African Union Media Fellowship for African journalists and content creators

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.

African Union (AU) Media Fellowship 2022 for African journalists and content creators (Fully Funded to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and Berlin, Germany)

To ensure Africa remains in the race with the rest of the world, and benefit from digital transformation, the African Union (AU) Information and Communication Directorate has joined forces with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) AU office to create the AU Media Fellowship. The Fellowship brings together innovation and creativity to present under-reported stories that break-down stereotypes and create new narratives for the Africa We Want.

The objectives of the AU Media Fellowship is to:

1. Train and build the capacity of journalists and/or content creators, to leverage creativity and innovation within the continent;
2. Build capacity around innovative and transformative tools in journalism and media; and
3. Create a platform for journalists to network and share best practices on the future of journalism

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.

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Fellowship Programme:

• 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.

June 2022 in-person training

Fellows meet in Germany, for a 2 week-long intensive media and advocacy camp.

June – September – Online Trainings and Networking

Fellows complete remote work with a mentor. Fellows and mentors focus on the Fellow’s outputs goals, and working towards tangible advocacy and policy objectives.

October 2022

Fellows meet in-person or virtually for an intensive training and to present the results of the work period June – September.

October – December 2022

Remote work continues as Fellows receive support to write, pitch, and publish, complete media appearances, advocate for their work and broader policy change, and share their stories with targeted audiences.

December 2022

Fellows meet in Addis Ababa to be introduced to the AU and to present the outcomes of the trainings.

January 2023 – April 2023

Fellows receive continued support from their mentor until the next class is announced.

April 2023 – Final Event and Certificates of Recognition

A closing event in Addis Abeba will formally close the fellowship. Fellows graduate to become Senior Fellows and become mentors for the next cohort of AU Media Fellows.

Requirements:

• 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 media either 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 ( Find out more details on the website of the German Embassy in your country.)
  • We 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 by us.

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Benefits:

• 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

Application Instructions

Please read the instructions carefully as we will not consider incomplete applications.

Applications should consist of: –

• Resume: Please use a standard format (no picture, religion or marital status).
• Coverletter: A one-page document outlining your motivation, qualifications, and experience.
• Proposal: Please include the following three sections:
  • Story proposals: Please include a short description of the stories you plan to cover (about 200 words each), and whom you plan to contact for interviews.
  • Publication plan: Specify your plan for publication (language and target publication).
  • Social media: Briefly explain how you plan to engage with the African Union Commission in the course of the fellowship.
  • Work samples: Please submit two work samples. If your work samples are in other forms of media (e.g. video) please email us and we will accommodate these requests.

Application Process

Call for applications for the Fellowship open on 15 April, 2022, with a deadline in 30 April, 2022.

Email your submission here: aumediafellowship@gmail.com

Applications are shortlisted in house then put to a jury panel who selects the winning applications. The Fellows are announced in May 2022.

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the African Union (AU) Media Fellowship 2022

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