Media Trainer at Code for Africa

Code for Africa is the continent’s largest federation of independent civic technology and data journalism laboratories, which build digital democracy solutions giving citizens unfettered access to actionable information that empowers them to make informed decisions and that strengthen civic engagement for improved public governance and accountability.

We are recruiting to fill the position below:

Job Title: Media Trainer

Location: Nigeria (Remote)
Job type: Full-time

Description

• Do you have a deep understanding of print, digital and broadcast media and a desire to show others the ropes?
• Code for Africa (CfA) has an immediate vacancy for a full-time Trainer specialising in Media to join its Knowledge team. Candidates can be based anywhere in Africa. 
• The ideal candidates will have demonstrable experience working in the media industry as well as recent experience in running and implementing training programmes and other capacity building initiatives.
• They must be versatile and quick learners, capable of swiftly acquiring new skills and effectively training others in those skills.
• They will be required to regularly create new training curriculums as well improve and innovate existing curriculum to address the evolving demands of the media industry, ensuring all aspects of training remain best of breed. 
• Our Academy initiative is part of CfA’s Knowledge initiative, spearheading training management and capacity building initiatives for partner newsrooms, universities, and local communities in Africa.
• The Knowledge portfolio also includes CfA communities such as the WanaData women data science/storytelling network and the africanDRONE civic drone community, as well as the sensors.AFRICA sensor journalism initiative, with a network of more than 50+ newsrooms and university partners across Africa.
• The Knowledge team is also the custodian of other major CfA public infrastructure, such as the continent’s largest open data portal, open.AFRICA, and Africa’s largest census data portal, HURUmap. 
• In order to thrive in this role, candidates should enjoy fast-paced creative problem-solving, and be comfortable working in a remote, multicultural, and transnational environment.

About this Role

• The successful candidate will join CfA’s Knowledge team and play a vital role in promoting CfA’s capacity building initiatives for media, government, universities, and civil society across Africa. This will involve developing curriculum and training materials, and providing training and mentorship to various stakeholders. 
• The primary responsibility of the role is to equip media professionals (journalists, newsroom managers, editors etc), social media influencers, researchers, activists and students across Africa with relevant skills.
• Specifically, you will design and deliver engaging training programmes, workshops, and seminars that enhance media literacy competencies, including, fact-checking, source verification, open source intelligence (OSINT), data visualisation, and other digital media literacy topics.
• You will collaborate with various CfA’s partners to identify training needs and tailor programmes accordingly. In addition, you will be responsible for providing one-on-one mentorship to trainees or partners.
• Although many of our trainings are conducted through webinars on virtual platforms, you may be required to travel in Africa. 
• The ideal candidate will proactively stay up to date with the latest media trends, technological advancements, and emerging issues related to media literacy. Strong strategic analysis and critical thinking skills are essential, as our projects are diverse and fast-paced, requiring the ability to quickly grasp and acquire new knowledge. 
• Successful candidates will work as part of a multinational and multilingual team using digital collaboration tools to provide training and mentoring support to newsroom partners and media houses across Africa. 

Responsibilities
Your daily responsibilities will include:

• Conduct assessments to identify the specific skills and knowledge gaps of the target audience, enabling the design of tailored training programs.
• Develop comprehensive training materials, for both online and offline use, including curriculum, lesson plans, and other necessary resources.
• Customise and deliver engaging training catering to various target audiences, including university students, media professionals, civic organisations, and think tank researchers.
• Assess the effectiveness of training programmes through participant feedback and performance evaluation.
• Provide technical support, guidance and mentorship support to participants, addressing their specific challenges and questions and ensuring the application of the skills acquired through the training in their work.
• Prepare detailed reports summarising training activities and outcomes, along with recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with other Academy team members and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs) to identify, develop and incorporate case studies, examples, exercises, and relevant insights into the training curriculum. 
• Support CfA’s donor-funded projects by ensuring timely delivery of training projects activities and milestones. Strive for excellence by meeting or exceeding donor expectations. 
• Manage the promotion and marketing of training initiatives, utilising various channels such as social media, email marketing, and engagement with media partners.

Requirements
Required - minimum requirements include:

• 2+ years experience working in the media industry
• Proven proficiency with fact-checking, investigative journalism, data journalism or other methodologies that combine technology and media.
• 3+ years of experience as a media trainer/educator, or a related position.
• Excellent pedagogical expertise and the ability to design engaging and effective training curricula using adult learning principles and instructional design methodologies.
• Experience in delivering training across multiple platforms, including but not limited to, in-person and online training, as well as in individual mentorship.
• Excellent presentation and facilitation skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
• Strong organisational skills and attention to detail in order to manage and drive multiple training initiatives simultaneously
• Possesses a growth mindset – always monitoring and proactively learning about new media techniques and technologies
• Empathetic communication and listening skills, plus a sensitivity to and ability to work with cross-cultural dynamics.
• Familiarity with media literacy frameworks, methodologies, ethics and best practices.
• Adaptability and flexibility to adjust training methods based on participants’ learning styles and needs.
• Excellent report writing skills, with an ability to get across complex details in an understandable and accurate way for a variety of audiences.
• Digital-first workplace skill-sets, including proficiency in collaborative work solutions such as Google Drive (Google Docs, Slides, Sheets, etc) and Slack (or equivalents such as Teams), as well as project management tools like Trello (or equivalents). 
• Proficient in English (spoken and written).

Preferred - candidates who are able to demonstrate the following will have an advantage:

• A relevant Degree in Journalism, Communication or Media Studies.
• Familiarity with verification techniques and tools such as InVid, Google verification tools, TruthNest, Telegago, Botometer etc.
• Familiarity with social listening tools such as CrowdTangle, Meltwater, MediaCloud etc.
• Experience with Learning Management Systems (LMS) such as WordPress’ LearnDash platform.
• Experience working with a variety of teams, such as journalists, data analysts, and subject matter experts from various fields.
• Deep understanding of and experience in the education technology, and/or digital innovation space in Africa. 
• Proficient in French.

Language and Location Requirements:

• Location: Remote 
• Languages: English and French
• Preferred but not required: Arabic, Swahili, or other major African languages

What We Offer

• A competitive salary, subject to experience, with opportunities for performance-based growth, both in terms of career path and public stature.
• Medical insurance cover, underwritten by a remote-first provider to ensure cover wherever you are
• A dynamic workplace, with a transnational team, occasional international travel, and generous vacation benefits.
• Ongoing opportunities to learn new cutting-edge skills and techniques/technologies to future-proof yourself in a rapidly evolving industry.
• A chance to shine on a global stage, writing for international audiences and interacting with colleagues around the world.

Application Closing Date
29th September, 2023.