MediaStorm is excited to welcome Lisa Jamhoury, as our new Operations and Social Media Manager. Lisa Jamhoury is a communications professional with a passion for confronting social justice issues. Lisa previously worked as communications manager at the International Center for Transitional Justice (ICTJ), where she implemented strategies to increase media attention, expand online presence and multimedia use, and streamline print production. Before joining ICTJ, Lisa worked with Save the Children USA in Mozambique, and as an intern in the Media Services Branch of the United Nations Population Fund and with the Women’s Refugee Commission. Lisa holds a BA from Pace University, where she studied political science and Spanish. She was awarded the Jeannette K. Watson Fellowship in 2005.

The Open Society Documentary Photography Project and Arts and Culture Program announce a grant and training opportunity for documentary photographers from Central Asia, the South Caucasus, Afghanistan, Mongolia, and Pakistan. Approximately 10 cash stipends in the amount of $3,500 USD each will be awarded to photographers to produce a photo essay on a current human rights or social issue in the region. Along with the stipend, grantees will participate in two master-level workshops on visual storytelling through photography and multimedia.   These workshops are led by internationally-recognized photographers and industry professionals who will then provide ongoing mentorship and support throughout the six-month grant term. The six-month grant program will provide up to 10 regionally based photographers with: A cash stipend Audio equipment and software Two advanced training workshops Travel and hotel expenses and provide a per diem to cover meals and incidentals for the workshops Ongoing coaching and mentoring throughout the grant period Deadlines to keep your…

LUCEO  announces its call for entries for the third annual LUCEO Student Project Award. The award is offered each year to a student photographer working to develop a significant body of work. The 2011 Student Project Award recipient was Ohio University undergraduate student Maddie McGarvey. Her photo essay on grandparents raising grandchildren was selected as the winner by a panel of judges headed by Michael Wichita in June 2011. This year, both full-time graduate and undergraduate students are invited to submit an application for submission.  Ten finalists will be announced in late May. A select panel will judge from the ten finalists and the winner will be announced in June during LOOK3: The Festival of the Photograph in Charlottesville, Virginia. Michael Wichita, Director of Photography at AARP, will once again serve as Lead Judge. LUCEO's 2012 winner will receive $1,000 towards completion of his or her project, as well as a yearlong mentorship on the…

Advanced Storytelling Workshop at MediaStorm We have one spot open in our upcoming Advanced Storytelling workshop that starts this Saturday, March 24. Please apply immediately if you are interested in participating in this one-week Advanced Storytelling workshop. The primary goal of the MediaStorm Advanced Storytelling Workshop is to create an intimate, character-driven documentary that is ready for publication. Participants will work directly with two MediaStorm producers, in the field and in the editing suite, as part of a crew dedicated to telling a story. Participants will create their stories under the direction of MediaStorm producers in a collaborative, educational and hands-on environment.         Deadlines and dates for two upcoming Advanced Storytelling Workshops: July 28-August 3, 2012 with an application deadline on June 5, 2012. November 10-November 16 with an application deadline on September 12, 2012. Learn more about the Advanced Storytelling Workshop, and apply here.  Human Rights and the Media NYU…

A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan, by Seamus Murphy, was selected by the Media for Liberty Award jury panel as the winning submission for the third annual Media for Liberty Award, a $50,000 journalism prize that recognizes media contributions that examine the link between economic and political liberty.  Print, broadcast and online submissions were judged on criteria including thematic relevance, educational value and relevance to the public discourse. “This was a powerful story that unfolds over fourteen years and illustrates the physical, emotional and economic toll the years of political instability took on an average Afghan family,” said John Malone, Chairman of Liberty Media. “On behalf of the jury panel, we congratulate Seamus Murphy and MediaStorm for producing an educative and compelling piece that stood out among this year’s entries.” Read more about the Media for Liberty Award, and watch the winning film, A Darkness Visible: Afghanistan.