Cape Town Jazz Festival Opportunities For Arts Writers, Bloggers & Photographers

Are you an arts writer, blogger or photographer who wants to broaden your horizons? Do you lead an arts reporting team and need fresh ideas about inspiring and energising team members?

If so, you will once again have the opportunity to achieve those goals at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival (CTIJF) Arts Journalism, Photojournalism and Mentoring Arts Journalists programmes. The trainers leading these short courses use the Festival as a backdrop and context for developing and honing the skills needed to do justice to South Africa’s nuanced cultural narrative. The courses help participants to apply their knowledge to reporting any arts topic, whether for traditional press, broadcast or new media.

Participants on the CTIJF programmes will have access to the festival’s workshops, master classes, and performances, and to some artists and other festival role-players behind the scenes. The courses will support them as they learn to drill down to the heart of the story and format it into newsworthy and engaging copy. They’ll also learn more about the history, context and content of the festival’s music.

HOW TO APPLY

EVERYBODY MUST SEND:

• Your CV, including at least two current, contactable references

• A personal motivation letter saying why you want to attend the course, how you hope to benefit, and what you think you can bring to the course.

• Details of the person (you or your employer) to whom we should send the invoice for course fees

• A short essay (NO MORE THAN 500 words) on one of the following topics

For Arts Journalism:

’Suggest THREE practical changes that could improve the opportunities for live music in the area where you live.”

For Mentoring Arts Journalists:  

“What are the strengths and weaknesses of arts journalism in your country? What excites you? What depresses you?”

We will use these essays to help us in deciding both admission and, where relevant, the award of scholarships.

IF YOU ARE A STUDENT, CADET OR INTERN, ADD:

• A letter of support from your lecturer or supervisor, with their email contact details

IF YOU ARE IN FULL-TIME EMPLOYMENT, ADD:

• ONE sample of your published journalism work, or reference to a web archive where we can access it electronically

• A letter from your employer – containing email contact details  – agreeing to:

  • release you for the full period of the course; AND

  •  cover the cost of travel and accommodation if you are based outside Cape Town; AND

  • pay your fees.

  • (Alternatively, let us know if you will pay your own fees, or make a scholarship application: see below)

DO NOT INCLUDE any other certificates, testimonials or documents.

• Your application won’t be considered if it doesn’t contain all the information requested above.

• Applications that arrive after the cut-off date can’t be considered.

SEND YOUR APPLICATION by e-mail,

For arts journalism:

 to course director Gwen Ansell at:

[email protected] to arrive not later than close of business on (TBC)

 Put the words ‘CTIJF course application’ in the subject line.