Jobs at BBC Media Action, Journalism Trainer/Mentor

Job Title: Journalism Trainer/Mentor

Location: Tanzania

Reports to: Senior Mentor Trainer

Duration: 12 months (with possible extension)

Closing date: 23 May 2021

Special requirements: Fluent in English and Swahili with ability to write reports and scripts in these languages.

Context:

We are the BBC’s international charity, and we believe in the power of media and communication for good. We work across more than 20 of the world’s poorest and most fragile countries, supporting the independent media essential to democracy and development. Each year, our projects and programmes reach 100 million people facing poverty, inequality and insecurity with information they can trust, helping to improve health, bridge divides, challenge prejudice, and save and change lives. We are independently funded and rely on the valued support of our donors and partners. We deliver a portfolio of media projects in Tanzania and we work to ensure that our projects are delivered on time to the highest possible standard, in accordance with BBC editorial values and BBC Media Action best practice.

The Broadcasting for Change project provides a unique space in the national media for young people to discuss important issues on their own terms and in their own language. The project focuses on supporting young women and girls to make informed decisions regarding their social, economic and political rights. It aims to build women’s and girls’ agency and contribute to long-term social and behaviour change around the rights of women and girls in Tanzania. It aims to do this by; increasing the audiences’ understanding of women’s rights and the benefits of gender equality, building people’s confidence and motivation to support women and uphold their rights, increasing the use of existing support services and challenging discriminatory and harmful gender norms.

Project outputs include:

A weekly national radio programmes focused on women’s rights and gender equality produced for young women and men, with corresponding social media platforms
Capacity-strengthening with young reporters and producers from partner radio stations, to build their capacity to design and create gender-transformative media content that supports the social, economic and political rights of young women and girls
Research to help us understand the barriers that young people (and particularly young women and girls) face to participating fully and actively in civic life in Tanzania
Seeking to establish connections with locally available resources and services that support the social, economic and political rights of women and girls.

Job purpose:

BBC Media Action is seeking a Journalism Trainer/Mentor to support our partner stations and their staff to produce varied, high quality and editorially robust programmes, tackling issues around good governance and issues linked to gender- sensitive and possibly gender transformative media content that is effective but also editorially balanced. In addition to working with local radio, the post holder will provide training to local stations. The post holder will work with Senior Mentor Trainers to develop training courses for on-site or central delivery, followed up by supporting individuals at all levels within the partner organisations, with the aim of putting theory into practice and broadening local skill bases.

The post holder will be required to spend around 80% of their time in assigned stations upcountry.

Main duties and responsibilities:

To support the delivery of the Niambie Two project, to reach the highest standards in terms of quality, effectiveness, impact and relevance, meeting objectives clearly defined in the project proposal
To work with the senior trainer to design a formal and on the job production training guide for partner radio and to independently deliver these trainings at assigned partner station. This document will guide the entire period of mentorship and serve as a frame of reference for evaluating the trainer/ mentor’s performance.
To attend training of trainer’s sessions in mentoring, production skills and project related training – provided by BBC Media Action
To deliver a series of training workshops and events, using the training curriculum and the project documents
To deliver one-on-one mentoring to journalists up to editor level at assigned partner station. The trainer/ mentors will provide constructive feedback at the end of each assignment.
To train BBC Media Action partner station staff to improve and sustain their capacity in journalism.
To identify training needs of all Niambie Two partners in order to facilitate suitable training packages for implementation by the trainer/mentors.
To conduct timely spot-checks and analyse local programmes in order to provide feedback to the projects, production and research teams
To ensure that all programming and training meet the highest BBC standards, as well as delivering the project’s development objectives
To work closely with station staff on all aspects of training and programme production to ensure maximum ownership by the station
To introduce and continue regular editorial meetings to support output
To ensure that findings from research and audience feedback are used to refine and improve projects outputs
Mentor/ train partner stations to produce quality gender & health related radio output and review before airing
Oversee airing of Niambie programme through partner stations
Train and mentor Niambie Young Professionals so that they can contribute to Niambie radio programme (30% of the content) same proportion of content to Niambie’s digital platforms
To submit reports and work plans periodically as required to the senior trainer mentor
To attend regular meetings and team meeting with PDM, STM and international trainers and other BBC Media Action staff based in Dar-es-salaam
To provide linkages between NGO experts, government and local radio partners in development of radio products and manage these relationships
To perform any other duties that may be assigned
Understand and comply with BBC Media Action’s Safeguarding policy and the staff Code of Conduct
Participate in relevant mandatory training on Safeguarding and Respect at Work
Report any Safeguarding concerns immediately, either to the Country Director, or using the Whistleblowing Policy.

Essential knowledge skills and experience:

Fluent in English and Swahili with ability to write reports and scripts in these languages
Strong editorial judgment and substantial radio production experience within Tanzania is essential (3 years minimum with a reputable organisation)
A recognised journalistic qualification from a reputable university or college
Experience in training journalists is an added advantage
Excellent interpersonal skills, communication & influencing skills
Ability to work in teams
Strong understanding of and commitment towards BBC editorial values
Strong understanding of the role of media and communications in development.
The role may involve working with groups of vulnerable children and adults. For the successful candidate, mandatory training will be provided on BBC Media Action’s safeguarding policy and staff code of conduct. A police background check may form part of the recruitment process. BBC Media Action operates a zero-tolerance policy concerning all forms of abuse and exploitation of vulnerable people.

HOW TO APPLY

Interested qualified candidates should submit their CV with cover letter (in English, PDF or Microsoft Word format) which outlines their experience and suitability for the role by email to: [email protected] – please include the title of the position applied for in the subject line and send by 5pm on Sunday 23 May 2021.

Only applicants with separate cover letter will be considered. Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Only shortlisted candidates will be notified.Jo