Recent political uprisings in parts of Northern Africa, have shown that if stories can reach the right ears, millions of lives can change. Media, both social and traditional, have allowed countries to mobilize their citizens, and the world, and the results have been powerful: overthrown governments, wars, and protests.
Spending two weeks on the beach basking in the sun is a common way to enjoy spring break vacation. But in the past decade, many young Canadians are opting to lend a helping hand in the developing world instead.
Jenny Vaughan is no stranger to the hybrid role of journalist, leader, and advocate. She now occupies a unique position as the Accra, Ghana-based eyes and ears of Journalists for Human Rights, a media development organization with operations throughout sub-Saharan Africa.
Born and raised in British Columbia, Jessica McDiarmid knew from a young age that she wanted to write about tough subjects in difficult places. With the work of Canada’s most renowned foreign correspondents as inspiration, McDiarmid decided to take up a career in journalism.
Old Fadama has been identified as the largest slum in Accra. It occupies 3.1 hectares of land and having a population of about 80,000. The place, over past years, has become a shelter for a lot of youth, especially, those from the northern parts of Ghana, seeking greener pastures and a better standard of living.
‘FACES OF Old Fadama,’ a magazine produced by students of the African University College of Communications (AUCC), with professional support from Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) was launched in Accra last Friday.
A magazine titled “Faces of old Fadama” has been launched in Accra. The twenty page magazine is aimed at drawing the attention of authorities and all concerned to the various human rights abuses the residents of Old Fadama faces and also to offer Government of Ghana alternatives on humanitarian solutions to forced evictions.
The African University College of Communication (AUCC) has launched a new magazine which has the title “Faces of Old Fadama”. The motive for this publication is to draw government’s attention to improving the standards of living among the residents of Old Fadama in the Greater Accra Region.
Mr Freddie Blay, former first Deputy Speaker of Parliament to relook at the issue of slum dwellers because they possess so much potential that could be tapped for productive use.
Mr Freddie Blay, former first Deputy Speaker of Parliament to relook at the issue of slum dwellers because they possess so much potential that could be tapped for productive use.
Canadian journalists going to Ghana as part of non-profit organization Journalists for Human Rights for six months to work in media houses and universities.
African University College of Communications (AUCC)
By Gyamfi Barbara
May 30, 2011
A group of forty AUCC students developed the “Faces of Old Fadama” magazine in collaboration with Canadian NGO Journalists for Human Rights, the People’s Dialogue on Human Settlements, the Ghana Federation of the Urban Poor and the support of the High Commission of Canada and The Daily Guide.
The “sand revolution” gathers force, a harmattan of people power. Canada’s reaction has been to send a warship and half a dozen CF-18s to Libya. Meantime, the top story in Canadian aid has been a hand-wringing debate over who misled whom over a decision not to take action on a file.
Managing Editor of a The Enquirer Newspaper in Monrovia talks about how a jhr trained journalist wrote an article about pollution into a local river by a Firestone Rubber Factory. This article garnered the attention of Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf, who ordered a EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) investigation of the situation.
In July 2010, 10 Canadian journalists travelled to Ghana and Malawi to work in newsrooms and journalism schools for six months to empower local journalists to produce human rights media. Five are working in Malawi and five are working in Ghana.
Two Canadian documentaries took top prize at the journalists for Human Rights film festival: A documentary detailing modern-day colonization in Canada and another that follows the long, red-tape-filled stories of Canadian refugee claimants stuck in status limbo.
Nathaniel Laywine writes about female documentary journalists, their subjects and their role in the 2nd annual Journalists for Human Rights documentary film festival.
Human Rights Docfest is a national film festival on international human rights issues, and a partnership between Journalists for Human Rights, the National Film Board of Canada, and CitizenShift.
We talk to Ben Peterson, co-founder and executive director of Journalists for Human Rights (jhr), about the leap of faith he took to defend human rights in Africa.
Social fundraising with a cause kicked off this spring's party season. Journalists for Human Rights' Night for Rights gala market its seventh anniversary...
jhr’s 7th annual Night for Rights is almost sold out! A limited number of tickets are still available — go online right now to get yours while you still can!
All attention will this night be focused on the works of Ghanaian journalist and host of JS-International Assigment, Jefferson Kwamina Sackey in Canada for his contribution to human rights awareness.
By Canadian Journalists for Free Expression Presents
July 29, 2009
Join Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) on July 29 to celebrate the accomplishments of Pikin News - a youth-run newspaper in Sierra Leone.
The Globe's Graeme Smith talks with readers and Ben Peterson of Journalists for Human Rights
May 6, 2009
Following a screening of the documentary Reporter, The Globe and Mail's Graeme Smith takes questions and talks with Ben Peterson, co-founder of Journalists for Human Rights, about the value of the foreign correspondent and life on the front lines...
The mezzanine at the Berkeley Church on Queen East swelled with twenty-and thirtysomethings last Friday night at the sixth annual Journalists for Human Rights fundraiser. They were drinking and dancing shoulder-to-shoulder until they were forced downstairs for fear it might cave in...
