Role: Editor-at-Large
Date of issue: 3 December 2025
Application deadline: 12 December 2025
Duration of assignment: 1 January – 30 June 2026
Duty station: Uganda

Terms of reference

Introduction and background
Uganda’s media sector faces persistent challenges that undermine the quality and sustainability of journalism. Many newsrooms, especially small and medium-sized outlets, struggle with limited editorial capacity, high staff turnover, and inadequate mentoring structures. These gaps affect the depth, accuracy, and impact of reporting on critical issues such as governance, accountability, and civic engagement.

The Editor-at-Large programme, under ACME’s Media Support for Public Accountability and Civic Engagement (M-SPACE) project, responds to these challenges by embedding senior editorial professionals within newsrooms to provide hands-on guidance, strengthen editorial systems, and mentor journalists. This is not a traditional consultancy: it is an opportunity to shape the future of Ugandan journalism by transferring skills, improving newsroom workflows, and leaving behind sustainable editorial practices.

About this role
ACME seeks to engage the services of up to 3 (three) Editors-at-Large on a part-time basis under a pilot programme intended to run initially for 6 (six) months.

As an Editor-at-Large, you will:

  • Work at the heart of Uganda’s media transformation, influencing how newsrooms produce high-quality, impactful journalism.
  • Mentor emerging journalists and newsrooms, helping them to grow into confident, ethical newsroom leaders.
  • Collaborate with ACME and the Uganda Editors’ Guild to set new standards for editorial integrity and accountability.
  • Engage in meaningful public interest projects- investigations, features, and civic reporting – that have real public impact.
  • Enjoy flexibility: a mix of remote desk editing, on-site newsroom visits, and masterclasses tailored to your expertise.

This is a chance to leave a legacy as your contribution will strengthen editorial pipelines and newsroom and/or media platform systems that endure beyond your assignment.

Scope of work
The Editor-at-Large will:

  1. Provide hands-on editorial support for complex stories and investigations.
  2. Mentor and coach reporters and mid-level editors and producers on story development, investigative planning, ethical decision-making and media leadership.
  3. Help newsrooms and platforms to refine workflows, story pipelines, and internal mentoring structures.
  4. Deliver periodical masterclasses or story clinics addressing journalists’ and newsroom-wide priorities.
  5. Document lessons learned and contribute to knowledge-sharing across the M-SPACE consortium.

Deliverables

  • High-value stories or reporting projects guided to publication or completion by June 2026.
  • Mentoring/coaching sessions and professional development interventions that address the needs of journalists, newsrooms and platforms.
  • A mid-term progress report and a completion report at the end of the assignment.

Profile of an ideal candidate

  • Minimum of 7 (seven) years in senior editorial roles in or across print, broadcast and digital news media.
  • Proven record of producing or overseeing impactful public affairs journalism.
  • Strong mentoring and coaching skills, with a collaborative approach.
  • Deep understanding of Ugandan media dynamics and newsroom challenges.
  • Ability to adapt to diverse newsroom and platform contexts and deliver practical solutions.

Duration and engagement

  • Part-time initially for 6 (six) months from January to June 2026.
  • Approx. 8–12 hours per month remote support and 2 on-site days per month.
  • Flexible engagement models tailored to newsroom and platform needs.

Remuneration and benefits

  • Professional fees at a competitive monthly rate.
  • Travel and accommodation costs for on-site newsroom visits covered by ACME.
  • Opportunity to shape editorial standards and influence media practice nationally.
  • Access to ACME’s professional network and participation in transformational media development initiatives.
  • Visibility as a thought leader through ACME’s platforms and events.
  • Contribution to an innovative flagship programme that strengthens journalism, media practice and civic engagement in Uganda.

Reporting
The Editor-at-Large will report to ACME’s designated Programme Officer and coordinate closely with partner newsrooms and platforms.

How to apply
Interested applicants should submit, as one consolidated PDF file, (a) a short expression of interest of no more than 400 words, including one’s daily professional fee rate; (b) a Curriculum Vitae that speaks directly and clearly to competencies relevant to the assignment; and (c) Names, emails and phone numbers of 3 (three) professional referees.

Submit the above-listed requirements by email to admin [at] acme-ug.org with the following subject line: Application for Editor-at-Large.

The application deadline is Friday, 12 December 2025.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Download the call for expression of interest here.