15 Fellowships for Conference on Road Safety in Brazil

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), traffic crashes kill more than 1.24 million people and injure between 20 and 50 million a year, with more than 90 percent of these casualties occurring in developing countries. To help improve coverage of this global public health crisis, the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) with the support of the World Health Organization (WHO) invites journalists to apply for the “Journalists’ Fellowship on Road Safety”.

ICFJ will select 15 journalists from around the world to attend the 2nd Global High-Level Conference on Road Safety hosted by the government of Brazil and co-sponsored by the World Health Organization. The conference, held in Brasilia, Brazil, from 17-19 November 2015, seeks to share knowledge and spur action on what works to prevent traffic-related fatalities and injuries and improve safety on the roads for all who use them.

Eligibility

Journalists from around the world with a keen interest in road safety are eligible for the fellowship. Journalists who apply for the Fellowship and Training Program on Road Safety must be fluent in English. Selection will be based on the journalists’ professional qualifications, relevant experience such as demonstrated interest in the topic of road safety, English-language proficiency, and endorsement by a newsroom manager.

Fellowship

With WHO’s support, the program will cover all Fellowship-related costs including travel to the conference, accommodations and registration.

Application

The deadline for applications is 31 August 2015 (5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Time). To apply please fill the online application form HERE. Applicants will be asked to provide the following:

• A 500-word essay detailing their motivation and goals for seeking the fellowship;
• A story idea for a road-safety reporting project that may focus on their own country and incorporates the use of digital tools and/or data as well as ways to use these tools and social media to engage audiences in a dialogue about these vital safety issues;
• A letter endorsing the journalist’s participation from an editor or newsroom manager to demonstrate understanding of the fellowship’s value and support for publishing or broadcasting the journalist’s coverage of the conference and story project;
• A resume or curriculum vitae;
• Published/posted/broadcast work samples.

ICFJ will inform the finalists by 21 September 2015.

For more information please visit the official website.