Writers of all stripes put down their note pads and opened their wallets at the Journalists for Human Rights’ sixth annual Night for Rights at the Berkeley Church...
jhr’s trainers Nina Devries and Mary Joe Prouxl discuss child soldiers in Sierra Leone, and the verdicts handed down in the prosecution of the leaders of the civil war. To listen, click here, and scroll down to Part 3: Sierra Leone – Child Soldier Verdicts.
The long-term future of a federal program that gave thousands of young Canadians a chance to work for aid organizations in developing countries is uncertain.
Adelard Mambuya Obul'Okwess worked as a journalist for 12 years before he became a media trainer with Journalists for Human Rights in his home city of Kinshasa.
jhr announces the recipients of six investigative reporting fellowships, created to assist local journalists to investigate human rights issues. For more on the Fellowship topics click here.
Sierra Leone gets more than its fair share of bad press. It seems that nearly every week a new study, list or statistic is published that places the country at or close to the bottom of the "ranking du jour"...
Last month I travelled to Sierra Leone for the Canadian organization Journalists for Human Rights (JHR). The group was founded in 2002 with the goal of assisting local media in Africa and North America to expand their coverage of human rights...
"You have to train your eyes to look at issues from a human rights point of view." Joseph Chikwemba, a local human rights activist and executive secretary of the Centre for Harmony Amongst the Races in Malawi (CHARM) is talking animatedly to a packed class of certificate journalism students at the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ).
In a bid to improve the capacity of local journalists in Sierra Leone, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), a Canadian-based media capacity building organization, yesterday held a one-day training course for practitioners from the print and electronic media.
Concord Times newspaper Monday grabbed Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) first media human rights award at a ceremony held in China House in Freetown.
Concord Times Newspaper and five local journalists were awarded for excellence in human rights journalism yesterday by a local NGO, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR).
Two Windsor Law student groups, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) and Canadian Lawyers for International Human Rights (CLAIHR), embarked on awareness and fundraising campaigns last week to encourage public engagement of global human rights abuses...
The red carpet showcased the usual suspects during the recent run of the Toronto International Film Festival: Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, George Clooney, Matt Damon. But new to the celebrity parade were more than a dozen African-born orphans of disease and war, as part of the African Children's Choir, who were among the beneficiaries of the OneXOne charity gala (held at the same time as the film festival) that Mr. Damon chaired.
A charitable organization, Journalists for Human Rights (JHR), Monday announced that it is commencing work in Sierra Leone, a press release from the organization states.
Anonymity may be fine for some. But to Douglas Caldwell, chairman of Caldwell Partners International Inc., no good deed should go unrewarded. It's part of the reason he founded Canada's Top 40 Under 40 - to celebrate unheralded young leaders and give them the recognition they deserve....
Elvis Gbanabom Hallowell, renowned Sierra Leone writer and activist and winner of the prestigious Young Global Leadership Award (YGL) of the World Economic Forum, has been chosen to head Journalists for Human Rights (JHR) in Salone.
The International Programs Director for a United States of America based Human Right organization, the Journalists for Human Right (JHR) organization is currently in Sierra Leone to offer a series of training workshops on Human Rights for journalists in Sierra Leone.
The media in Africa has an onerous challenge of living up to the responsibility of the covetous position of being the Fourth Estate by courageously highlighting the scandalous complicity of Private Military Corporations (PMCs) in the gross violations of human rights in their reportage of news...
This November 4th, 2011, university students across Canada are choosing to Stand Up and Shout about sexual violence in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) for 16 hours straight. Each hour is dedicated to 100 000 of the 1.6 million sexual violence victims in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. To signify their participation, students will also sport blue lipstick.
Ben Peterson, Co-Founder of jhr (Journalists for Human Rights), has stepped down from his role as Executive Director. On October 15th 2011, jhr's Board of Directors accepted Peterson’s resignation from the position.Rachel Pulfer, former International Programs Director at jhr, has been appointed jhr’s new Executive Director. Ben will work with Rachel on the transition for the remainder of 2011.
jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) is proud to announce the addition of five of Canada’s top media and human rights professionals to its Board of Directors: Michael Cooke, Wojciech Gryc, Helen Hambly Odame, Renu Mandhane, and Kirstine Stewart.
jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) has partnered with the Canadian Museum for Human Rights (CMHR) to bring Doc-Fest, a Rights Media Documentary Film Festival, to Montreal. Doc-Fest will run from Sept 30th to Oct 1st, showcasing short and feature length documentaries at the BMO Amphitheatre at Concordia University.
jhr (Journalists for Human Rights / journalistes pour les droits de la personne) a établi un partenariat avec le MCDP (Musée canadien pour les droits de la personne) afin de présenter à Montréal le Festival du film documentaire des droits des médias. Il se déroulera du 30 septembre au 1er octobre et proposera des courts et longs métrages documentaires à l’Amphithéâtre BMO de l’Université Concordia.
jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) and the Canadian Association of Journalists are proud to announce the creation of a new award for Canadian journalists.
The jhr/CAJ Award for Human Rights Reporting will be given to a deserving Canadian journalist for the first time at the 2012 CAJ conference at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto. The award will recognize excellence in human rights reporting. Submissions will be accepted from Canadian journalists reporting from the world over, including within Canada.
