African Academy for Open Source Investigation Call for Applications

The International Center for Journalists, in partnership with Code for Africa’s (CfA) CivicSignal AI/machine-learning team, iLAB forensic research team, PesaCheck fact-checking team and the Cardiff University Crime and Security Research Institute (CSRI) in the U.K, is inviting interested applicants to apply for the programme titled African Academy for Open Source Investigation.

The programme aims to equip journalists and fact-checkers with technical and verification skills, and the use of forensic tools to help unmask problematic behaviour in the information space and support access to credible information. Supported by the U.S. Department of State, this initiative will target local expert analysts in four target countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, and Senegal.

Eligibility Criteria

• Journalists must have a minimum of one year experience in fact-checking journalism (evidence will be requested)
• Journalists must be based in one of the following countries: Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria or Senegal and available for in-person (if needed) and virtual  programme activities.
• Journalists must have evidence of reports produced and published, with the latest not more than two months ago. 
• Journalists must be attached or affiliated to a media house or digital news outlet where content produced during the programme will be published. This also applies to freelance journalists.
• Journalists must be willing to produce a reference letter from their newsroom stating that content produced will be published on the organisation’s website, and shared on its social media platforms. 
• Journalists must commit to fully participating in every component of the programme and commit to meeting assigned programme targets. The programme expects journalists to commit to dedicating at least 5 hours a week to its activities. 
• Journalists must be fluent and commit to publishing content in at least one of these three languages: Swahili, French and/or English.
• Journalists will be required to join a Slack channel and a WhatsApp group. 
• Journalists must commit to following up on published content, and tracking and reporting responses of key stakeholders, particularly the government, to published reports.
• Each journalist must produce  at least two ‘real world’ stories/fact-checks outside of the classes, using the new skills/techniques for broadcast/publication.
• Journalists must pledge to share the new skills/techniques and resources that they acquire through the program with colleagues in participant’s wider newsroom, with evidence of skill-share sessions and team/joint projects demonstrating the new approach

The deadline to apply is 17 September 2021, at midnight WAT.