New Media Consortium of Guinea-Bissau launches competition for Investigative Journalism

The Media Innovation Consortium of Guinea-Bissau (CMICS) was presented to the public today at a press conference in Bissau. To mark the occasion, it launched a grant competition for investigative journalism.

4 Jan 2019

New Media Consortium of Guinea-Bissau launches competition for Investigative Journalism

CMICS is a non-profit association that brings together the main networks and associations of journalists, such as the Union of Journalists and Technicians of Social Communication (SINJOTECS), the Journalists Association (OJ-GB), the Association of Professional Communication Women Social Network (AMPROCS), the National Network of Community Radios and Televisions (RENARC) and the NGO Action for Development (AD), which has a long history of supporting this sector.

CMICS's main mission is to advance the media sector for peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau by defining shared goals and establishing strong relationships of trust among partners with a view to implementing strategies to be defined in common.

CMICS was established in December 2018 with the support of the Project "Boosting the Media Sector for Greater Peace and Stability in Guinea-Bissau", funded by the United Nations Peacebuilding Fund and with technical support from the Integrated Office (UNIOGBIS) and the United Nations Development Program for Development (UNDP).

"This consortium proves the willingness of Guinean journalists to carry out independent and quality journalism which will surely contribute for peace and democracy in the country," said UNIOGBIS spokeswoman Júlia Alhinho.

The fellowships program for investigative journalism projects on Guinea-Bissau is the first activity of the consortium. The objective is to encourage the promotion of citizenship, peace, and awareness of society on important issues in the country. At the same time it will boost the local capacity of journalists to produce conflict-sensitive content and to play their role as a "watchdog" for governance and democracy.

Paula Melo, president of AMPROCS challenged her colleagues: "In 2019 let us start producing quality and independent journalism in Guinea-Bissau".

The competition also has financial support from the UN Peacebuilding Fund a1nd technical support from the United Nations Integrated Office for Peacebuilding in Guinea-Bissau (UNIOGBIS) and the United Nations Development Program UNDP).