AU launches inaugural media fellowship, calls for application

As the world moves into the fourth industrial revolution, with emerging technologies, African storytellers have been challenged to think of how to deploy new media technologies for citizen engagement to address the changing communications landscape.

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 partnered with Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) 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 a new Africa.

The objectives of the AU Media Fellowship is to train and build the capacity of journalists and/or content creators, blogger, vlogger, or podcaster living and working in Africa or the diaspora 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.

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.

Fellows must be actively involved in innovative media either as a journalist or a 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 are expected to speak, read, and write English fluently 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 must 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 and fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Necessary documents needed for visa application would be provided by AU but applicants would be responsible for acquiring the visa. All travel costs would be reimbursed and covered by AU.