A workshop for African software developers and media workers in Ghana, Asia Media Summit 2007 in Kuala Lumpur, and Congress of the International Federation of Journalists in Moscow all seek media practitioners as participants. Find out how you can participate.

Workshop for African free software developers and media workers

From April 23 to 27, the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa (FOSSFA) will host a five-day workshop in Accra, Ghana for African free software developers and media workers. 

The workshop aims to give software developers and media workers in the region the opportunity to exchange ideas on how free and open source software (FOSS) can be used by media workers as well as how media can contribute to the growth of free software in Africa.

Among the specific objectives of the workshop include:
- to give opportunity for media workers to experience FOSS;
- to strengthen FOSS advocacy through increased media involvement;
- to equip media with a layperson’s explanation on highly technical issues on FOSS; and
- to find a middle ground and understandable language between FOSS technicians and media workers.

Media practitioners, software developers, representatives from the government and civil society organisations, as well as FOSS users, advocates, trainers, enthusiasts are all welcome to attend.
 
FOSSFA is an organisation which envisions promoting sustainable, viable and cost effective software products for Africa through education and local capacity building.

For further details, visit <www.fossfa.net/fossfa/Members/nne75/media-foss-workshop> or <www.tectonic.co.za/view.php?id=1415&s=news>. 

Asia Media Summit 2007

Broadcasters, media practitioners and owners, policymakers, government officials, and others will gather together for the Asia Media Summit 2007 to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia on May 29-31.

The Summit will serve as a platform to discuss the role of media in development, particularly in addressing issues such as poverty alleviation, information gaps, and women’s rights. It also provides a view into ways on how media can further the search for open dialogue and a culture of peace.

In addition, the Summit, organised by the Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development (AIBD), will provide a space to discuss the era of participatory media and its impact on traditional media, the future of public service broadcasting, new forms and formats in programming, reporting the world through a gender lens, mobilising the airwaves against poverty, and media’s role in promoting integrity and honesty in public life.

AIBD is a regional inter-governmental organisation servicing countries of the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (UN-ESCAP) in the field of electronic media development.

Interested participants may register online at <www.aibd.org.my/tools/crm.cgi/R-014-MY-07/>. Go to <http://www.aibd.org.my/conferences/ams/> for further information.

World Congress of the International Federation of Journalists

Held every three years, the next Congress of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is set to take place on May 28-June 2, 2007 in Moscow.

With this year’s theme, “Making News for Democracy: Building Trust in Quality Journalism,” the event will cover sessions on:
- Journalism and Inter-Cultural Dialogue in the Face of Terrorism and Intolerance
- Global Media and the Fight for Decent Work
- What Future for Journalism?

There will be a special one-day conference on “Challenging Impunity: the Global Campaign for Justice in Journalism” prior to the opening of the Congress where an International Commission of Inquiry into Impunity in the Killing of Journalists in Russia will be launched.

The International Federation of Journalists promotes international action to defend press freedom and social justice through strong, free and independent trade unions of journalists.

Contact the IFJ at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or visit <www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=4675&Language=EN> for more information.