Media Challenge Initiative Media Challenge Fellowship Programme 2021 for Ugandan journalism students.

Application Deadline:12^th February 2021, 5:00pm Uganda Time

The fellowship is intended to provide time and resources to the top applicants to engage in high intense practical meant to turn them into a multifaceted one-man-woman-army journalist.

About the Media Challenge Fellowship Program

The Media Challenge Fellowship Program is an aggressive multimedia journalism training program awarded to the best journalism students from the Inter-University Media Challenge, a practical reporting competition in 12 universities in Uganda. The fellowship program is part of the Media Challenge Initiative’s strategic vision of building the next generation of journalists who are not only multi skilled but also critical participants as change agents in changing their communities and the negative African narrative. We aim to combat high rates of youth unemployment while empowering young journalists to improve the quality and impact of the media, seeking to enhance democratic processes through encouraging critical and investigative reports that hold government and institutions accountable.

The fellowship program is based on four pillars:

• The concept of building a “one woman/man – army journalist”: a journalist with multifaceted skills and knowledge;
• Solutions journalism: reporting on solutions shown to be effective at addressing societal problems;
• Development journalism and journalism for social change: reporting on specific topics and in such a way that advances positive and equitable development within society;
• Leadership in journalism: nurturing fellows not only as skilled journalists but also as leaders in their communities and field of choice.

MCI Fellowship Structure

25 days of practical multimedia journalism training including foundations and

Multimedia Skills, Participatory youth radio training, Beats reporting, career guidance, media entrepreneurship, data journalism and digital Skills

The Media Mentorship Program

Within the Media Mentorship Program, each fellow is connected to a professional mentor in the media industry for ongoing guidance on a yearlong program. The mentorship program will include;

• One-to-one pairing with a media mentor in mentee’s field of choice
• Community of experts the mentees can reach out to with specific questions
• Mentee-ship Workshops
• Mentor-Mentee Orientation workshop
• Networking events with exhibition of student work

MCI Fellowship Commitments

Please review the commitments below. Are you available and committed to fulfill all of the fellowship requirements and time schedule of trainings? Please be aware that if you are not able to attend any of the fellowship dates, you will not qualify for the fellowship.

• February (reporting  for the programme)
• One week in March (Wednesday-Sunday)
• One week in April (Wednesday-Sunday)
• Weekend in early May
• One week in May/June (Wednesday-Sunday
• One week in June/July –Out of Kampala Reporting trip (Wednesday-Sunday)
• Field visits to media houses (throughout – optional depending on fellow availability)
• Graduation in late July
• Reporting up to three multimedia stories on your own time
• Active participation in the mentorship program with all its requirements

Eligibility to apply

The Media Challenge Fellowship Program is open to only Ugandan  Journalism and Communication Students.

Application Requirements

1. Completed Application Form
2. Sample of your work like articles, video/radio clips, photography and blogs
3. A reference letter from any of your next of Kin

Assessment Criteria

All applicants work for a max of 50 points. Category award winners ( see IMC competition winners) start the application with a 10 point advantage, 1^st Runner-up with 8 points, 2^nd Runner-up with 6 points, 3^rd Runner-up with 4points in their account.

1. Participation in the IMC competition as listed above
2. Passion and Commitment level 10 points
3. Creativity, Motivation and Skills: 10 points
4. Diversity and Team work: 10 points
5. Story Project Idea 10 Points

Timelines

Applications Open: Wednesday 20^th January 2021, 9:00am Uganda time

Applications Close: Friday 12^th February 2021, 5:00pm Uganda Time

For More Information:

Visit the Official Webpage of the Media Challenge Initiative Media Challenge Fellowship Programme 2021