Deadline: 30-Apr-22
Are you an African journalist, blogger, vlogger, content creator, or podcaster living and working in Africa or the diaspora? Are you passionate about promoting development-focused stories using emerging technologies, and through visual, written, oral and digital media? Apply for the inaugural African Union Media Fellowship.
The Fellowship is aimed at experienced journalists who seek to make a change in reporting on Africa, raising awareness and breaking down stereotypes.
Objectives
The objectives of the AU Media Fellowship is to:
- Train and build the capacity of journalists and/or content creators, to leverage creativity and innovation within the continent;
- Build capacity around innovative and transformative tools in journalism and media; and
- Create a platform for journalists to network and share best practices on the future of journalism
Fellowship Programme
The Fellowship programme will kick-off with a study tour and capacity building workshops. The 20 selected fellows will benefit from direct access to various African Union leadership, and have the opportunity for on-the-ground reporting on the AU’s work around the Agenda 2063 strategic aspirations.
- The Fellowship is 12 months in duration and will begin in June 2022 with an international study trip to Germany to the “Global Media Forum”.
- The Fellows confirm with their application that they are available for an international study trip to Germany between June 15 – July 1 2022.
- Applicants must be able to devote time to the project if awarded a Fellowship.
- Fellows must be available for all training sessions indicated and must be able to work on assignments in between training blocks.
- The Fellows confirm availability for a 1-week training block in December 2022
- The Fellows confirm availability for a 1-week training block in April 2023.
What Do Fellows Receive?
- International Study Trips and exposure
- Certified workshops and webinars with renowned international partners such as Deutsche Welle, BBC Media Action, Hass-Plattner-Institute, the AU, and international media houses
- Access to AU leadership and policy makers and network with other Fellows
- Support from Senior Mentors and Institutions
- Fellows awarded grants to enable them to produce detailed stories
Who Are they Looking For?
- The AU Media Fellows are experienced journalists or communication experts ready to take the next leap in their career reporting from and for Africa. They seek journalists with a strong track record of publications who offer new perspectives on African debates. Fellowships are open to journalists in any medium. Fellows with a proven focus on innovation are strongly encouraged to apply.
- The AU Media Fellowship is for you if you want to work on the following:
- Disrupt and challenge harmful and stereotypical narratives and shaping new narratives about and within the continent.
- Using innovative tools and analysis to highlight transformations taking place within the continent.
Eligibility Criteria
- The AU Media Fellowship is open to journalists, bloggers, vloggers, content creators, and podcasters living on the continent or the diaspora.
- Fellows must be actively involved in innovative mediaeither as a journalist or related field of work for at least three years with a demonstrable impact-driven track record.
- All applicants for the AU Media Fellowship must be working journalists with at least three years of full-time, professional journalism experience or in a related field. Internships and journalism-related work completed as a university student do not count as professional experience.
- Applicants may be affiliated or freelance journalists. However, all applicants must provide a reference letter or endorsement from a senior editor.
- Applicants must speak, read, and write English fluently in order to fully participate in and benefit from the Fellowship.
- With their application, the Fellows confirm willingness to report on African Union events and themes, as well as availability to be interviewed about the fellowship by international partners.
- The Fellows confirm willingness to participate in events and workshops for duration of the fellowship.
- Fellows must be able to travel to Berlin June 2022 and meet all criteria for eligibility for a Schengen Visa in their country, including but not limited to:
- Having a valid passport at least until December 2022
- Fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
- They will provide you with the necessary documents needed for your visa application. You will be responsible for acquiring the visa.
- All travel costs will be reimbursed and covered.
For more information, visit https://au.int/en/newsevents/20220418/call-applications-open-inaugural-au-media-fellowship