In the News
Applications Accepted for Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships
Applications are now being accepted for Alfred Friendly Press Fellowships, which offer a cultural and professional exchange program for journalists. Applicants must be full-time journalists and citizens of a developing country. Deadline is Aug. 1.
Visit the AFPF Web site for details.
IWMF Board Member Honored by AWC-DC
Eleanor Clift, a contributing editor at Newsweek and a member of the IWMF board of directors, will be honored May 15 by the Washington, D.C., chapter of the Association for Women in Communications. Clift will receive the 2008 Matrix Award during a luncheon at the National Press Club. Helen Thomas, a veteran reporter who is a former IWMF Lifetime Achievement Award recipient, will introduce Clift. Maureen Bunyan, another IWMF board member who is an anchor for the ABC affiliate television station in Washington, D.C., will emcee the luncheon.
Visit the AWC Web site to read more.
Reuters Foundation Offers News Writing Course
The Reuters Foundation is accepting applications for a course on international news writing for journalists from the developing world. The course, which will take place in London, will run from Aug. 11-22. Applicants must be fluent in English and must have worked for media organizations for at least two years. Deadline is June 27.
Read more on the Reuters Foundation Web site.
Tips & Guides: Using Statistics in a Story
Reporting the true significance of statistics can be tricky. Use these tips to report accurate and noteworthy information:
- Make sure you understand precisely what the numbers mean. Ask questions or conduct additional research, if necessary.
- Carefully examine the source of the statistics and assess the reliability of the source.
- Look for unexpected information in the results.
- Explain any differences, discrepancies or apparent contradictions in the statistics. Look closely for reasons why these differences may have occurred. Was all of the data used in the study from the same time period? Was all of the data collected using the same protocol methods?
- Provide dates for the data. Studies produced a year ago are not necessarily out of date. Some studies take months or years to conduct. Then, the numbers are analyzed, which adds more time before the study is released. Even if the statistics relate to a study started five years ago, they may be current if the final report was just released.
Adapted from Reporting on HIV/AIDS in Africa: A Manual, African Women's Media Center. December 2001. Contact the IWMF at info@iwmf.org to order a copy.