Funding from The United Nations Democracy Fund

In November, INSP learned that a funding application made to the UNDEF was successful. Despite the enormous competition, INSP was awarded $350,000 over 2 years to develop our African street-paper network. The project will focus on increasing the flow and quality of news coming from our African street papers as well as building the capacity of individual papers.

The project will enable INSP to hire a development professional and trainer to work on the ground with our local papers and The Big Issue Zambia will co-ordinate various regional activities, including an annual conference. Additional journalism training will be provided by external media, including regional Inter Press Service. We are very grateful to the UNDEF for their support. In November, INSP learned that a funding application made to the UNDEF was successful. Despite the enormous competition, INSP was awarded $350,000 over 2 years to develop our African street-paper network. The project will focus on increasing the flow and quality of news coming from our African street papers as well as building the capacity of individual papers. The project will enable INSP to hire a development professional and trainer to work on the ground with our local papers and The Big Issue Zambia will co-ordinate various regional activities, including an annual conference. Additional journalism training will be provided by external media, including regional Inter Press Service. We are very grateful to the UNDEF for their support.

Reuters Reception for INSP

On November 30th, Thomson Reuters hosted exclusive reception on behalf of INSP at the Reuters Building at Canary Wharf in London.

David Schlesinger [right], Editor-in-Chief of Reuters News and INSP Honorary President, reflected upon the past successes of INSP and looked to the future of the organisation in the company of many high profile figures from the worlds of business and media. INSP Chairperson Serge Lareault also spoke at the event, sharing his experience of the street paper movement.

INSP staff attended the event, along with Chairperson Serge Lareault, who reflected on his experience of the street paper movement and his hopes for an exciting and dynamic future. Serge's colleague Richard Turgeon, L'Itineraire's Director of Strategic Development, Marketing and Communications also attended.

This event is the final of a series of special 15th anniversary celebrations for INSP, which took place throughout 2009, including a Civic Reception in Glasgow; the 14th annual conference and the second INSP awards in Norway. Click here for pictures of the event.

SNS internship available

INSP is seeking a Street News Service intern to join the Glasgow team in January 2010.

INSP Staffing

During INSP's face-to-face board meeting, Network Development Officer, Maree Aldam was promoted to Network Services Manager to reflect her increasing responsibilities over recent months.

In 2010 due to various funding successes, INSP is delighted to announce that 3 new staff will be hired, doubling INSP's current staff quota. These new positions will help to develop INSP's services to members and to expand its level of international activity and sustainability. The new positions will be: News Service Editor, African Regional Trainer and Marketing and Business Manager. All job descriptions will be advertised and circulated to members in due course.

INSP 2009 board meeting

Left to right - Joanne Zuhl, Trudy Vlok,
Lisa Maclean, Serge Lareault, Michaela
Gründler and Arkady Tyurin. Photo
courtesy of The Herald

The board of INSP meets with the Executive Director Lisa Maclean every month by telephone conference and twice each year for a face-to-face meeting. This week, our 5 board members from Russia, USA, Canada, South Africa and Austria met with INSP staff in Glasgow for an important 4 day planning meeting. Staff and board reviewed the work and finances for 2008 - 2009; redrafted strategies on fundraising and marketing & communication; evaluated projects and partnerships; and drafted a new business plan and strategy for 2010 - 2012.

INSP's intern programme

Over the summer, INSP has worked with 8 interns and volunteers on various projects. This month sees a change as SNS intern Eoghan Macguire leaves. Eoghan has been working on the SNS project since February, but left earlier this month to start a masters programme in journalism at Cardiff University. Replacing Eoghan this month is Franck Martin a freelance journalist and a recent politics graduate of Glasgow University.

We also say farewell this month to interns Hazel Ferguson and Neil Barclay who worked with INSP for 3 months on a fundraising project. INSP staff would also like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to our regular team of volunteer translators who work on translating SNS articles, SNS feed, monthly bulletins and other member communication. Click here to view our current staff, board and volunteers.

INSP at the Homeless World Cup

Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton
meeting Mel Young and some of the players

This year's Homeless World Cup took place in Milan from the 6th to the 13th of September. Ukraine were crowned this year's champions after defeating Portugal 5-4 in an exciting final. INSP staff Lisa Maclean and Maree Aldam spent 4 days at the event and met with representatives from 11 INSP street papers, who were there with their teams. Lisa and Maree also had meetings with 15 other individuals, to offer support for new or emerging street paper projects and promote the street paper concept.

