CBA helps with transmitter and studio for Haiti
Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW), with the help of a modest grant from the CBA, has despatched a ‘Radio in a Box’ to Haiti. It's a reliable, sturdy and low-cost integrated mobile broadcasting system for community radio in disasters and emergencies. The radio box contains a laptop, mixer, CD/cassette player and an FM transmitter.
The CBA normally only helps Commonwealth countries from its Disaster Fund, but it was approached for help by Caribbean contacts, in particular Allyson Leacock, Executive Director of the Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS and Patrick Cozier, Secretary-General of the Caribbean Broadcasting Union. As a result, the CBA decided, in view of the magnitude of the disaster, to help Haiti.
Register for the CBA Johannesburg 2010 General Conference
You can now sign-up for the 2010 Johannesburg Conference online by clicking here. You can also download registration forms for the Annual General Conference in Johannesburg this upcoming April.
You can download the form in PDF or Word format here. Attendees can also pay via PayPal or through other methods explained on the Conference page here.
Farm International Video
George Atkins, founder of Farm Radio International, credits the CBA in this interesting video about the story of Farm International. He thanks the CBA for organising a scheme in Zambia, in 1975, that led him to setting up the world's only organisation dedicated to supporting small farmers and their families through the use of radio. Sadly, Mr. Atkins passed away in November 2009.
George Atkins 1917-2009 / Farm Radio International
Enter the 2010 Commonwealth Short Story Competition
The Commonwealth Short Story Competition is an annual scheme to promote new creative writing, funded and administered by the Commonwealth Foundation and the Commonwealth Broadcasting Association. Each year around 25 winning and highly commended stories from the different regions of the Commonwealth are recorded on to CDs and broadcast on radio stations across the Commonwealth.
In addition to the first £2,000 prize and four £500 regional prizes, this year there will be special prizes for the best children’s story and the best story concerning Science, Technology and Society, the Commonwealth Day theme for 2010.
So start getting creative! You can begin writing your short story entry now ahead of the opening of the application form. And for tips on how to write a short story for broadcast, visit the website after 29 January.
You can listen to last year's Short Story Competition winners here.
CBA Awards 2010 - Entrants Revealed
Thank you to everybody who entered the 2010 CBA Awards, we have had a fantastic response. You can view a list of all entrants to each of the 6 Awards here.
You can also view a complete list of judges involved in this years Awards by clicking here.
Winners will be announced at an Awards Dinner at the CBA Johannesburg Conference in April. Good Luck to all who entered!
CBA and BBC World Service Trust's 'Sports Reporting' iLearn Course
The CBA is partnering with the BBC World Service Trust to offer a range of online iLearn courses to CBA members. Trainees will be able to perform practical tasks and submit them to online mentors for evaluation.
African CBA Members can now apply for a 'Sports Reporting' course. Including modules on Sports Reporting and Commentary, as well as Sports and Development, this course is aimed at sports journalists or journalists with an interest in sports wanting to develop their journalism skills and broaden their perspectives in sports reporting.
To apply for this course please complete the application form and return it to jas@cba.org.uk. Please note that the closing date for applications is the 19th February.
There are also a number of new Training Workshops and Distance Learning Courses due to take place this upcoming year now posted.
Training Workshops and Distance Learning Courses
The Commonwealth Professional Fellowship Awards 2010
The Commonwealth Scholarship Commission provides approximately 65 fellowships each year enabling people to spend periods (typically three months) with a relevant UK host organisation or follow a programme of professional development. You can find out more information and links to applications forms here.
The CBA are willing to help CBA Members apply, with a statement of not more than 400 words also being submitted with the form, explaining to which extent the fellowship will be relevant to your organisation and country. Please note that the closing date for applications is the 19th April.
Commonwealth Professional Fellowship Awards 2010
