Description
The Public Affairs Section of the U.S. Embassy in Phnom Penh announces an open competition for a cooperative agreement to develop and implement a four-day workshop (inclusive of arrival and departure days) in Phnom Penh on Citizen Journalism and Free Flow of Information for the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI), pending the availability of funds. The YSEALI Regional Workshop on Citizen Journalism and Free Flow of Information will bring together 50-70 YSEALI members from across ASEAN countries, including Timor-Leste, who have some knowledge, experience or are pursuing careers in journalism fields, citizen journalism, blogging, and communications. The 50-70participants will include 10 Cambodian YSEALI members and aims to strengthen networks, encourage dialogues about the need and importance of transparency, accountability and good governance. It aims to enable participants to learn about the importance of transparency, accountability and good governance, and the role that the free flow of information plays in improving the delivery of public services and development. The workshop will increase public awareness about standards of citizen journalism and encourage critical thinking on the issues of misinformation, evidence-based reporting, and creating platforms for citizens to gain access to important information. Additionally, participants will engage in hands-on activities and learn about the challenges and best practices of citizen journalism. They will also learn about the role of “the Fourth Estate” (the press and media) in holding democratically elected governments accountable and providing access to accurate information to the masses. The workshop will include a mix of informational sessions, discussions, break-out sessions, site visits, hands-on training and group presentations. YSEALI (https://asean.usmission.gov/yseali/) is the U.S. government’s signature initiative to engage emerging young leaders in ASEAN, specifically from Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, as well as young leaders from Timor-Leste. YSEALI aims to create a network of young Southeast Asian leaders who work across national borders to solve common problems. The YSEALI Citizen Journalism workshop will be one of several events whose topics cut across the four pillars of YSEALI – civic engagement, economic growth, education, and sustainable development. The YSEALI workshop on Citizen Journalism and Free Flow of Information will focus on: *Content: - Understanding Citizen Journalism and Free Flow of Information - How to responsibly document and report on newsworthy events, in a way that brings accurate information to the masses. - How to increase public awareness about standards of citizen journalism and encourage critical thinking on evidence-based information and the dangers of misinformation and disinformation. - How to create a resource or platform for citizens to gain access to important information and best practices. *Methodology: - Informational sessions/panel discussions - Small group discussions and group work - Participant presentations - Journalism speaker(s) - Site visits for the participants to practice citizen journalism (possibly to Siem Reap or Sihanoukville)