UNESCO Promoting Excellence in Journalism Education in Africa Initiative

UNESCO Promoting Excellence in Journalism Education in Africa Initiative

The “Promoting Excellence in Journalism Education in Africa” initiative invites 30+ universities and training centres across the continent to help develop criteria for excellence in journalism education. The initiative is supported by Google News Initiative and coordinated by the Wits Centre for Journalism and the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University (South Africa).

Based on the agreed upon criteria, the centres are invited to self-assess and identify gaps in their own programmes. They will be able to submit a proposal until 10 July 2023 for one of the 10 grants available to help address these gaps. For example, the proposals might involve integrating new UNESCO curriculum resources on fake news and disinformation, migration, terrorism and climate change, into their programmes, or deepening links between universities and the media industry.

Institutions can also propose activities for using key international days like World Press Freedom Day to mobilize partnership, devise innovative teaching methodologies adapted to challenges identified in Africa, or take steps towards building a community of practice in African Journalism Education.

The project builds upon an earlier initiative supported by UNESCO in 2007, when 12 journalism schools were identified as centres of excellence in journalism education according to a set of criteria developed at the time.

Throughout the current project, 100+ schools in the region will be exposed to the process of developing new criteria that address the latest developments in the media sector and challenges relevant to the African context. Ultimately, the project aims to strengthen the African media landscape by helping to better address the training needs of the next generation of media workers.

A participative pan-African project
In order to develop criteria for excellence in journalism education in Africa, five online consultations in East, Southern, West, Central and North Africa took place during March and April 2023 and gathered over than 100 journalism educators and trainers.

Specific issues faced by educators were discussed during these events, revealing many similarities in the challenges faced between the regions. These included the safety of women journalists, the challenge of teaching journalism in various languages, journalism ethics, teaching accuracy and fact-checking, and training students in entrepreneurial skills.

How to Apply

For more information and job application details, see; UNESCO Promoting Excellence in Journalism Education in Africa Initiative

List of All Current Scholarships for International Students - Updated Daily - Apply Today! Click Here!

Funding Agencies for Grants - Search Funding Agencies for Grants? - NGO Funding Agencies - Fill Out a Simple Grant Form? - NGO Grant Funding Agencies

Scholarships for Study in Africa » Scholarships for African Students » Undergraduate Scholarships » African Women Scholarships & Grants » Developing Countries Scholarships » Erasmus Mundus Scholarships for Developing Countries