Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) welcomes the launch of Young Somali Voices journalism prize (YSV) in Somalia by the British Embassy in Mogadishu during the World Press Freedom Day this year.
This new award for the Somali journalists will not only encourage the quality journalism in Somalia but will also highlight importance of the work of Somali journalists.
The announcement on May 7th 2019, comes as the Governments of UK and Canada are planning to co-host the Global Conference for Media Freedom under the hash tag of #DefendMediaFreedom in July this year in London.
“This journalist prize award is clear example how the UK government particularly UK ambassador to Somalia Mr. Ben Fender is committed to support Somali journalists and we as SJS praise the ambassador’s role toward this initiative,” SJS said.
ABOUT THE PRIZE
The new prize seeks short videos and photographs from media students and early career journalists based in Somalia including Somaliland which demonstrate a positive, original and unique story about Somalia.
The competition is open to media students and early career journalists (3 years work experience and below, directly employed or freelance). Applications from women and marginalised groups are particularly encouraged. All entrants must be Somali nationals and have a valid travel document. Only one entry is allowed per individual.
“Somali Journalists Syndicate encourages all early career journalists and particularly women journalists to participate this competition by submitting their best journalism work.
HOW TO ENTER
Submit: a video of up to 2 minutes highlighting a positive and unique story about any aspect of life in Somalia; the video can be in Somali but must have English subtitles a black and white or colour photograph depicting a positive and unique story about Somalia.; the photograph should have a title or short caption
the video/photograph via WeTransfer or Google Drive to UKinSomalia@gmail.com
a one-page CV which includes your name, date of birth, education, employment history, a copy of your travel document and your entry.
If you have any questions, or problems with the submission process, please contact the awards team at UKinSomalia@gmail.com before Friday 7 June 2019.
The deadline for entries is 23:59 on Friday 7 June 2019. Any work submitted after this time will not be accepted.
For more information, please visit https://www.gov.uk/government/news/british-embassy-in-somalia-launches-young-somali-voices-journalism-prize
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For more information, please contact:
Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS)
Osoble-Adde Biulding, KM4 area, Near Hayat Hotel, Wadajir District, Mogadishu, Somaia
Tel: +252618363838/ +252 61 8251363
Email: alerts@sjs.ileysinc.com
For General inquiries: email us: sjs@sjs.ileysinc.com
Twitter: @sjs_somalia
Facebook: @sjsyndicate
Somaliland: wounded journalist
Abdirahman Keyse sees a doctor nearly a week after police gunshot, keeping him
behind bars without charges
LAS ANOD Friday May 17, 2019 (PRESS STATEMENT) Somali
Journalists Syndicate (SJS) is releived to learn that Somaliland authorities
has on Friday allowed journalist Abdirahman Keyse Tungub of Bulsho TV to see a
doctor, friends and family, nearly a week of suffering from police
gunshot on his leg while behind bars without charges.
The Commander of Las’Anod Police, Saleban Duale
Warsame (alias Dhegaweyne) on Friday agreed to allow the doctor to see
journalist Abdirahman, who was detained at Aslubta prison in Las’Anod, Sool
region. The journalist was previously held at the Central Police Station until
Wednesday May 15, 2019 when he was transferred to the Aslubta prison.
On Friday morning, upon arriving at the jail,
the prison guards confiscated visiting journalists’ mobile phones before
allowing them to see Abdirahman, according to one of the colleagues who visited
the prison.
“Today at 8am local time, we’ve visited our
friend Abdirahman who is being held in the main Aslubta jail in Las’Anod. We
spoke him through a small hole at the door of the prison cell which he shared
five other prisoners,” the colleague journalist told Somali Journalists
Syndicate (SJS).
“He could not stand well as he was complaining
from a lot of pain from his leg injuries. He had covered it with a piece of
sheet to prevent bleeding,” the journalist added.
The doctor then treated the injury by cleaning
the tissues damaged by the shrapnel.
Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) reached out
to the doctor who declined to speak about the health situation of the
journalist due to what he called “the sensitivity of the case”.
Another colleague who accompanied the visiting
journalists and saw when the doctor was attending to the journalist said that a
small bit of shrapnel remained lodged in beneath the ankle of Abdirahman’s
right leg which causes a lot of ache to him.
“The doctor suggested that the journalist
would need a qualified physician to remove the shrapnel,” the second colleague
told Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).
Meanwhile acts of threats and intimidations with
arrests against journalists continue in Las’Anod ahead of Somaliland’s
Independence Day celebrations on May 18, forcing journalists to go into hiding.
So far one journalist has fled Las’Anod on Thursday following reports that
police were looking for him.
Mohamed Bidhanshe, who works for the critical
privately-owned SBS TV has told Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) that he fled
his hometown Las’Anod after police raided his home Wednesday night.
“Thanks God. I’m now in a safer place. I
fled my hometown and my family. I will not return back until I get freedom to
report as a journalist,” he said.
The freedom of speech and press in Somalia is
being threatened by draconian laws and rogue leadership who always try to
silence and oppress the journalists and media.
For more information, please contact:
Somali
Journalists Syndicate (SJS)
Osoble-Adde Biulding, KM4 area, Near Hayat
Hotel, Wadajir District, Mogadishu, Somaia
Tel: +252618363838/ +252 61 8251363
Email: alerts@sjs.ileysinc.com
For General inquiries: email us: sjs@sjs.ileysinc.com
Twitter: @sjs_somalia
Facebook: @sjsyndicate
Thu, May 16, 9:21 PM
ALERT: Somaliland: Las’Anod police shot and injured TV journalist before illegally detaining him
LAS’ANOD, May 16, 2019 – Somali Journalists
Syndicate (SJS) is shocked to learn that Somaliland police in Las’anod have
shot and injured Abdirahman Keyse Tungub, a correspondent for the
Hargeisa-based privately-owned independent Bulsho TV on Monday May 13, 2019,
his colleagues and eyewitnesses said.
The police followed the journalist who was with
friends in the downtown on Las’anod midday on Monday and violently attacked him
as they tried to arrest him. The journalist and his friends attempted to
challenge the capture without a warrant of arrest resulting armed police to
shoot and wound journalist Abdirahman.
“One bullet was fired and hit the journalists’
right leg below the ankle. He was then taken into custody with injuries,” the
journalist’s colleague told Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS).
On Tuesday morning, a group of local journalists
visited the Las’anod Central Police Station to see the detained colleague but
they were blocked and were told that they can’t see him. His family was not
allowed to visit him as well.
‘
Abdirahman remained in custody in Las’anod
Central Police Station until Wednesday May 15th, when he was transferred to
Aslubta Prison outside Las’Anod town and it is not known if he has been provided
with medication for the injuries he sustained from the police gunshot.
This is the second violent arrest against
journalist Abdirahman by the police in Las’anod. In May last year, police
detained the journalist after his news report featured anti-Somaliland protests
by the local people in Las’anod.
Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) understands
that three other journalists went in hiding following reports that police
soldiers were hunting them for being critic to Somaliland government.