Professional Development Opportunity
B4FA Media Fellowship
Application for participation
The Cambridge, UK-run Biosciences for Farming in Africa (B4FA) project is offering a Pan-African Professional Development programme over a six month periods to media professionals (including journalists, editors, broadcasters and producers) in our focus countries in sub-Saharan Africa – Ghana, Nigeria, Uganda and Tanzania. We are now recruiting participants for the second round of media fellowships in each country.
What is the programme about?
The theme of the Fellowship is to promote better understanding and dialogue on developments in agriculture and biosciences throughout Africa with specific emphasis on activities and research in our focus countries.
Subjects to be covered during the Fellowship include: the history of plant breeding and agricultural techniques, basic plant genetics, modern plant breeding and biotechnology for agriculture, the role of international and African industry (eg seed producers), regulatory frameworks and future opportunities and applications.
What will the Fellowship programme involve?
- Dynamic 4 day training course in each focus country
- Mentored field trips to regional scientific locations and projects of interest
- Supportive professional dialogue and mentoring from leading scientists, journalists and policy makers
- Opportunities for international travel and conference attendance for high achieving participants
- Opportunities for future paid mentoring
- Commitment to use learned skills and knowledge in the production of media pieces and facilitation to publish and produce relevant media pieces
What will participants get out of it?
- The Fellowship is unpaid. However, Fellows will receive expenses and per diems for training courses and field trips.
- The Fellowship will not infringe upon your responsibilities to current employment.
- Certificates will be provided on successful completion of courses and the Fellowship.
- Greater appreciation and understanding of current issues in agriculture, and the scientific work being carried out in Africa to help address these.
- Opportunities to hone reporting skills to bring important local stories to the attention of readers and listeners.
- Interaction with local and international experts.
- Benefit from mentoring by experienced African and international journalists.
If you wish to be considered for one of these Fellowships, please complete the form below in as much detail as possible, and submit it by 31 December 2012 together with all supporting material.
We will accept written material in Microsoft Word or PDF format, and audio material in mp3 format. If you wish to submit video material, please check with us first regarding the size and format of your file. If you are in employment in a media organisation, we require you to submit a letter of support from your editor, producer, managing editor etc indicating their willingness for you to participate and to permit you to attend the training courses.
We will be carrying out face-to-face interviews after shortlisting in late January and early February 2013. Proposed training dates for this year are mid-March for West Africa and mid-April for East Africa. Please ensure you will be available at these times before applying.