Advanced Journalism Academy is the parent organisation for the three Counts Projects. The main topics of these are environment and sustainability ("Nature Counts"), conflictresolution ("Peace Counts") and cultural diversity ("Culture Counts"). A network of journalists independently and critically researches innovative models and solutions for global problems. The produced material is published on internet platforms, in mainstream newspapers and magazines, is broadcasted in radio and television and in form of exhibitions and educational brochures and books.
The members of AJA bring their expertise into seminars with media representatives hosted mainly in conflict areas as well as in Germany. Together, multimedia projects are realised. Values like learning from each other and respecting people from different cultures and backgrounds occupy a central position. The Academy is supported by the non-profit organisation Culture Counts Foundation based in Munich.
Culture Counts Foundation
The registered charity was founded in the year 2003 by the German publicist and writer Michael Gleich. It carries the multimedia projects Nature Counts, Peace Counts, and Culture Counts. They share the concept of a "constructive journalism": critical, independent quality journalism which aims to highlight mainly solutions for global problems like environmental destruction, violent conflict and cultural clashes. It focuses on Best Practices, role models, positive news - apsects often neglected in mainstream media. The foundation cooperates with journalists, photographers, designers, reknowned researchers and educators. For its work the Culture Counts Foundations was recognized by numerous awards, amongst others the prestigous Peter Becker Prize for Conflict and Peace Research. The board of directors is formed by Michael Gleich, Uli Reinhardt and Tilman Wörtz.
Partner of the Culture Counts Foundation are
Agentur Zeitenspiegel, Weinstadt b. Stuttgart
Institut für Friedenspädgogik Tübingen (Institut for Peace Education)
projekt zivik of the Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen
Deutsche Gesellschaft für Technische Zusammenarbeit (German Economic Cooperation)
German UNESCO Commission