Together with Goethe-Institut Pakistan, we are excited to announce a call for applications for Speak Up Karachi, a fully-funded citizen journalism training program hosted at the Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration. The project, which will have 15 participants from Karachi, intends to provide citizens and their communities with a voice to highlight local climate issues and their possible solutions with the aid of technology and via various media platforms.

As local communities are being severely impacted by the climate crisis, empowering them to highlight and bring forth issues that also form a part of the larger cause of protecting our environment is pivotal to taking actions and measures that serve as a solution and sustainability of the life of such communities.

Who should apply?
University students, young journalists, freelance print, broadcast, or digital journalists, and anyone working on urban issues or climate crisis in Karachi. The program is open for Karachi-based participants only. Applicants must be between 18 and 30 years. Women and minority candidates are encouraged to apply.

The program comprises three modules:
- an online content writing module
- a Mobile Journalism (MoJo) module
- all the participants will be required to prepare, develop and publish stories while performing the necessary fieldwork under the guidance of their mentor

At the end of the mentorship period, two of the best works submitted for any medium will be awarded cash prizes. Participants will also be given training completion certificates at the end of the program.

All costs of the workshop will be fully sponsored by a grant from the Franco-German Cultural Fund. Participants will also be provided with MoJo kits, along with a food and travel allowance for the fieldwork required for their story research.

Trainers, guest speakers, and mentors for the program:
- Zofeen T Ebrahim
- Zia ur Rehman
- Ayaz Ahmed Khan
- Kamal Siddiqi
- Mahim Maher

Important dates:
-Deadline to apply: Nov 9
-Shortlisted candidates contacted via email and phone call: Nov 16
-Online Content Writing module: Nov 23 - Nov 28
-Mobile Journalism (MoJo): Dec 2 - 5
-Mentorship period: Dec 8 - Jan 31
-Deadline to submit published stories for award: Feb 5
-Winners announced: Feb 19

For details and queries:
Zareen Khan
Communication Officer, CEJ-IBA
Tel: 38104701 (ext.1703), 03342220605
Email: zareenkhan@iba.edu.pk