The Center for International Media Assistance has released an interesting new report examining recent trends in private U.S. funding of media development projects around the world.

U.S. foundations have funded programs in “media development” (independent news and information in general) and “media for development” (coverage of particular issues).

The report recommends donors keep consulting and continue to attract new foundations into the field.  For more, read the report.

-- Marly Falcon, Knight Foundation contributing blogger

Knight Foundation will give $6 million for the high-impact Knight International Journalism Fellowships program run by the International Center for Journalists. Eric Newton, vice president of Knight's journalism program, explains what's unique about the Fellows this way: “The fellows train the journalists who write the stories that move societies to improve the lives of their people.” And they do it all over the world.

Next year, Knight Fellows will launch:

• New investigative units at leading news organizations in the Middle East.
• A Web site that will map citizen reports on corruption so that Panamanian journalists can expose abuses.
• A new online association in India dedicated to improving transparency, making government data easily available to journalists for the first time.

ICFJ's news release is here. And more information about the Knight International Journalism Fellowships is here.

Jose Zamora is a Journalism Program Associate at Knight Foundation

The Knight News Challenge begins September 1, 2009. Start preparing your application today. To learn more about the contest, sign-up for updates and learn about past winning projects please visit: www.newschallenge.org.

Jose Zamora is a Journalism Program Associate at Knight Foundation

A new online journalism program will be launched by the International Center for Journalists (ICFJ) and The Poynter Institute. The partnership will provide better journalism education around the world.

The initiative makes the most out of ICFJ's global reach and experience in training journalists around the world and Poynter’s e-learning experience through NewsU.

Read more here:  News University International.

1H2O, a documentary by Sanjeev Chatterjee and Ali Habashi of the Knight Center for International Media at the University of Miami’s School of Communication, was shown to 20,000 children in 150 locations across India on March 22nd for World Water Day 2009.

Google Map Showing 1H2O Screening Sites

The documentary, which has no commentary or dialogue, shows the world water crisis from the perspective of communities at risk of flooding and droughts. It communicated a complex topic simply enough that the children understood that water was a precious commodity at risk from commoditization and climate change. See a clip from the film below:

The filmmakers decided where to show 1H2O by working with Pratham, a citizen’s group that supports childhood education in communities across India.

UN-Water, a cooperative effort among UN agencies focusing on water preservation and access, will host World Water Week in Stockholm from Aug. 16-22.