Highlight :DG Alert/Guide to operating in areas of conflict for the oil & gas industry /Nonprofit Reporting Center Launches California Investigative P

Highlight :DG Alert

Competition clauses in bilateral trade treaties: analysing the issues in the context of India's future negotiating strategy
'The failure to include competition provisions at the WTO multilateral framework provided the scope for including their inclusion at bilateral/regional level. However, there are large differences across free trade agreements (FTAs) in terms of how the competition provisions are addressed. In this context, this research report tries to analyse the competition provisions in some selected FTAs and draw lessons for India.

The paper indicates that the provision related to harmonisation of competition laws should not be tried, considering that many countries don’t yet have domestic competition laws. In addition, it notes that the harmonisation clauses which require reduction of existing diversity in various domestic competition laws can not be achieved. However, the soft laws on cooperation, including any procedures for consultations, notification, or comity are found to be useful for enhancing cooperation among the competition agencies while dealing with anticompetitive practices.'


Guide to operating in areas of conflict for the oil & gas industry
'This is a guide for companies working in the extractive industries, particularly in the oil and gas sectors and provides basic conflict management advice and guidance. Its objective is to save time, to protect resources and reputations, and to enhance the safety of employees and of the communities in which they do business.'


Improving Competitiveness and Increasing Economic Diversification in the Caribbean: The Role of ICT
This study on 'Improving Competitiveness and Increasing Economic Diversification in the Caribbean: The Role of ICT' offers concrete recommendations of how the small island economies of the Caribbean can harness ICT to create new economic opportunities for their people.This study is the first output of infoDev's Country Competitiveness program, a multi-country research program which takes a sober look at the role of ICT in improving competitiveness and overcoming the fundamental impediments to innovation, new business creation and sustainable private sector development in developing countries. In recent years, developing countries and their partners in the international development community have devoted considerable attention to the role that information and communication technologies (ICT) might play in promoting economic growth, combating poverty, and strengthening their participation and competitiveness in the global economy.


AIR JAMAICA ANNOUNCES NEW BAGGAGE POLICY
FOR NEW YORK-GRENADA and NEW YORK-BARBADOS FLIGHTS
Kingston, Jamaica May 8, 2009 -Air Jamaica will implement a new policy for checked baggage on flights between New York and Grenada and New York and Barbados. Passengers travelling on these routes in Lovebird Economy class may now check one bag free of charge, and pay US$25 to check a second bag. Lovebird Executive Class passengers may check two bags free of charge, with a US$25 fee for a third checked bag. The new policy comes into effect May 11, 2009 for New York/Grenada and July 2, 2009 for New York/Barbados, subject to the approval of the government of Barbados.
Passengers are guaranteed delivery of the free baggage allowance on the same flight on which they travel. All other bags will be transported within seven days, and must be collected from the airport. The status of these bags may be tracked online at www.AirJamaica.com/baggage to determine when they may be collected.
"The new baggage regulations on flights between New York and Grenada and New York and Barbados ensure that each Lovebird Economy passenger receives the guaranteed one bag on arrival, with our Lovebird Executive Class passenger receiving their guaranteed two bags." said Sue Rosen, Air Jamaica's Senior Director, Customer Service.
Passengers ticketed on or before May 10, 2009 for travel on or after May 11, 2009 will be allowed bags under the current policy which is two free checked bags for Lovebird Economy Class passengers, and three free checked bags for Lovebird Executive Class passengers.
All checked baggage must be within Air Jamaica's guidelines of a maximum weight of 50 pounds and total maximum dimensions of 62 inches. Additional charges will apply for overweight and excess baggage.
For further information on Air Jamaica's baggage guidelines, visit www.AirJamaica.com.
About Air Jamaica
Air Jamaica's new summer schedule has 246 weekly flights to 12 destinations, with service between Jamaica and Toronto, New York (JFK), Chicago (O'Hare), Baltimore, Philadelphia, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Havana, Curacao and Nassau, as well as service between New York and Barbados and New York and Grenada.

JOURNALISM IN THE AMERICAS

Nonprofit Reporting Center Launches California Investigative Project
The non-profit Center for Investigative Reporting (CIR) is launching a reporting project that will produce in-depth multimedia journalism specific to California, its home state, at a time when newsroom layoffs are challenging media's ability to monitor state institutions.
The California Reporting Project will collaborate with media and journalism schools to cover key issues in the state, including education, the environment, immigration, state governance, and public safety, CIR says. It will launch with two three-year grants of $1.2 million, from the James Irvine Foundation and the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.
Job descriptions for the project are listed here.

