Training Initiatives for Africa-based Journalists & Editors

Program Types

• Journalist Safety Training, Nairobi, 7-9 August
  • In partnership with IREX, ACOS is offering 12 free slots to freelance and local journalists based in East Africa to attend a three-day safety training course tailored to regional needs. The course will take place in Nairobi on 7-9 August 2024 inclusive (not including travel days).
  • The course will take place in Nairobi, Kenya from 7th to 9th August 2024 (travel days excluded).
  • Comprised of classroom and group discussion work interspersed with practical exercises to build skills and confidence, the training will also pay attention to digital security, psychological safety, and first aid, taught by an experienced and qualified medic. The course will be in English.
  • The ACOS Alliance is a global coalition of 150+ news organisations, freelance journalist associations and press freedom organisations working together to champion safe and responsible journalistic practices for freelance and local journalists worldwide. They are committed to finding and implementing practical and effective initiatives that enable newsrooms and freelancers to access the resources they need to meet basic safety standards.
• Editor Cohort Training Program, 3 to 31 August (weekly)
  • The ACOS Alliance is launching its first Editor Cohort Training Program, bringing together small groups of editors and news managers based in Sub-Saharan Africa to complete the online course The Fundamentals of Safe Commissioning and receive enhanced training tailored to their needs.
  • ACOS are offering 10 FREE slots to editors, newsroom managers, and senior journalists who are actively commissioning stories across the region and are involved in editorial decision-making processes within their newsrooms. Participants will receive a cohort certificate of completion after the course.
  • Objectives of the program:
    • To provide access to tailored safety training to editors and newsroom managers
    • To empower editors to adopt and implement best safe commissioning practices and create/improve safety protocols, with a focus on freelancers, and vulnerable and under-resourced journalists
    • To foster a culture of safety within news organizations
    • To foster the creation of editor’s networks who can share experiences and best practices in journalist safety.

Cost Covered

• Journalist Safety Training
  • The ACOS Alliance and IREX will cover the course fee, meals and three nights’ accommodation during the length of the course. There are a limited number of travel grants available for those based out of Kenya.

Time Commitment

• Editor Cohort Training Program
  • The program runs for four weeks starting 3rd August to 31st August 2024 and it includes access to the The Fundamentals of Safe Commissioning self-paced online course, three webinars spread out over one month on Saturdays, and a one-to-one 60minute advisory after completing the course.
  • The minimum time commitment for participating in the cohort is 15 hours over four weeks, distributed in the following ways:
    • A total of 5 1/2 hours to participate in all the webinars (1 webinar -90 minutes-once a week)
    • Between 5 to 7 hours to complete the self-paced online course (the course can be taken in one go or in stages within the webinars)
    • 4 hours for self-reflection and implementation (within the course)
    • A one-to-one 60minute advisory (at the end of the course).

Who can apply?

• Journalist Safety Training
  • They strongly encourage freelance and local journalists who come from a diverse range of underrepresented social and economic backgrounds in East Africa to apply.
• Editor Cohort Training Program
  • They strongly encourage editors, newsroom managers, and senior journalists working in a diverse range of underrepresented newsrooms in Sub-Saharan Africa to apply.

Deadlines

• Journalist Safety Training: 5th July 2024
• Editor Cohort Training Program: 12th July 2024

For more information, visit ACOS Alliance.