR in 2001, commencing semester 1 and finishing at the end of semester 2. PMI applications for short Training Courses are available from Australian High Commissions, PINA, PIBA, the SPC (Media Centre, Suva), the Journalism Schools at USP, DWU. UPNG and from the Media Adviser, Forum Secretariat, Suva. PMI Work Attachment applications for 2001 are also currently available from these outlets.

PMI Scholarship The PMI is offering funding for tertiary study in three areas:

* Journalism and/or Media Studies combined with elective subjects that extend the prospective student's knowledge of specialist areas of value to journalism/media such as, economics, business, environmental studies, history, politics, information technology, languages, literature, sociology, cultural studies, tourism and marketing;

* Journalism and/or Media Studies combined with Business and/or Management minors or majors;

* Management and/or Business Studies courses which equip prospective students with the expertise to effectively manage Pacific media organisations.

The range of subjects and courses available will vary from university to university and prospective students will need to negotiate what combination of subjects is available with each university they are interested in. The methods of course delivery also can differ - some options, for example, may be offered by distance education or online. The appropriate level of subjects (for example, years 1, 2, 3 or 4, or post-graduate) can be determined in consultation with Journalism Coordinators at the university of interest.

Prospective students can apply for ONE YEAR of study in 2001 in the following courses:

* USP regional programme, Suva campus - http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/ : Diploma in Pacific Journalism - http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/courses.html#DIPLOMA , BA in Journalism http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/courses.html#DEGREE (double major eg. History or Politics), Master of Arts in Pacific Media Studies http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/courses/postgrad.html (by research), Management and Public Administration http://www.usp.ac.fj/mpa/ (diploma, degree, masters and postgraduate diploma programs), Masters in Business Administration http://www.usp.ac.fj/isas/MBA/INFORMAT/Frame.htm.

* DWU: BA (Journalism), Diploma in Communication Arts (Journalism), Diploma in Human Resource Management, Diploma of Management (distance delivery and on-campus), Business Studies (diploma and degree), PNG Studies (diploma and degree).

* UPNG: BA (Journalism), Certificate in Investigative Journalism, Certificate in Public Relations, Basic Management, Business Management, Business Studies and Politics, Administrative Studies (diploma and degree programs).

The PMI scholarship application should:

* Relate to one or more of the three PMI components listed below;

* Extend the applicant's working knowledge of specialist areas in journalism, media, one or more of the electives listed above, or in management;

* Involve a program of study that is appropriate for the applicant's current educational and professional experience; and

* Be immediately relevant to the applicant's current work and future media development.

You will need to contact the Journalism Coordinator's at USP, DWU and UPNG for information on the courses listed above, including the Management and Business Studies options. If you are interested in the Management and Business Studies options, the Journalism Coordinators will refer you to the relevant Program Coordinator in this area:

David Robie, USP E-mail: David.Robie@usp.ac.fj or journ@usp.ac.fj Pacific Journalism Online website: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/ Tel: (679) 212685; Mobile: (679) 971824 Fax: (679) 313238 Address: Journalism Programme School of Humanities University of the South Pacific PO Box 1168, Suva, Fiji

Joe Weber, DWU E-mail: crankit@datec.com.pg Telephone: (675) 852 2937 Fax: (675) 852 2812 Address: Department of Communication Arts Divine Word University, PO Box 483, Madang, PNG

Sorariba Nash E-mail: Sorariba.n@upng.ac.pg Telephone: (675) 326 7191 Fax: (675) 3267187 Address: Media Studies and Public Relations, Information and Communication Studies Faculty of Social Science PO Box 320, University Post Office, NCD, PNG

Who is eligible for funding assistance? The scholarship will be awarded to a new and/or continuing student to study at the USP, Suva Campus, the DWU, Madang, PNG, or the University of Papua New Guinea.

Applicants must have had five years professional media experience. Continuing students, freelance media people, and media professionals in Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, Tuvalu, Kiribati, Palau, the Cook Islands, Niue, Nauru, Papua New Guinea, Vanuatu, the Solomon Islands, Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Federated States of Micronesia can apply. When are applications due? Applications for the PMI Scholarship funding close on Monday 30 October. Late applications cannot be considered. How are applications assessed? All applications will be ranked according to the project selection criteria. During this process the Australian Managing Contractor (AMC) may contact you to discuss your application. The rankings for each application will then be forwarded to AusAID for final selection. The successful applicants will be notified by the end of November. Further Information If you need assistance or advice with your proposal please contact the Australian Project Managers: Dr Helen Molnar E-mail: hmolnar@netspace.net.au Telephone: (613) 9428 4557 Fax: (613) 9421 3626 Ms Judi Cooper E-mail: judic@netspace.net.au Telephone: (613) 95960719 Fax: (613) 95960765

For more general information about the project, contact the Australian High Commission / Embassy in your home country. Application Details

When developing your scholarship application it is important to ensure that it reflects one or more of the three PMI components listed below.

