DW has taken a big step forward in developing closer cooperation with Egyptian partner ONTV, one of the most popular news and information networks in Egypt. The new DW-ONTV co-production, Women at a Turning Point, represents the first time the two broadcasters have worked together on a production and is a turning point in their ongoing four-year partnership. Women at a Turning Point will begin broadcasting May 2 on DW (Arabia).

The host of Women at a Turning Point, Reem Magued, is a highly recognized media personality in Egypt and has been described as one of the most vocal Egyptian journalists when reporting the truth about important internal events to local audiences. DW’s new partnership with Magued is just the latest example of ongoing close cooperation with Egyptian media. Last year, famous Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef was a keynote speaker at the Global Media Forum. Other cooperative initiatives with Egyptian media include  development workshops with DW Akademie.

As an international broadcaster, DW has an important role to play in providing Egyptians with an impartial international perspective they can use to better understand events affecting their lives. Press and media oppression in Egypt is a pervasive issue and journalists or bloggers can face severe punishment for doing their jobs. Egypt ranks 158 out of 180 in the 2015 Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders.

 

A group of international DW Akademie trainees from the 2012 to 2014 program has won the 2015 CNN Journalist Award in the “online” category. “Meine Oma, das Regime und ich (My grandma, the regime and me)” is a German-language multimedia project that shares the stories of six women from around the world who have all lived through dictatorships and social upheaval. The jury recognized both the production quality and the effect of the powerful narratives, all of which provide a rich example of how to tell stories using a combination of journalistic mediums online.

Stories from countries as far removed as China and Brazil all open an intimate window on history and culture while expressing a common tone  of adversity and perseverence which resonates with people all over the world.  The success of the project and its global significance is indicative of how DW Akademie combines a wide diversity of young talent with innovative methods of teaching and producing journalism.

The CNN Journalist Award distinguishes the best and brightest young journalists who work with international news. The prize was given out at an awards ceremony on March 24 in London.

Many journalism degree programs can miss providing students with a clear set of skills to be effective in the workforce. Many universities, especially in developing nations, lack the technical resources to provide students with these skills, leaving that part of their education to internships, which are not always structured or guarantee that the student will acquire practical expertise.

Journalism does not exist in a vacuum. It’s essential that journalists, especially those working in international contexts, understand the different social, political and economic frameworks in which events play out – but an educated mind requires educated hands.

DW Akademie, in cooperation with universities in Bonn, puts the resources of a world-class broadcaster in the hands of students. Those who earn a place in the International Media Studies (IMS) Master of Arts program receive a one-of-a-kind educational opportunity, combining the professional competence of DW with the high academic standard at the University of Bonn and the Bonn Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences.

IMS takes a theoretical approach and backs it up with practical experience leaving graduates with a cohesive skill set that will enable them to know what they are doing and why. The curriculum includes everything from media systems and media management to globalization and development studies – all combined with hands-on projects.

The students are another important part of what makes IMS special: They come from all over the world. IMS is aimed at aspiring media professionals from developing countries who will be able to put their education to work where it is needed most.

The wide-range of master’s theses attest to the diversity of each IMS class. Two recent graduates produce Multicoolty, an entertaining blog that profiles life in Germany from the perspective of foreigners. Another group of students worked on a research project examining press coverage of Egypt. Intriguing research on international media is also published in the context of IMS.

IMS is currently accepting applications for the upcoming class. Important information from the program requirements to costs and logistics can be found in the FAQ. If you are interested in becoming an IMS student, don’t miss this unique opportunity.  Prospective students have until March 31, 2015 to apply.

 

 

South America
For the third time, DW Akademie has awarded its ¡Investiga! along with the Universidad del Norte in Bogota, Colombia. The prize for journalistic excellence is supported by CdR – an independent association of journalists in Bogota. This year, three pieces of research were presented, which all had to do with the topics of “peace, conflict and region”. David Gonzalez project about the murdered journalist Luis Eduardo Gomez and his murdered son was the winner of the ¡Investiga! this year. Alfonso Hamburger took second and Felipe Motoa placed third. As the contest’s winner, Gonzalez will be flown to Berlin to take part in a workshop, as well as going to Bonn to work side-by-side with online journalists in DW’s Spanish department.

DW’s magazine about culture and the arts that was developed for Portuguese-speaking audiences has now been taken on by a new partner. Viewers throughout Brazil can now tune in to Camarote.21 on the Canal Futura. Part of the GLOBO media group, it’s the first, private TV channel in Brazil that exclusively broadcasts educational content. Canal Futura reaches 66 million households nationwide in Brazil.

Asia
Okto, Singapore’s public broadcaster, will is including Arts.21 and Euromaxx Highlights into its lineup. Okto is available nationwide in Singapore and due to its availability on platforms like Singtel and Starhub, is one oft he most popular in the country.

Shan Cable Network and Global Cable Network in Pakistan are now broadcasting DW’s English channel. These new partnership deals will make DW available in an additional 105,000 housholds.

DW Akademie and Bonn-Rhein-Sieg University of Applied Sciences in cooperation with the University of Istanbul are now offering young German or Turkish media professionals the chance for a world-class education in Istanbul. The International Media Studies (IMS) Turkish-German Master’s program was opened at the end of October during a DAAD conference in Istanbul. Creating the program took three years – from inspiration to accreditation.

Christian Gramsch, Director of DW Akademie, said the program aims to ensure that “independent and crucial journalism can fill its indispensible role in the development of our two countries.”  The director also emphasized the important role of the program as a positive force in Turkish-German relations.  The four-semester program is aimed at students with at least one year of work experience in a media-related field.  The language of instruction is English.