Deadline: 02-Aug-20
Are you working on something that you think could reshape media or journalism in southern Africa? Do you have skills you could apply to creating great new media? Do you have the energy and commitment to create something great? If yes, then you can apply for this Accelerator Programme.
Jamlab is looking for committed and creative journalists and media makers who are passionate about fixing what isn’t working in southern African media, who want to create new media to serve new audiences, or bring new conversations or ideas to the public.
Jamlab is Africa’s first journalism and media accelerator and innovation lab. The six-month hothouse accelerator programme for journalism and media innovators offers a unique opportunity to fast-track your initiative. It will provide you with the tools, facilities, contacts, and support necessary to realise your ideas and ambitions.
This is the first southern Africa programme they are running and will largely take place virtually due to the Covid-19 travel restrictions imposed by numerous countries in Africa and the rest of the world. The programme will run from September 2020 to February 2021.
The six teams which selected from southern Africa will receive the following:
- Virtual mentorship and coaching from experienced media, start-up and tech experts and entrepreneurs.
- Free places on a three-month media entrepreneurship course
- Access to a technical support development team.
- Opportunities to pitch to potential investors, funders and various stakeholders with a MVP (minimum viable product).
- Access to network which includes but not limited to Programme Alumni.
Sixteen teams have taken part in three iterations of the Jamlab Accelerator Programme in South Africa and five of them succeeded in securing additional investment immediately after the programme.
Eligibility Criteria
- Innovators with a great idea and the commitment to create and sustain a new journalism or media venture. Innovators who lead an existing journalism or media venture that they want to grow and develop.
- Starting or growing a new venture is challenging work so they encourage people to apply as a team of at least two people who are able to commit all or a substantial majority of their time to their project. Larger teams are also welcomed.
- This programme will be based on a significant amount of virtual face-to-face interaction so applicants must must have a stable internet connection.
- Jamlab welcomes applications from the following southern African countries: Angola; Botswana; eSwatini; Lesotho; Madagascar; Malawi; Mauritius; Mozambique; Namibia; Seychelles; Zambia and Zimbabwe.
For more information, visit https://medium.com/jamlab/apply-for-the-2020-jamlab-accelerator-programme-southern-africa-4611da204892