Project Goals and Purpose The PMI aims to assist the media in Pacific Island countries to more effectively perform the key role of informing society about the operations of government, government agencies and NGOs. It consists of three training components:

Component 1: Media in promotion of governance and community development. This component aims to strengthen investigative and interpretative skills in the coverage of political, community and development issues, especially those raised by public policy making.

Component 2: Management of media communications focuses on activities which promote more efficient media and communications organisations, production management, time and cost management, a better understanding of gender equity issues, and activities which improve the management and accountability of the regional media organisations.

Component 3: Radio, video, television, print and on-line production which improves the quality and relevance of the information content produced by these media using material from government departments, the private sector, community organisations, and NGOs. This will also enable Pacific Island media organisations to increase locally produced content.

Online application form at USP: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/docs/courses/ausaid.html#APP

APPLICATION FORM PMI SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2000 Your answers to the following questions will assist project representatives in assessing your training needs. It is important to answer ALL questions and if possible, please type your response.

1. Applicant's name and details of whether the applicant currently works in the media industry (position, organisation), is a freelance media person, or a continuing student. Please include your full postal address, telephone, fax and e-mail contact.

2. Name of University chosen for study. Please supply the name of the university, the Department involved, and the name of the Journalism Coordinator you have consulted. If applying for the Management or Business Studies option please provide details of the Management or Business Studies Coordinator you have spoken with.

3. Which of the three PMI components does your proposed course of study address? Please tick (¸).

Component 1: Media in promotion of governance and community development

Component 2: Management of media communications

Component 3: Radio, video and television production

4. Funding requested. Please attach these details on a separate sheet of paper. Requests for Scholarships will need to detail * the costs involved with travel to the university (return travel if airfare is involved) * funds for daily travel to the campus * university fees * accommodation during the two semesters * per diem for meals and other living costs * an allowance for study material such as books and computer disks.

The funding available is for the student only, and does not cover other family members.

5. List of proposed subjects. Please list the subjects you wish to study and at what level.

6. Rationale for Scholarship. Please either write or type 300 hundred words explaining why the proposed course of study will be valuable for your current media work and/or future media development. The answer you supply to this question will provide important information for the selection committee.

7. Duration and preferred dates for the Scholarship. Please specify the exact dates in 2001 when study commences and finishes, including the exam periods.

8. Educational Record. Please attach details of the your educational record (secondary, and tertiary, if applicable).

9. Work Experience. Please attach a curriculum vitae which details your work experience, describing briefly what positions you have held over the last five years and the duties performed.

10. Reference. If currently employed, please attach a letter from your current employer supporting your application for a scholarship. Freelance media people should attach a reference from the their national media association or PINA or PIBA. Continuing students should attach a reference from their current Journalism or Media Program Coordinator.

11. Have you applied for support for this Scholarship from another organisation?

Yes. Please specify:

No.

12. Authorisation for nomination. This form must be authorised by the Head of your organisation if you are currently employed. Signature Title Date

Name

Organisation

13. Authorisation from University Coordinator. You will need to attach a letter signed by the University Journalism Coordinator or the Management and Business Studies Coordinator you have consulted indicating that you meet the university's requirements for entry into the course/subjects you have nominated.

14. Submission Details All Scholarship Application Forms should be sent to: Ms Louise Morrison Hawthorn Consulting Group Locked Bag 12 Hawthorn VIC 3122 AUSTRALIA Fax: (613) 9810 3100 Email: l.morrison@mei.unimelb.edu.au

Date Due: Monday 30 October 2000 Late applications cannot be accepted.

The application form can be sent by post, faxed or e-mailed on the correct form. All sections of the form must be completed. If filling out the form using pen or biro, please ensure that the handwriting is legible. We have found that as fax quality can vary, some applications are very difficult to read if filled in using a biro.

Go to Pacific Journalism Online: http://www.usp.ac.fj/journ/

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