Journalism fellowship on public policy reporting

This opportunity is now CLOSED. For more information on ACME’s training programmes, write to training@acme-ug.org.

The African Centre for Media Excellence is pleased to invite applications from Ugandan journalists for a fellowship Reporting Public Policy. The fellowship comprises of two four-day workshops and substantive grants for investigative reports on public policy.

Workshop Background

Very few areas of reporting on government or politics are as important as reporting public policy. Yet, analysis of media coverage of public affairs in Uganda suggests journalists pay inadequate attention to the dynamics and intricacies of public policy making. Few journalists show a meaningful understanding of the problems public policy is meant to solve and they rarely interrogate the different policy options that decision-makers could consider.

The media are supposed to play a critical role in the policy process. Journalists can flag problems that require attention, weigh the policy options that could be considered, broaden decision-making to include a diversity of voices from citizens and interest groups, inform the public about what is at stake, as well as evaluate the implementation of policy.

Without knowledge of the policy process and an understanding of the context within which it is formulated and implemented, reporting on public policy easily gets superficial.

A Case for Training

It is with this in mind that African Centre for Media Excellence has expanded its short course on Covering Public Policy to a full study and reporting fellowship. The course is part of our Enhanced Reporting for Transparency and Accountability Programme, which is supported by the Democratic Governance Facility. The goal of the project is to enhance media oversight of public affairs through supporting journalists to report from a point of knowledge in order to inform and engage the public and ultimately promote transparency and accountability.

The fellowship on Covering Public Policy will introduce journalists to the public policy process, the political economy of policy-making in Uganda, public policy analysis, and the media’s role in public policy. Participants will also learn the techniques of public policy journalism.

Facilitators will include journalism trainers and public policy experts, who will use a combination of lectures, discussions, and case studies.

By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to:

• Write about public policy from a point of knowledge;
• Write about public policy in an interesting and accessible style;
• Generate compelling story ideas on public policy in Uganda;
• Apply for reporting grants to cover selected areas of public policy.

Key Dates

• Deadline for applications – 11 September, 2017
• Course A – 19-22 September, 2017
• Deadline for publication/broadcast of first report – 30 October, 2017
• Course B – 31 October to 3 November, 2017
• Deadline for publication/broadcast of second report – 15 December, 2017

 To Apply

Journalists who have participated in any of ACME’s training programmes in the past 12 months are not eligible for this course.

Go to acme-ug.org

Fill in and submit the application form online; or

Download, complete and send the application form to training@acme-ug.org with a copy to lnajjemba@acme-ug.org with the subject line: Application for Covering Public Policy Fellowship

Alternatively you may complete, print and bring the application form to our offices in Bunga

Ask your editor to write a letter supporting your application and send it to training@acme-ug.org with a copy to lnajjemba@acme-ug.org

Key things to note

The workshop targets journalists with a minimum of three years reporting.

The deadline for submitting applications is 11 September 2017.

• A support letter from your editor/supervisor is a MUST
• The application form must be completely filled out.
• Female journalists are particularly encouraged to apply.
• ACME will pay the hotel costs of successful upcountry applicants.
• Journalists who have participated in any of ACME’s training programmes in the past 12 months are not eligible for this course.