SNS funding news

INSP recently learned that an independent media funding application made to the EU, in partnership with Inter Press Service (IPS) has been successful. INSP will be awarded some 400,000 Euros, over 3 years, as part of the 940,690 euro total. The project will focus on developing INSP's growing 'Street News Service' project and in particular encouraging the flow of development-related information from the global south to readers in Europe and beyond.

This is a huge development for INSP and a great outcome for our existing 2-year collaboration with IPS. The funding will mean exciting changes for the Street News Service: a new full-time staff person, new website and the development of a bold public face of our news service.

SNS intern position available

INSP is seeking a Street News Service intern to join the Glasgow team on 7th September 2009.

TITLE:

Street News Service Intern

REPORTS TO:

Maree Aldam, Network Development Officer

PURPOSE:

To aid INSP in supporting its global membership of independent social media by collating, editing, posting, and distributing quality editorial content for exchange through its online news agency, the Street News Service (www.streetnewsservice.org).

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Collate all submissions of news articles, features, and photographs contributed by INSP street paper members around the world

• Select and collate supplemental content from external partners, including Reuters, Inter Press Service, and international NGO bodies

• Format and copyedit all English-language submissions and ensure their applicability to regional and international audience

• Liaise with INSP staff and volunteer translators regarding article translations

• Write brief article summaries to aid INSP members in the selection of content

• Upload all material (text and photographs) to the Street News Service website

• Draft and distribute email feeds for each weekly edition, recognising contributors and highlighting notable articles as ‘Top Stories'

• Monitor Street News Service usage, as needed

• Communicate with member street papers to encourage use of the service

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong written communication skills

• Attention to detail and ability to work well independently

• Background in journalism strongly preferred

TIME COMMITMENT:

23 hours per week for at least a 3-month period. Availability on Fridays and Mondays is essential, but other hours of work are flexible and can be both office and home-based.

START DATE:

Monday 7th September 2009

TO APPLY:

Send your CV, a brief writing sample, and a cover letter telling us why you're interested in this opportunity to: m.aldam@street-papers.org

This is an unpaid internship but a small bursary may be provided.

2009 Post Conference Report now available!

The report from the 14th annual conference is now available. A version for INSP members, complete with workshop notes and AGM minutes, will be emailed directly.

Click here to dowload the report.

INSP has a Glasgow-based internship available

Individual Giving Fundraising Intern (3-4 month Internship)

REPORTS TO:

Helen Harvey, Fundraising Officer

PURPOSE:

To help to develop INSP's ‘Individual Giving' programme, specifically in relation to developing an international street paper subscription programme and ‘vendor sponsorship' scheme. As INSP carries out highly specialised work with a very small staff team, this position requires a highly motivated individual who has skills and abilities related to detail-oriented, day-to-day organisation, as well as proactive and creative fundraising drive and innovation.

ORGANISATIONAL OVERVIEW:

INSP supports street paper projects worldwide to create employment for homeless people. The network connects over 100 street papers in some 40 countries and supports new projects in the developing world. Through the network, street paper members receive advice, training, consultancy and access to funding and benefit from sharing resources, experience and mentoring.

SPECIFIC DUTIES:

• Conduct detailed research on potential markets for INSP's "Sponsor-a-Vendor" and "Street Paper Subscriptions" programmes

• Contact INSP street paper members to gauge interest in both programmes

• Work with INSP design volunteer to help to design adverts and sponsorship packs

• Work towards presentation of the development of INSP's Individual Giving programme for board meeting in Autumn 2009

• Manage own ongoing administration and organisational maintenance, as needed

• Any other tasks deemed appropriate by the Director

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Strong written and oral communication skills

• Attention to detail and ability to work well independently

• Some marketing/ fundraising experience preferred

• An interest in homelessness, international development and/or independent media desirable

TIME COMMITMENT:

2-4 days per week, depending on availability for a 3-4 month period.

LOCATION:

INSP c/o SCVO
Floor 3, Centrum Building
38 Queen Street, Glasgow G1 3DX
Telephone: 0141 225 8037 / Email: info@street-papers.org

This is an unpaid internship. A small stipend may be offered.

Apply by email to info@street-papers.org

Closing date: Friday 29th May. Interviews: week of Monday 1st June.

INSP Conference 2009

From 12th - 16th May 2009, INSP brought together 94 delegates from 29 countries for its 14th Annual Conference and networking event. The conference was hosted in Bergen, on the west coast of Norway, in close partnership with local street paper Megafon. This was one of INSP's most exciting and inspiring conferences yet! A full conference report will be available here next week and various photographs and films are currently being compiled.

