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Public finance-focused civic-tech organization BudgIT is announcing a six-month, highly competitive Civic-Tech Media Fellowship designed to support six (6) journalists interested in covering human-angle stories. The fellowship will include training on Data Journalism, Investigative reporting, Desk research and provide up-to-date knowledge on the intersection between journalism, civil society and new media.

Stanley Achonu, Senior Manager at BudgIT said the scheme is in keeping with the changing shape of journalism across the globe: “writers are including data and visualizations to enhance stories, delivering meaningful impact and boosting readership figures. BudgIT understands the challenges faced by journalists and news organizations in Nigeria and aims to contribute its quota to revolutionizing journalism in Nigeria using cutting-edge technology and resources.”

Open to print, electronic and online media practitioners, successful candidates are expected to pursue stories and themes centered on: Budget access, Project tracking, the Use of Extractive Revenues, Social justice, Anti-corruption, Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Cost of Corruption. BudgIT is also placing its award-winning research, data analysis and creative design teams at all participants’ disposal, for the six-month duration of the scheme.

Achonu also disclosed that upon acceptance, Fellows will be required to publish three stories monthly, with one focused on any of designated themes, and the other two on issues related to the candidate’s interests.

The BudgIT Civic-Tech Media Fellows are subsequently expected to form a pool of talented media professionals equipped to creatively boost the standard of journalism at their workplaces, and by extension, the society, with Oluseun Onigbinde, Co-founder BudgIT noting that the Fellowship is “a new beginning that BudgIT is very excited about. The media plays an important role in the work we do, amplifying our campaigns and helping us reach our intended audience. This fellowship is our way of building their capacity to do more, and solidifying our partnership with journalists and the media houses they work with.”

Applicants should submit a 400-word essay on “Development Reporting: What Matters most to me,” as well as a 400-word pitch on their intended story idea/ideas aligned with BudgIT’s areas of operation and/or the theme of the fellowship to [email protected]. Shortlisted journalists will be contacted by April 10, 2017.  The BudgIT Civic-Media Tech Fellowship begins in May 2017, and ends November 2017; female candidates are strongly urged to apply.

Interested journalists with further enquiries can contact Abayomi Akinbo at [email protected] or Stanley Achonu at [email protected]

For other information, check our Call For Application: http://yourbudgit.com/call-for-application-budgit-civic-tech-media-fellowship/