New bursary for pacific broadcasters

"What we want to encourage is the personal growth of Pacific Island broadcasters." Ken Clark, Chairman of Fiji TV.

The Commonwealth Broadcasting Association (CBA) launched an annual bursary for broadcasters from Commonwealth Pacific countries on 27 October 2004.

The CBA Pacific Island Bursary is administered in partnership with Fiji TV Ltd, the Fiji Broadcasting Corporation Ltd and Communications Fiji Ltd. The scheme makes available annual scholarships of F$1,500 (about £480) for training or special projects and aims to enhance the professional development of a broadcaster or organisation.

Money for the bursaries will come from an investment fund of F$30,000 (£9,624) donated by the CBA. The investment fund was set up with money generated from the sponsorship of activities during the CBA's 25th General Conference at Nadi, Fiji Islands, in February 2004.

Ken Clark, Chairman of Fiji TV, said: "We have designed this so that the bursaries can be funded on an ongoing basis. As the fund grows, we hope to be able to increase the level of bursaries offered.

"We wanted to keep the parameters of the fund wide so we can cater for a range of applications. What we want to encourage is the personal growth of Pacific Island broadcasters."

Applications are now open for the first scholarships to be awarded in 2005. Submissions should be sent by 30 November 2004 to: CBA Pacific Islands Bursary, c/o Fiji TV, PO Box 2442, Government Buildings, 20 Gorrie Street, Suva, Fiji Islands.

The bursaries could be used to fund specific courses or attachments, or to help fund a journalism assignment.