BBC World News is inviting journalists from Africa to for the fourth edition of its Komla Dumor Award aimed at uncovering and promoting fresh talent from Africa.
The award was established in honour of Komla Dumor, an exceptional Ghanaian broadcaster and presenter for BBC World News who had the passion to tell African Stories to the world with honesty and integrity, who died unexpectedly in 2014.
This year’s award will go to an outstanding individual who lives and works in Africa with great ambition and potential to become a future star. He/She must possess strong journalism skills, on air flair and an exceptional talent in telling African stories.
The award which will be launched in Accra, Ghana will have previous award winners alongside Jamie Angus, director of the BBC World Service Group, in attendance.
The winner will be spending three months, starting early September 2018, at the BBC headquarters in London, gaining skills and experience, working with teams from across BBC News. He/she will also produce an African story for the BBC and have his/her story and voice shared across the continent and the world and will also be supported by a high-level BBC mentor. The winner will also attend courses run by the BBC’s world-class training department, the BBC Academy.
BBC will pay for the winner’s flights to and from the UK and for his/her visa and also arrange and pay for the winner’s accommodation in London during his/her placement. The winner will receive £2,000 per month for the three month placement to cover his/her living expenses and a one-off payment of £5,000 as a contribution towards loss of salary in his/her home country. Some of the above may be subject to taxation (and deductions will be made as appropriate).
Candidates applying for this prestigious award must be currently living and working as a journalist in Africa and must possess the following skills and experience:
- Excellent journalism skills, including in digital and social media.
- Broadcasting experience is preferable.
- An excellent broadcasting voice and strong presenting skills with the ability to perform at the microphone with flair.
- The ability to identify and pitch a strong original African story idea, aligned to the BBC editorial guidelines at http://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/
- Wide and up-to-date knowledge and understanding of the African continent, including politics, business, culture, history and sport.
- Fluency in English as a first or equivalent language.
Additional requirements for all applicants are:
- Provide a CV (maximum two pages) and complete a careers hub profile.
- Hold or be able to obtain by 1st March 2018 a passport that is valid until at least 31st January 2019.
- Must not be a current or former member of BBC staff.
- If successful, applicant’s employer must be willing to release him/her for three months from September 2018 for him/her to travel on his/her own to take up the placement in London.
- The visa requires that applicant holds a degree or is studying towards a degree equivalent to a UK Bachelor’s degree from a recognised university.
- References, proof of employment, birth certificate, passport, an appropriate UK visa and proof of level of English will be required from shortlisted candidates.
The award entries will be judged and the winner decided by: Professor Audrey Gadzekpo, Senior Lecturer in Communications at University of Ghana; Jonathan Munro, Head of Newsgathering in News and Current Affairs; and Alice Muthengi, Senior Broadcast Journalist – BBC African Service.
To apply, click here . Application closes on March 22, 2018 at 23:59 GMT.
