Professional Development Scholarship Program

”2009 Blackout of Analog Television: Beginning of the Digital Era”

OAS/DHD/CIR. 180/2008

1) VENUE: CIESPAL, Department of Professional Training. Address: Avenida Diego de Almagro No. 32-133 y Andrade Marín, Quito, Ecuador. Tel: 593-2-256-7966 or 593-2-254-4624 or 593-2-254-2383. Fax: 593-2-250-2487. E Mail: [email protected] Coordinators: CIESPAL: Edgar Jaramillo, E-Mail: [email protected]; OAS: Mario Martínez y Palacios, E-Mail: [email protected]

2) DATES : From November 26, 2007 through November 31, 2007

4) COURSE DURATION: One (1) week

5) LANGUAGES: Spanish and English

6) MODALITY: On site

7) OBJECTIVES:

a. To review characteristics of the different systems of digital television.
b. To promote the analysis of economic, social, political and cultural repercussions of digital television.
c. To share theoretical and practical knowledge about how audio-visual products reach their communications objectives.
d. Analysis of the positive experiences and the limitations identified in the countries of Latin America and the Caribbean that have incorporated the digital technology in television.

8) SCHEDULE:

• Challenges of digital television en Latin America and the Caribbean.

• The digital conversion: an opportunity for television
• From analogical television to digital television.

• Television on the Internet: the future in Latin America and Caribbean

• Public Television: the reality in Latin America and the Caribbean.
• Globalization and communications in the digital era.

• The digital world, a tool for development and equality in the hemisphere.
• The new consumers of digital television.
• New approaches in programming of digital television.
• Quality production of digital television.

Workshops:

· Script writing for television

· Television production for Internet

· News reporting for television

· Investigative television

· Digital Broadcasting

· News production for television

· Production of educational material for television

· Digital animation and visual effects

Methodology:

The seminar day will be conducted in two parts:

Morning sessions: Three general morning conference sessions with specialists discussing the topics on the agenda before opening up the discussion for in-depth analysis of the proposed topic.

Afternoon sessions: These involve panel discussions with participants on issues surrounding television in Latin American and Caribbean countries and sharing of experiences based on the agenda topics.

9) REQUIREMENTS:

1. All applicants must be citizens or permanent residents of an OAS Member state, except Ecuador that is the seminar host country (residents must send copy of visa).

2. Have good command of Spanish and/or English, with documentary evidence if neither is not the native language.

3. University training: must be journalism graduates in a discipline relevant to the seminar or have relevant experience of at least five years.

4. Profile: The course is designed for journalists or communicators, mass media representatives, various levels of public sector officials involved in the field of television or those who manage projects dealing with the issue, professionals from NGO’s and civil society organizations, teachers, researchers or graduate students.

5. Must have health and accident insurance coverage abroad.

6. Submit a duly completed request before the deadline established by the National Liaison Organization (ONE)[1]. The candidate is responsible for finding out the deadline set by the ONE in his/her country of residence.

[1] The deadline for presentation of applications to the (ONE) differs from country to country and should therefore be confirmed with the relevant ONE in the applicant's country of origin or permanent residence.

10) Responsibilities of selected candidates:

All scholarship applicants must submit copy of the application, including all documentation required, to CIESPAL to the following address: Department of Professional Training, International Seminar “2009 Blackout of Analogical Television: Beginning of the Digital Era”: Avenida Diego de Almagro No. 32-133 y Andrade Marín, Quito, Ecuador. Fax: (593-2) 250-2487. E Mail: [email protected]

The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance to the OAS General Secretariat Office in their respective countries and through the ONE in order for the OAS to proceed with making the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between their country of origin or residence and the study location or, if the scholarship is refused, to appoint another candidate.

The selected candidates must confirm their acceptance of the scholarship by signing and returning to DHD their completed “form of acceptance of the scholarship award”; only after this has been done will the OAS proceed with the necessary travel arrangements to purchase the air travel tickets, economy class, round-trip, between the scholarship recipient’s country of origin and the study location.

Upon selection, candidates must accept the scholarship by confirming to CITEL their availability to follow the course during the period indicated and their acceptance of the duly provided conditions of study.

Selected scholarship recipients are responsible for obtaining the necessary visa(s) to enter the country of study and the corresponding transit(s). The OAS will not be responsible for any costs related to obtaining visas or transfer documentation.

Each scholarship recipient is responsible for arriving in time for the commencement of activities on the date established by the institution offering the course or program.

If the scholarship recipient fails to travel on the scheduled dates, or change routes, after the General Secretariat of the Organization of American States (GS/OAS) has purchased his/her travel ticket, he/she will be responsible for paying the difference in ticket costs in order to arrive at the course site in time. The scholarship recipient will furthermore have to reimburse the GS/OAS the total cost of the airfare for his/her travel from his/her country of residence to the site where the Professional Development Course will take place and back if, after the ticket has been purchased, he/she declines the scholarship without written authorization from the Department of Human Development.

The latter includes any additional costs, if any, incurred by the GS/OAS, such as extra costs for accommodation during the scholarship recipient’s travel to and from the country where the course will be held.

Benefits:

· The OAS Department of Human Development will cover economy roundtrip ticket between the country of origin and the seminar host country2, as well as an allowance for the participants to cover accommodation and food during the course.

· CIESPAL will provide instructors and technical and operational support staff for the course; and will also help with facilities, materials and promotional and organizational aspects of the course.

2 Funds for terminal and in-transit expenses are NOT provided

14. Presentation of candidacies:

Please Notice: If you were awarded an OAS Professional Development Scholarship in the past twelve (12) months or if you currently hold an OAS Scholarship for Academic Studies, you are not eligible to apply for another Professional Development Scholarship.

The online application form must be completed on-line and can be accessed at: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/onsite.aspx?culture=en&navid=282 here you’ll find the announcements of all the onsite courses, click in the one you are interested in, go though the end of the page, and then you’ll find the Continue button which will direct you to the online application form.

Once the applicant has completed the online application form and submitted it, a copy will be sent automatically to his/her e-mail account. This completed form must be printed, signed and submitted to the National Liaison Office (ONE) with all other forms (http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/formspd.aspx?culture=en&navid=282) that must be completed electronically or in typewritten format.

The following is the list of National Liaison Organizations (ONEs) in the OAS Member states: http://www.educoas.org/portal/en/oasbecas/ones.aspx?culture=en&navid=282

Please note that the official announcement is published in the language of instruction of the course and is available via the Educational Portal of the Americas Web page at: http://www.educoea.org.

Any questions regarding submission of applications for this course should be sent to: [email protected]

GENERAL INFORMATION

Fellowship awardees must plan to arrive in Quito, Ecuador, on November 25 2007. The seminar ends on November 30, 2007. Participants are expected to leave Quito on November 31, 2007. The OAS and CIESPAL will not cover expenses incurred by participants who arrive before or leave after these dates; neither will they cover excess baggage expenses.

USEFUL INFORMATION

Quito is situated on the Andean plateau, at 2,810 meters above sea level. Temperatures fluctuate between 9 degrees Centigrade and 22 degrees Centigrade. During the week of the course, it will be winter, when it normally rains in the afternoon; hence appropriate winter wear is recommended. Ecuador has a free foreign exchange market. The currency is the U.S. dollar.

IMPORTANT NOTICE: THESE SCHOLARSHIPS ARE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS CORRESPONDING TO THE 2008 REGULAR BUDGET

María Levens, Director

Department of Human Development

JVanGlaannenweygel/LzeaYonker