Newswise — The World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ), in partnership with the World Health Organization (WHO), is organizing a series of two-day Training of Trainers workshops.

These training workshops are part of WFSJ’s and WHO’s efforts to help build a professional network of local trainers in Africa and the Eastern Mediterranean region, specialized in training journalists on covering public health emergencies and pandemic influenza in particular.

WFSJ is looking for 50 experienced journalists, preferably with health reporting experience, from Africa and the Mediterranean countries who aspire to become trainers to train their fellow journalists in reporting on public health emergencies, including pandemic influenza.

The training workshop will be in French, English, and in Arabic, each one with 15-17 participants. During the training workshop, the participants will learn the fundamentals of health reporting, facts and data relating to pandemic influenza and public health emergencies, teaching techniques, step-by-step guide about how to organize training.

Benefits and schedules

The travel grant will cover flights (round trip from/to your home country-city of the workshop), accommodation, local transportation in the city of your workshop and meals.

The participants will benefit from:

--A two-day intensive workshop on how to train journalists in reporting on public health emergencies, particularly, pandemic influenza --Preferred access as a trainer to future opportunities organized by WFSJ --Inclusion in the WFSJ’s trainers database

IN FRENCH: September 9-10, Abidjan, Ivory Coast, 15-17 participantsIN ENGLISH: September 14-15, Nairobi, Kenya, 15-17 participantsIN ARABIC: Mid-October, Cairo, Egypt, 15-17 participants

Application DeadlineMONDAY, 20 JULY 2015

Eligibility Criteria

--At least 10 years of successful experience as a journalist --Strong interest in helping and motivating trainees --Respectful and open-minded --Internet connection, must be able to bring a laptop to the workshop --Ability to speak, understand, and write in English OR French OR Arabic --Computer skills using email and electronic document --Currently working as a journalist or freelance for print, online, or broadcast media outlets --At least five years of experience in health and/or science reporting --Previous experience in training, coaching, or teaching of journalism will be an asset. --Mid-career level journalists will be given preference. --Commitment to follow the workshop schedules and fully participate in the program --Must be able to obtain travel visa, if required.

If you are selected, the WFSJ will provide official invitation letters for your visa process. It is, however, your responsibility to obtain the required travel visas.

--Nationals of African countries and the Eastern Mediterranean region* are welcome to apply. Please see the link for the list of Eastern Mediterranean countries: http://www.who.int/about/regions/emro/en/

Preference will be given to the countries listed below

--Burkina Faso --Gabon --Kenya --Mauritania --Mozambique --Senegal --Seychelles --Zimbabwe --Afghanistan --Egypt --Lebanon --Pakistan --Sudan --Yemen

Application procedure1. Please apply online via the online form via our website www.wfsj.org2. After you submit your application online, please send the Scanned identification page of your passport to [email protected] (mail subject: Application for Training of training workshops).

*Your personal information will remain strictly confidential. It will only be used to verify your personal information internally and to facilitate your travel arrangement.

3. Please specify for which language group of the workshop you are applying

4. You will need the following documents to fill out the application:

--Résumé in English including your coordinates (country and city of residence, two references) --Scanned identification page of your passport (your passport must be valid at least for 8 months at the time of your application) --Internet link or electronic file of your best story related to health topics, including title, name of the media, and publication date

*The sample article will be in your working language

Selection procedure

--WFSJ Board members will form a selection committee. --The selection committee will make a decision upon reviewing applications, and contacting references. --When the selection committee sees necessary, candidates will be invited to a short Skype interview.

To applyPlease apply to become a Media Trainer in Public Health Emergencies by filling out the form here.

More Information

For further information, please contact Yoon Kim at the WFSJ Office via [email protected] Tel: +1 514 508-2777 
www.wfsj.org