Job Opportunities

The California Reporting Project
Reporters

The Center for Investigative Reporting is seeking a small but dynamic team of journalists for a new reporting initiative to produce in-depth multimedia journalism on issues of critical importance to California.
The California project, with support from The James Irvine Foundation and William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, will seek to be a new model for regional journalism. It will serve as a home for talented and innovative journalists; take full advantage of new technologies to produce compelling storytelling; and build powerful collaborations with news outlets, universities, and others throughout the state to enable important stories to be covered in-depth and distributed widely.
We are seeking collaborative, passionate journalists with strong storytelling abilities and track records of producing compelling, creative, original, high impact stories of broad significance. Applicants should be self-starters, with a deep knowledge of California issues, local and state governments, budgets, public policy, government databases and public records.
We plan to hire 5-6 full time journalists with a range of experience, from those with three or more years of to those with at least 10 years experience. While we will prioritize those who have worked in multiple mediums, all applicants should have print experience and proven writing skills. Most of the positions will be located in Sacramento and the Bay Area; others will be in Southern California or the Central Valley.
Each reporter should have significant expertise in at least one of the following:
• California budgets, political reform, and money in politics
• Education reporting, one with a focus on K 12 and one with higher education, specifically community colleges
• Computer assisted reporting
• Multimedia reporting
Established 32 years ago, CIR is the nation’s oldest non-profit journalism organization in the country devoted to producing original investigative reporting.
We offer a competitive salary and benefits and a creative work environment. Target start date is summer. Please submit a cover letter explaining why you want to be part of this team and which position you are applying for, a resume, 3-5 clips or urls of your work to cirjobs@cironline.org. Put the word Reporter in the subject line. Applications can also be mailed to CIR at 2927 Newbury St., Suite A, Berkeley, CA, 94703. We encourage applicants with diverse backgrounds. If you have questions, email Marcia Parker, mparker@cironline.org. Please apply by May 29, 2009.



About CIR

Founded in 1977, the Center for Investigative Reporting is the nation's oldest nonprofit news organization, producing multimedia reporting that has impact and is relevant to people's lives. Building on our long track record of award-winning print, broadcast and web reporting, CIR is now seeking to help lead the way in transforming journalism for the 21st century.
We are living in an age of upheaval, institutional collapse, and historic unforeseen change. And journalism is not immune. The only “business” protected by the Constitution, the business of informing the public, has been eviscerated in recent years. The role that journalism plays in a functioning democracy—informing the public and holding the powerful accountable—is at serious risk. Major issues affecting the very fabric of this nation and the world go uninvestigated. As we struggle to find solutions to two wars, climate change, immigration, a recession, and myriad other global issues, a thriving media is more important than ever.
CIR is working to ensure that high-quality, credible, unique journalism does not die, but flourishes. Our innovative new model relies on in-depth collaboration with other news organizations, journalists, public policy organizations and universities, and fully exploits new storytelling technologies, to provide citizens—local and global—with critical, actionable information that impacts their lives. Important to this model is our search for new revenue streams that can help sustain high-quality journalism in a digital age.
CIR MEDIA PARTNERS | CIR FUNDERS | JOB OPPORTUNITIES
How to Work with CIR:
In addition to CIR's California-based editorial staff, we work with a nationwide cadre of freelance reporters and producers and those on leave from other media outlets. Many of CIR's investigations are generated by our own staff; others are brought to us by freelancers.
Journalism demands a certain flexibility to follow a story where it leads, but as a small news organization with limited resources, CIR attempts to ferret out the most promising investigations. Generally, stories deserving investment should: reflect CIR's core mission by offering the strong potential to reveal injustice or abuse of power; fall under one of our reporting beats, currently social justice, environment and international reporting; add new information, a fresh angle or depth of reporting not found in other mainstream coverage; have an indication of interest from a prospective news outlet; and originate from reporters or producers with demonstrated skills and experience.
Most new projects require fundraising before they can begin. However, at times we are able to make small investments in promising stories at their early stages (making direct payment to the reporter for time and expenses). If that initial reporting proves fruitful, we may help market it to news outlets and provide editing, fact-checking and legal review.
The Dick Goldensohn Fund for International Investigative Reporting
Currently, we are providing small grants to assist in international reporting projects through The Dick Goldensohn Fund. Typical grants are a few thousand dollars, and are generally used to help defray travel and research costs.
The Henry Demarest Lloyd Investigative Fund
Each year the Lloyd Fund provides direct support (typically ranging from $1,000-$5,000) for 2-4 projects that offer strong potential for impact. Applications are due March 31st.
CIR Awards:
Alfred I. du Pont-Colombia University Silver Baton
American Bar Association Certificate of Merit
Best Censored Story Award
The Clarion Award
Education Writers Association Award
Emmy Award
The George Polk Award
Investigative Reporters and Editors Award
James Madison Freedom of Information Award
National Magazine Award for Reporting Excellence
National Press Club Award
People for the American Way First Amendment Award
Society of Environmental Journalists Award
Society of Professional Journalists’ Sigma Delta Chi Award
CIR in the News:
Rays of Hope
AMERICAN JOURNALISM REVIEW | APRIL/MAY 2008
Investigating the Future of Investigative Journalism: Who's Going to Pay for All This?
SF WEEKLY | JANUARY 16, 2008
Power List: Media Old + New
7X7 MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER 21, 2007
Pulitzer-winning journalist Lowell Bergman honored at Cal
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE | JUNE 28, 2006
San Francisco center keeps muckraking alive
SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE | OCTOBER 24, 2002
Contact Us:
Center for Investigative Reporting
2927 Newbury St., Suite A
Berkeley, California 94703
T: 510.809.3160
F: 510.849.1813
center@cironline.org