Call For Applications: African Union Media Fellowship 2022

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 African Union Media Fellowship 2022.

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.

The Fellowship program 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.

Benefits

Fellows will 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.

Eligibility

• 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
  • 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 by the AU.

Application

Applications should consist of:

• Resume: Use a standard format (no picture, religion or marital status).
• Coverletter: A one-page document outlining your motivation, qualifications, and experience.
• Proposal: Include the following three sections:
  • Story proposals: 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: 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.

Email your submission to [email protected]

For more information, visit AU Media Fellowship.

Deadline: April 30, 2022