The African Union (AU) Media Fellowship is a prestigious program that empowers African media professionals, journalists, and content creators to promote development-driven stories by using emerging technologies. The AU Directorate of Information and Communications has launched the AU Media Scholarship in 2022 with the aim of providing African storytellers and journalists with a platform to use media to inform, educate, and empower citizens; fill knowledge gaps; and advance Africa’s development discourse in line with the aspirations and goals of the continent’s Agenda 2063 development framework.
Applicants to the AU Media Fellowship Program are nationals of African Union member states.
Key to the UA Media Fellowship journey is access to industry professionals and experts who act as mentors and support fellows throughout the program.
These Terms of Reference outline the roles and responsibilities of mentors participating in the AU Media Fellowship.
2. GUIDELINE OBJECTIVES
The goal of the mentoring program is to provide guidance, support, and expertise to fellows, helping them enhance their skills, knowledge, and career development.
The mentor will play a key role in shaping the Fellows’ understanding of the media landscape, providing industry insights, and fostering a collaborative and supportive environment.
3. SCOPE OF WORK
Mentors will be assigned to each fellow or group of fellows, based on their expertise and areas of interest. The mentoring period will last for the duration of the fellowship, usually 12 months. Specific responsibilities of the instructor include:
- Advise and provide guidance to the designated member(s) based on their area of expertise and experience.
- Help fellows set clear goals and objectives for their scholarship projects.
- Hold regular virtual or face-to-face meetings with fellows to discuss their progress, and challenges, and provide feedback.
- Share industry insights, best practices, and practical advice to help Fellows navigate the media landscape. Provide constructive feedback and guidance on project deliverables; Quality assurance, and suitability.
- Encourage networking opportunities and facilitate networking with relevant industry experts and stakeholders.
- Help fellows develop their professional skills, including research, storytelling techniques, the use of emerging technologies, and effective communication techniques.
- Monitor fellows’ progress and make recommendations for improvement in a timely manner.
- Participate in mentoring trainings and seminars organized by the AU Media Scholarship program as needed. Benefits
Benefit
Mentors will receive a stipend or honorarium for their services, as agreed with the AU Media Scholarship program. The required travel costs (including accommodation) will be covered by the AU Media Scholarship, in accordance with the travel rules and regulations of the African Union or partners participating in the Media Scholarship Program AU.
Requirement
- 10 years of experience and expertise in media, journalism, or content creation.
- Good knowledge of emerging media technologies and trends.
- Good communication and communication skills.
- Demonstrate the ability to mentor and guide emerging professionals.
- Understanding of the African media landscape, related fields, and development issues. Willingness to participate in regular mentoring meetings and support fellows throughout the duration of the fellowship.
The ability to provide practical information and industry expertise – would be an added advantage, as practical knowledge and expertise can be provided to fellows on topics including
- Business Planning / Financial Planning
- Resource management for efficient operations (on-site)
- How to do research (to create content, news, etc.)
- Critical thinking
- Effectively write and submit an application for benefits.
- Manage digital assets for profit
- Manage your brand – people/companies
- Understand your audience/market as a content creator/media player
- Effective communication between the public sector and development
- Technology and its impact on communication
- collaboration for success
- Script writing/text writing
- Misinformation/Disinformation in the Digital Age
Application method
Interested persons should submit an application, including a CV and a brief statement of interest, highlighting their relevant experience and expertise. The selection of advisors will be based on their qualifications, expertise, and alignment with the goals of the AU Media Fellowship Program.
Entries must be emailed with the subject line “Mentor Application: AU 2.0 Media Followership » mailto:AUMediaFellowship@africa-union.org
For more information,
Registration deadline: September 1, 2023
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