The second phase of the DPI Journalism Fellowship; an intensive six month program initiated by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) and Co-Develop has kicked off in earnest.
Following a competitive selection and screening process which reviewed some two hundred and ninety one (291) applications; forty-five (45) journalists from forty-five news media organizations from four Anglophone and francophone countries namely Ghana, Nigeria, Togo and Benin scaled through to be selected.
Announcing the finalists on its website, the MFWA indicated that selected journalists will be taken through a series of knowledge building and skill sharpening activities ultimately equipping participants to generate impact driven stories that enhance public awareness and promotes the uptake of DPIs and DPGs.
“The second phase builds on the foundation of the maiden edition and aims to enhance the knowledge and skills of the selected journalists in producing impactful stories on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPGs) in the four project countries, Benin, Ghana, Nigeria and Togo and across the West Africa region,” the MFWA clarified.
Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) and Digital Public Goods (DPG ); two cardinal subjects have engaged the minds of global leaders as heads of nations and corporations explore ways of harnessing the digital space to accelerate development and reduce barriers that limit access to interventions in health, education, public services, social interventions etc.
The DPI fellowship has become particularly essential especially at a time Low and Middle Income Countries who could benefit from the cost effective and accelerated developmental opportunities of DPIs have yet to rally resources to build formidable, inclusive and scalable DPIs.
Tasks and Benefits:
All seventeen females and twenty eight males of the prestigious fellowship will receive monthly stipends and grants to adequately facilitate their full participation in producing compelling content
Participating Media Houses will receive stated transfers under a DPI/DPGs Newsroom Partnership Programme to support editorial production and accommodate the rich content expected of their journalists.
Fellows who will distinguish themselves creditably will receive travel grants to attend local and international conferences and training engagements that provide networking and knowledge sharing opportunities.
Throughout the fellowship, each Fellow will be expected to produce at least six reports on DPI/DPGs and at least three compelling stories by the end of the Fellowship.
Find below the list of the 2024/2025 DPI Journalism Fellows.
Source: Ghana/Starrfm.com.gh/103.5FM/Ivan Heathcote – Fumador
