Sunday 14 July 2019

Three of Bangladesh’s most promising young journalists have secured a place at Future News Worldwide, a global forum for the media’s next-generation being held in London from 15-17 July. 

Selected from a highly competitive field of more than 3,000 applicants, they will represent Bangladesh among 100 delegates from 53 countries. Over two days they will get the latest insights from current media leaders and disruptors while building their own international connections. 

Future News Worldwide is developed by the British Council in partnership with leading news and digital media organisations to identify, train and connect the next generation of top international journalists. Held at the ­­Thomson Reuters Headquarters in London, delegates gain rare access to world-leading media professionals, with confirmed speakers including: 

·         Christina Lamb, Sunday Times Chief Foreign Correspondent

·         Sreenivasan Jain, New Delhi Television Limited Managing Editor

·         Sonny Swe, co-founder of the Myanmar Times and star of the TED talk ‘Talking to Spiders in Jail’. 

As the media itself is increasingly the subject of news headlines, the event presents a timely opportunity to focus on the universal values of objectivity, balance and evidence that underpin the profession. Topics under the lens will include media freedom and responsibility; truth and transparency; empowering audiences and challenging cynicism. 

Azmin Azran says, “The way news is consumed and produced is ever-changing, and FNW will give me the opportunity to get up to date, and even share some of my own experiences in this regard.” 

Mark Wood, former Editor-in-Chief of Reuters and Chair of the Future News Advisory Board said: "Future News Worldwide attracts some of the world's most promising young journalists. The programme promotes the importance of free media and the key tenets of responsible journalism. It gives the participants the chance to meet outstanding media figures, visit famous newsrooms and learn research, editing and production skills in a series of workshops. A lively alumni network demonstrates how much those who took part in previous events truly value the experience and put it to work in their professional lives."

Notes to Editor

For further information, please contact:  Jordan Ogg, British Council press office: jordan.ogg@britishcouncil.org / +44 (0)7747 895 041 |+44 (0)131 524 5725

About the British Council

The event Hashtag is #FNW19 

Future News Worldwide is delivered through a partnership between the British Council and the Future News Worldwide Advisory Committee, comprising: the British Council, BBC, CNN, Facebook, Google News Initiative, Thomson Reuters, Newsquest Scotland, STV, The Quint, The Thomson Foundation and UK Schools of Journalism.

The full list of countries represented by Future News Worldwide 2019 delegates is: Armenia, Australia, Azerbaijan, Bangladesh, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cameroon, Canada, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Fiji, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Guatemala, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Malta, Mauritius, Mexico, Myanmar, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Solomon Islands,  South Africa, Spain, Sudan, Thailand, Tunisia, Uganda, Ukraine, Uruguay, United Kingdom, United States, Uruguay Uzbekistan, Vietnam, Zambia and Zimbabwe. 

Delegates for Future News Worldwide were selected after a worldwide open application process eligible to undergraduate and postgraduate students from any country who will be aged between 18 and 25 years old on 1 July 2019. Delegates do not have to be studying journalism but should be able to demonstrate that they are passionate about following a career in the field. 

The British Council is the UK’s international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. We work with over 100 countries in the fields of arts and culture, English language, education and civil society. Last year we reached over 65 million people directly and 731 million people overall including online, broadcasts and publications. We make a positive contribution to the countries we work with – changing lives by creating opportunities, building connections and engendering trust. Founded in 1934 we are a UK charity governed by Royal Charter and a UK public body. We receive 15 per cent core funding grant from the UK government. britishcouncil.org