Tonight, Toronto's biggest stars, media personalities, global citizens and influential heavy weights will unite at one of the hottest parties in the Toronto fundraising circuit. Join Journalists for Human Rights at the 8th annual Night for Rights fundraiser, presented by The Toronto Star. The event, hosted by CBC’s Peter Armstrong will be held at Toronto's legendary 99 Sudbury, recently renovated and ushered into the 21st century in chic Queen West style. Last year, 900 inspired revelers raised their glasses and spirits to support human rights and brush shoulders with their favorite Canadian celebrities.
jhr is launching MAKE MEDIA MATTER, a new multi dimensional media platform that will redefine the way the world thinks about the media. jhr is spreading the word about MAKE MEDIA MATTER through Pepsi’s latest contest and marketing campaign Refresh Everything.
The 2nd Annual Human Rights Documentary Film Festival, hosted at the National Film Board’s Toronto Mediateque on July 23rd- 25th, will showcase human rights conscious Canadian films that have been reviewed by a panel of high profile, industry leading judges from organizations such as jhr, the University of Toronto, Hotdocs Film Festival, and more.
From April 14th to April 24th, Ben Peterson, the Executive Director and Co-Founder of jhr, has been accompanying Canada’s Governor General, Her Excellency Michaëlle Jean and a team of Canadian delegates as they undertake State visits to The Republic of Senegal, The Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of Rwanda and Cape Verde.
Toronto’s biggest stars, media personalities and influential heavy weights will unite at what has become one of the hottest parties in the Toronto fundraising circuit. This sold-out event will feature one of the most up and coming Canadian DJ’s DJ DLUX, live drumming lead by the founder of the Muhtadi international drumming festival and a line-up of DJ’s playing everything from Ethiopian Jazz to Ghanaian and Nigerian funk. The night will also feature top of the line sight and sound installation, video DJs spinning live feed, and super-hot giveaways from West Jet and Gap Adventures.
May 15, 2009
Five minutes before the deadline of jhr’s cross-Canada human rights essay competition Write the Wrong, a taxi cab driver dashed into jhr’s head office to deliver what was to be the winning paper.
Toronto, Canada – It’s time again to get ready for the best fundraising party of the year. Join jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) for our 6th Annual “Night for Rights” Fundraiser! Come out in support of jhr and help make everyone in the world aware of their rights.
Canada’s top media personalities and The Walrus Magazine join jhr (Journalists for Human Rights) in launching a new initiative called Write the Wrong, Canada’s largest human rights essay competition.
In celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (December 10th 2008), jhr is pleased to announce its new public face - a new website, new logo, new head office and new way of talking about the important work we do.
jhr's new approach will bring us closer to realizing our goal: to make everyone on earth fully aware of their rights. jhr will also celebrate the positive role the media can play in spreading rights awareness to around the world.
"I'm really excited about the new direction jhr is heading," says jhr's Co-Founder and Executive Director Ben Peterson. "We want to give everyone the chance to learn about human rights and to help play a part in spreading the word."
jhr's new website (www.jhr.ca) tells our story in an interactive way, giving visitors a better understanding of how we mobilize local media to spread the word on human rights. jhr's new logo injects energy to our look and feel. jhr's new office space, in the heart of the 'non-profit' district of Toronto, puts our organization in the thick-of-things. And the new way we talk about our work is designed to get more people excited about the importance of journalism and its potential to change people's lives for the better.
"jhr is a unique organization with a powerful mandate," says Peterson. "The more people we get involved, the more change we can affect."
jhr was co-founded in 2002 by Ben Peterson, recipient of Canada's Top 40 under 40 Award, and has become Canada's largest international media development organization. jhr works primarily in post-conflict countries, including the Congo (DRC), Sierra Leone and Liberia to spread human rights acceptance. In Africa, jhr's programs help reach 20 million people across 16 countries. In Canada, jhr has established 25 Chapters at post-secondary institutions across the country, actively engaging over 20 per cent of Canada's journalism students in human rights reporting.
A who's who of leaders and up-and-comers from Toronto's corporate, media and political scenes will converge at the Steam Whistle Brewery on Friday, March 30, to help local NGO Journalists for Human Rights (jhr) celebrate its 4th Annual "Night for Rights".
Please join Journalists for Human Rights (jhr) for a thought-provoking discussion with five African journalists, moderated by Canada AM's Marci Ien, on the role of the media in African development.
Considered one of Ghana's best journalists, Ato Kwamena Dadzie will visit Canada from February 7 to 17 to share his experiences working in the West African media and to help bring awareness to continuing human rights abuses in the region. It is his first visit to Canada.
CKLN 88.1 FM and Ryerson Journalists for Human Rights are raising money to help Ugunja Community Resource Centre build a community-based radiostation in Kenya.
On a day when she met with the John Agyekum Kufuor, President of Ghana, and George Kingsley Acquah, the Lord Chief Justice, Canadian Governor General Michaëlle Jean also made time to speak with the overseas staff of Canadian NGO Journalists for Human Rights (jhr) on Tuesday.
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