Asia Europe Foundation is organizing the 12th Journalism Seminar (ASEFJS12) in December 2019 in Madrid, Spain. The ASEFJS12 will follow up on the theme of the 9th ASEF Editors’ Roundtable (ASEFERT9) – “Exploring the Battlefronts of ‘Fake News’: A Tripartite Approach to the Fight Against Misinformation”. Moreover, the ASEF Journalism Seminar is fully funded.

The characteristics of today’s media climate are uncertain, not least of all in terms of trustworthiness. It has become necessary for the public to regularly question all sources of information (media; governments; businesses; social networks, etc.) and think critically about how digital technology and social media platforms themselves can be conduits of information disorder.

With the focus on the topic of misinformation in the recent past, there is an increasing demand for media sources that are trustworthy. As such, governments and civil society organizations around the world have launched numerous media literacy initiatives. On the other hand, journalists too have a role to play in the fight against dis- and misinformation, by equipping themselves with modern tools of fact-checking and social media verification.

ASEFJS12 will, therefore, explore how a trust-based approach to reporting can be adopted and strengthened by news media organizations and journalists. This is to help shape positive perceptions among ASEM societies of the value that Asia-Europe relationships present.

Further, after the end of the ASEF Journalism Seminar, the 14th ASEF Foreign Ministers’ Meeting will continue from 15 to 16 December. Candidates of ASEFJS12 can also participate in this meeting.

Fully Funded ASEF Journalism Seminar 2019

As the ASEF Journalism Seminar is fully funded event, participants do not require to pay a registration fee. Further, all participants will receive a travel subsidy in the form of reimbursement after the event. In order to receive the reimbursment, the participants must submit all relevant documents. However, participants must, at first, book their own travels.

Moreover, the travel subsidy includes travel insurance, expenses related to visa procurement and airport transfers between the port of arrival in Madrid and the conference hotel.

Further, the organizers will provide single-room accommodation for 3 nights for all participants. During the event, the organizer will also provide meals(13-14 December).

However, participants covering and accredited for the 14th ASEM Foreign Ministers’ Meeting (ASEMFMM14) on 15-16 December will need to cover their own accommodation and expenses by themselves.

Who is eligible for the ASEF Journalism Seminar?

To become eligible for the fully funded ASEF Journalism Seminar participants have to meet the following criteria:

• be under 35 years old
• further, the participants must be a citizen of an ASEM Partner country
• Participants should be a journalist or media professional (traditional media, online media, freelance are all eligible)
• Also, they should have experience and/or projects on the topic of media trust, misinformation, and disinformation

How to apply for the ASEF Journalism Seminar?

Candidates can participate in the fully funded ASEF Journalism Seminar 2019 by completing and submitting the online application form. Moreover, the participants must meet all the criteria to be eligible for the program.

Deadline

ASEF will accept the application for its 12th Journalism Seminar until 16 September 2019. Applications arriving after the deadline are not valid.