jhrs International Programs Director Rachel Pulfer recently spent three weeks traveling though Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the Editor of the Toronto Star, Michael Cooke. Cooke conducted three workshops in Ghana and four workshops in the DRC on topics such as freedom of the press, investigative journalism and good governance. His workshops were attended by three hundred journalists, journalism students, editors and publishers.

In collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), jhr will be sending 40 interns to work with and learn from jhr’s media partners in Malawi and Ghana over the next two years. The internship program serves as a way to give Canadian youth work experience in developing countries. The first group of interns depart in early July, with placements in Star Radio, the Daily Times and Capital Radio in Malawi and Critical TV and the Daily Guide in Ghana.

Social media is completely transforming the media landscape and jhr believes that it can be actively used to spread human rights awareness and incite change. We need you to consume, share, and encourage the production of rights media by blogging, tweeting, or sharing on Facebook, stories which have the real potential to change lives. Where and how do you start?