Paradigm Initiative is inviting journalists to apply for the second edition of its four-month Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship designed to immerse outstanding, early career, journalists in digital rights and digital inclusion advocacy – and intervention efforts – in Africa.
Selected journalists will work with Paradigm Initiative on various projects and contribute to improving public understanding of digital rights and inclusion issues.
The fellowship is open to journalists affiliated with mainstream print and online newspapers in Africa; Paradigm initiative is particularly interested in women journalists. Interested applicants must demonstrate previous coverage of human rights and/or tech issues and interest in advocacy journalism; must not have spent more than ten years in journalism as Paradigm Initiative is most interested in outstanding, early career journalists.
The fellowship will involve a two-day Orientation and Digital Rights/Inclusion training and a two-week residency at Paradigm Initiative’s offices in Nigeria including time at the Yaba Headquarters, Aba LIFE Centre, Abuja office, Ajegunle LIFE Centre and Kano LIFE Centre of Paradigm Initiative.
The fellowship will also involve a four-month virtual collaboration with Paradigm Initiative and may also include fully-funded local and international travels to participate in and cover relevant events. The Fellows will also have the opportunity to interact with leading stakeholders in digital rights advocacy.
Fellows will be expected to participate in all scheduled activities; publish, in their affiliated newspapers or magazines, at least twelve reports on digital rights and inclusion issues during the fellowship period. Fellows will retain full editorial direction on the stories. They will also be expected to continue to provide coverage to digital rights and inclusion issues after their fellowship. Paradigm Initiative will provide fellows with a monthly stipend, and a one-time research grant, during the fellowship period.
In 2018, Nigeria’s Victor Ekwealor (Techpoint) and Togo’s Emmanuel Vitus (GhanaWeb) emerged as the pioneer fellows. This year, Paradigm Initiative plans to select three fellows.
The application process is now open for the second edition of the Paradigm Initiative Digital Rights and Inclusion Media Fellowship.
Application for the fellowship is to be done online by filling the form available here: http://bit.ly/PImf2019
Deadline for submission of application is May 6, 2019. The fellowship will run from July to October 2019.