Read more.

INSP's 2008 Annual Report is here!

INSP's 2008 Annual Report is now available. This official report outlines INSP's objectives and activities throughout the 2008 calendar year.

Click here to dowload the PDF.

INSP's new Anniversary Members

To launch its 15th Anniversary, INSP is publically celebrating five exceptional street papers which have demonstrated an extraordinary commitment to the development of the network, giving over and above, to develop the shared mission of the INSP. These remarkable street papers will form a new ‘Anniversary Membership', providing continued support and innovative leadership to advance the entire street paper movement.

They are: The Big Issue (UK), BISS (Germany), Surprise (Switzerland), L'Itineraire (Canada) andThe Big Issue Australia. The support of these papers will allow INSP to in turn support a growing network of enterprising projects throughout the world, in some of the poorest countries.

In return for their ongoing commitment to network sustainability, the ‘Anniversary Members' will be given a special place within the street paper network and will be more widely recognised for the ground-breaking work that they undertaken in their home countries. Read more.

News from INSP partner - Homeless World Cup

A ball can change the world

• 48 nations announced for the Milan 2009 Homeless World Cup

• Set in the heart of one of the most football passionate cities in the world

• 6-13 September 2009

20 April 2009, From 6-13 September 2009 the City of Milan will host 500 players from 48 nations at the 7th Homeless World Cup, the international football tournament using football to energise homeless people to change their own lives.

Exclusive Civic Reception for INSP

On the 25th March, the Lord Provost (Mayor) of Glasgow hosted an exclusive evening reception for INSP at Glasgow's City Chambers. The Lord Provost, who recently became the first-ever Patron of INSP, welcomed guests to the stunning venue, including INSP's new Honorary President, Editor-in-Chief of Reuters, David Schlesinger.

Among the high profile guests at the reception were representations from Scottish media, business and government. The Lord Provost provided guests with a warm welcome and talked passionately about why he is involved with INSP. He also launched his INSP Patron Corporate Friends' Scheme to commemorate INSP's 15th Anniversary, which was greeted with enthusiasm by the guests. The Lord Provost was followed by a spirited and inspiring address by David Schlesinger.

Guests then had opportunity to speak to INSP staff and network in the beautiful surroundings of the City Chambers, accompanied by music from a Celtic pianist. The successful evening began a process of raising awareness of INSP's work among a larger group of people and gaining more support for our work. This is the first of a series of special events in 2009 to mark INSP's 15th Anniversary year.

Click here for a gallery of images.

Images courtesy of Adeline Scott

Glasgow's Lord Provost is INSP's first-ever Patron

INSP has been honoured by the public support of the city's Lord Provost Bob Winter, as he becomes the first-ever Patron. This follows last month's news of Thomson Reuters' Editor-in-Chief David Schlesinger being announced as the new Honorary President. These two prestigious appointments mark the beginning of INSP's 15th anniversary year.

Later this month, INSP's new Patron will host an exclusive Reception in Glasgow's City Chambers, inviting a key group of Scottish business leaders, political thinkers and media representatives to learn more about INSP's work. The event will be used to launch a series of special events to mark INSP's 15th Anniversary.

Click here for the press release.

INSP has a new Honorary President!

INSP is delighted to announce that David Schlesinger, Editor-in-Chief of Thomson Reuters, has accepted the Honorary President position!

This year, among other things, Schlesinger's new role will have him take part in the high-level judging panel for INSP's annual International Street Paper Awards in Norway and facilitate further partnerships between INSP, business leaders and media representatives. While some may hesitate to undertake such an active voluntary position, Schlesinger is steadfast in his commitment to enabling poor and homeless people in their communities worldwide to have a voice and encounter new opportunities. This is a visionary to be proud of.

Speaking of his new appointment, Schlesinger explained, ‘INSP is an organisation I have been involved with for a few years now, both personally and through Thomson Reuters. I believe that INSP's street papers are a wonderful way for homeless people and people living in poverty to use self expression and publishing to better themselves and their position and I am truly honoured to have been asked to take on this role. I hope that together we can develop the innovative aims of this small, but highly ambitious organisation and help to nurture independent media in the UK and worldwide."

Click here for the press release.

2009 International Street Paper Awards

The 2nd Annual International Street Paper Awards will be celebrated in May 2009, as a core part of INSP's Annual Conference, co-hosted by street paper member Megafon in Bergen, Norway.

Click here for application information.

For more information on supporting the 2009 awards click here.