Colombian journalist Manrique writes for Comunicaciones Aliadas, a non-governmental online magazine that focuses on Latin American news, particularly human rights. She is based in Colombia, but the magazine is based in Peru. Manrique has covered subjects such as kidnapping, drug trafficking and refugees. She has also interviewed victims of violence in Colombia, including people who have been injured by landmines, combatants who have returned to society, children in armed groups and indigenous people defending their land. In the course of her journalistic work, Manrique has received multiple death threats and was once forced into exile in Peru for eight months. She is interested in continuing to investigate Colombian paramilitaries and their ties with multinational corporations.

The Council for Foreign Relations' 2009-10 competition for the Edward R. Murrow Press Fellowship is open to individuals who have covered international news as working journalists for print, broadcast or online media widely available in the United States. The fellow is granted nine months of research, writing, and involvement in all activities at the Council in New York. Deadline is February 1, 2009. Visit the CFR Web site for details.

Former journalist and human rights activist Jestina Mukoko was abducted Dec. 4 from her home in Zimbabwe. Mukoko, a former broadcaster at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation and current head of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was taken from her home near Harare by 15 men in plain clothes, reported Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. Read the Reporters Without Borders alert.

Deborah Howell, an IWMF board member who has served as the ombudsman of The Washington Post for the past three years, will return to Newhouse Newspapers as a consultant. Howell spent 15 years as Newhouse Washington bureau chief before taking the Washington Post job. Read about Howell in Editor & Publisher.

Farida Nekzad, a 2008 recipient of an IWMF Courage in Journalism Award, is the journalist of the month on the Women's ENews Web site. Nekzad is an Afghan journalist who is the managing editor and deputy director of Pajhwok Afghan News. Read the article.

For immediate releaseDecember 4, 2008 For more information:Lindsey Wray (202) 496-1992 LWray@iwmf.org International Women's Media Foundation Seeks N...

For immediate release December 2, 2008  For more information: In Johannesburg, South Africa: Fikile Nkambule +27 11 341 0767 fnkambule@fray...

In commemoration of World AIDS Day, the IWMF launched a new online publication designed to help media trainers and journalists implement in-house training. The goal of the newly developed workbook is to expand the IWMF’s in-house training model by enabling media organizations to use proven techniques based on the IWMF’s Maisha Yetu project, which helped journalists improve reporting on HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria. The workbook, a self-directed online training module, was written by Mia Malan, a media development consultant based in Washington, D.C.

• Click here for the workbook.
• Read the press release.

The Nieman Foundation selects at least 12 U.S. and 12 international journalists for Nieman Fellowships each year. The fellowships are awarded to working journalists who come to Harvard University for a paid year of study, seminars and special events. The application deadline for the 2009-2010 academic year is Dec. 15 for international journalists and Jan. 31, 2009, for U.S. journalists. Visit the Nieman Web site for more information about the program.

Full-time journalists are invited to apply for Knight Fellowships. Beginning this year, the program has revised its selection process to reflect a new emphasis on journalistic innovation, entrepreneurship and leadership, including an emphasis on developing and strengthening press freedom around the world. Application deadlines are Dec. 15 and Feb. 1 for international and U.S. applicants, respectively. Visit the Knight Foundation Web site for details.

The Nieman Conference on Narrative Journalism will be held March 20-22, 2009, in Boston. The theme is “Telling True Stories in Turbulent Times.” Online registration begins Dec. 4. For more information, visit the Web site for the conference.

The Nieman Foundation will present the Worth Bingham Prize for Investigative Journalism in March 2009. The $20,000 award honors investigative reporting of stories of national significance where the public interest is being ill-served. Application deadline is Jan. 9, 2009. Visit the Nieman Web site for details.

The Nieman Foundation is now accepting applications for the $10,000 Taylor Family Award for Fairness in Newspapers, which encourages fairness in news coverage by daily newspapers in the United States. The application deadline is Jan. 16, 2009. For more information, visit the Nieman Web site.

Farida Nekzad, an Afghan woman journalist and a 2008 recipient of an IWMF Courage in Journalism Award, received the International Press Freedom Award from the Committee to Protect Journalists on Nov. 25. Read the Associated Press article about the award.

Christiane Amanpour, CNN's chief international correspondent and an IWMF board member, will have her own program on CNN International starting next year. The new nightly news program is expected to begin in the second quarter of 2009. Read the New York Times article about Amanpour's new program.