Podcast Documentary Scholarship, 2008

Do you dream about being an intrepid journalist seeking out stories from remote parts of the world? Then here is the opportunity for you!
Go on assignment to The Fred Hollows Eye Camp, Kampong Thom, Cambodia
World Nomads will send one exceptional student on assignment to visit a Fred Hollows Foundation eye camp in the remote Baray District of Kampong Thom Province, Cambodia. In one of the poorest countries in south-east Asia, blindness is a real problem with limited health care facilities and an estimated 162,000 blind people. The Fred Hollows Foundation has worked in Cambodia since 2000 providing basic eye health care to remote communites and rebuilding medical facilities that were destroyed by the Pol Pot regime.
As part of this assignment, you will receive mentorship from ABC Radio Journalist, Executive Producer & Author, Tim Latham, who will provide assistance via telephone/internet with story development, scripting and final editing.
You will stay at the eye camp for three days witnessing vital cataract surgery performed by the team, restoring sight to local villagers. Gaining special access to interview The Fred Hollows team and local villagers, you will seek out your own unique story to be recorded on your new mobile digital recorder.
Post assignmnet you will enjoy a 6 day Intrepid Independant Tour - 'Highlights of Cambodia' to delve deeper into Cambodia’s rich history and culture. The Scholarship also covers airfares from your nearest international airport to Phnom Penh, mobile digital recorder, travel vaccinations, visa costs and per diems.
Once you have returned home, you'll create a 10 - 15 minute Podcast Documentary which World Nomads will submit to a number of international radio programs, podcast channels and partner sites such as Intrepid Travel, The Fred Hollows Foundation and Lonely Planet, giving you the chance to have your story heard by thousands of travellers.
What you'll be doing
We'll fly you in from your country of residence and you'll have to be available to be in Cambodia between February 16th and February 28th 2008.
Prior to leaving you will be mentored by journalist Tim Latham to guide you in how to approach finding your story.
In Cambodia, you will be given unique access to interview members of The Fred Hollows team and be assisted by a translator to interview patients and local community members. Click here for more information on The Fred Hollows Foundation work in Cambodia.
Post assignment you will enjoy a 6 day Intrepid Independant tour.
You will keep a daily diary about your time on the trip and upload this plus pictures you've taken to your World Nomads travel journal.
On your return you will receive further mentoring from Tim Latham to assist in editing together your story. You will then upload the 10 - 15 minute documentary podcast to the World Nomads web site within 2 months of your return.
Most of all, you'll be experiencing what it's like to be journalist in a remote location in one the most beautiful and friendly countries in the world.
Where you'll be going
You will fly to Phnom Penh in Cambodia and travel by 4WD to the Kampong Thom Province. This is the real deal! Travelling to a remote area involves a full day's journey on dirt roads, not for the faint hearted!
You will stay in a basic hotel in Kampong Thom Province and travel daily to and from the remote eye camp in the Baray District. (approximately 2 hours each way, so you must be prepared for some rustic travel!).
Your Intrepid tour travels from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap taking in all the sights including the magnificent temples of the Angkor Complex.
Who can apply
To be eligible you have to be a journalism, media, radio, arts/communications student at a recognised educational institution and speak fluent english.
Minimum age 18.
You should be a mad-keen auteur with a lust for adventure and a desire to enhance your journalism skills.
You must be prepared for lots of overland travel in rustic conditions!
Apply nowIf you want it, you've got to show it. To apply you need to:
1. Compile a 3 minute (or less) travel focussed podcast documentary in english around the theme ‘It Opened My Eyes’. It's up to you to convince our judging panel through your documentary that you have the spirit of adventure and passion for travel journalism to be chosen for this scholarship. We will be looking for; • originality• clarity of ideas • excellent presentation and interview skills • ability to source and tell a compelling story.
2. Upload your podcast documentary anywhere you wish on the internet (e.g podcast hosts such as bigcontact.com, blogamp.com, ipodnetwoks.com etc) and note the url address.
3. Go to Worldnomads.com and complete the 2008 World Nomads Podcast Documentary Scholarship application form which includes personal details and a 300 words (or less) essay on why you should be chosen. Copy and paste the link to your podcast submission into the entry form.
Applications close Sunday January 20, 2008.
Apply online
More info: http://journals.worldnomads.com/scholarships/post/10992.aspx