Countering Stereotypes Through Photojournalism - Theme of Three Workshops Aimed at Students and Moroccan Photojournalists Held at l'Institut Superieur de l'Information et de la Communication (ISIC) Rabat

The Application Deadline for Photojournalists for the Workshop, which will take place from the 30th  March to the 3rd of April is 30th January 2009 

Three workshops aimed at ISIC students and professional photojournalists working for Moroccan publications will be organized from the 23rd to the 27th of February and the 2nd to the 6th of March for ISIC students, as well as from the 30th to the 3rd of April 2009 for professional photojournalists. The workshops will be held at l’Institut superieur de l’information et de la communication in Rabat. Applications for professional photojournalists wishing to take part in the workshop, which will be held from the 30th March to the 3rd of April 2009, will be accepted until the 30th January.  Participants will incur no participation fee.

The trainings on the subject of stereotypes and workshops organised by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), in partnership with l’ISIC and the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy of the United States of America in Rabat, will permit the participants to deepen their knowledge of the practice and theory of photojournalism, and this, in the framework of the project "Countering Stereotypes Through Photojournalism." 

This project endeavours to reinforce the ethical practices and professional capacities of photojournalists, while reinforcing horizontal ties between media institutions in Morocco, through an increased institutionalization of objective and critical photojournalism.  Moreover, it aims to implement a culture of photojournalism, which not only offers an objective and reflective analysis of the subject treated, but also encourages media and analytic pluralism.

Established in Morocco since 2001, as well as in 18 countries across the world, Search for Common Ground is the most significant NGO in the field of conflict management and resolution.  SFCG’s objectives in Morocco are to reinforce the capacities of institutions, the media and individuals in order to promote a culture of dialogue, peace and reconciliation.

Jointly organized by Search for Common Ground and l’ISIC, these workshops will be led by Mr. Abdelkarim Belhaj, professor and author on psychology and sociology. The workshops in photojournalism will be led by Professor Jaâfar Akil, president of the Moroccan Association for Photographic Arts and professor-researcher at ISIC.

A closing ceremony will be organised for all the partners of the project in April, as well as an exposition of the photographs taken by the participants, and will conclude with an award ceremony for the winning candidates of the best photograph competition.
To apply for the workshops, or for more information, please contact Kawtar Amraoui, Program Manager/Trainer, Search for Common Ground, Tel: 061 30 49 47, Email: kamraoui@sfcg.org; and Tatjana de Kerros, Visiting Scholar, Search for Common Ground, Tel: 054 72 13, 10 E-mail: tdekerros@sfcg.org.

Rabat, Janary 20, 2009