Journalism opportunity
OSISA launches Journalism Summer School – applications now open
Deadline: 28 September 2012
OSISA is launching a Journalism Summer School this year for mid-career journalists and media managers. The inaugural JSS will run from the 5th-23rd November and will be hosted by the Polytechnic of Namibia.
The JSS, which is affiliated with UNESCO, was created in response to the multiple challenges confronting journalism and the media in southern Africa today – with the overall objective of improving and strengthening journalism so that it enhances democracy in the region. Targeted at mid-career journalists and media managers in the region, the annual three-week JSS will offer cutting edge courses on a range of topics from ethics to investigative reporting to gender in the newsroom.
The JSS will bring together around 25 journalists and 10 media managers from 10 southern African countries – Angola, Botswana, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Mozambique, Swaziland, Zambia and Zimbabwe – for an intensive course that seeks to:
- Strengthen the quality of journalism and contribute toward a more professional media by training journalists and media managers on key thematic areas
-Deepen participants understanding of journalism theory and practice to enable them to critically reflect on the role and implications of their work
-Promote experiential learning when journalists are placed on attachment during the training
-Improve the quality of media management to ensure the viability and sustainability of media organisations; and
-Promote collaboration and joint research among journalism training institutions across the region.
The journalists will attend the full three weeks, while managers will only come in during the final week for specific media management courses. JSS participants should be able to demonstrate:
-Improved knowledge of particular issues examined/taught in each module
-Applied competence in journalism research, including skills in investigative reporting
-Ability to write complex, multi-sourced stories
-Understanding of journalism ethics
-Improved gender awareness and ability to write stories with gender sensitivity
-Critical analysis of news and the newsgathering process; and
-Better understanding of the commercial environment in which the media operates.
The JSS courses will be run by highly experienced journalism educators from across the region and abroad as well as a range of guest lecturers from Namibia. Lectures, group discussions and practical assignments will be key teaching methods. Journalists will be placed on attachment in media houses in the host country for a limited number of days during the course.
Applications are now open. Anyone interested can apply either online here