Call for Applications Open for the Inaugural AU Media Fellowship

April 22, 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 inaugural African Union Media Fellowship.

The Fellowship is aimed at experienced journalists who seek to make a change in reporting on Africa, raising awareness and breaking down stereotypes.

Eligibility Criteria

The AU Media Fellowship is for you if you want to work on the following:

Disrupt and challenge harmful and stereotypical narratives and shaping new narratives about and within the continent.
Using innovative tools and analysis to highlight transformations taking place within the continent.

The AU Media Fellowship is 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 ( Find out more details on the website of the German Embassy in your country.)
- We 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 us.

Benefits of the Fellowship

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

Application Process

Applications should consist of: –

Resume: Please use a standard format (no picture, religion or marital status).
Cover letter: A one-page document outlining your motivation, qualifications, and experience.
Proposal: Please include the following three sections:
- Story proposals: Please 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: Please 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.