Take Your Storytelling Skills to the Next Level: Apply for the Global Press Reporting Certificate in Narrative Change Techniques! This free online course offers a stipend plus USD200 upon completion: Apply!
We are currently recruiting women and non-binary applicants from across Africa to participate in the next English-language reporting certificate program, which runs from April 15 to May 10. Applications are due before April 4.
As a local journalist, you have the ability to change static and stereotypical narratives about your community. By learning easily applicable narrative change techniques, you can transform your own journalistic practice, better engage audiences and help people everywhere to better understand the world.
This month-long program will bring together 100 women and non-binary storytellers from across Africa. Together you will learn new techniques, collaborate and connect with members of your cohort and work with Global Press trainers and coaches. During this unique and practical program, participants will produce an original piece of journalism and will have the opportunity to place that story with partner news outlets and Global Press Journal. Participants will be expected to spend a minimum and 8 hours/week in the program and will receive and internet and communications stipend at the start and mid-point of the program.
About the program
What will I learn?
By participating in this program, you will be able to incorporate narrative change techniques into your storytelling by:
- Rethinking news value through the lens of narrative change
- Applying four narrative change techniques including sourcing, accuracy procedures, dignity-driven language and risk profiling
- Articulate positive impacts of narrative change to editors and audiences
What will I do in the program?
During the four-week program, you will be producing a story from idea to final draft. We will ask you to apply narrative change techniques during your story development, which we hope will inspire you to approach your practice differently. At the end of the program, you will have produced a story reviewed (by the Global Press community) gauging how you applied the narrative change techniques.
You will learn these techniques through a series of online courses in combination with unique opportunities to reflect on your storytelling practices and lessons learned. Online courses are self-paced to allow storytellers with busy schedules to take part.
During the program, you also will have the space to connect with others in your cohort. And you will have the option to discuss how you apply the techniques with a story consultant and receive support from our program success managers.
Why is Global Press offering this certificate?
Over the past few years, we’ve seen a hunger from newsroom partners and audiences alike for stories that advance a more comprehensive view of the world. We know that local journalists are uniquely capable of advancing narrative change by leveraging their proximity and access to the people experiencing the story.
We know that narrative change across the global news industry is a daunting task. Global Press has spent the last 18 years training local reporters around the globe to think about reporting differently. But over these years training reporters, we have developed some powerful and easy-to-apply techniques that anyone can use that advance narrative change.
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Am I eligible to apply?
To be a successful applicant, you must:
- Be a woman or non-binary storyteller over the age of 18. There is no maximum age limit.
- Be fluent in English. (Note, this training program will be offered entirely in English and English language proficiency is required. Future programs will be offered in additional languages.)
- Be from and currently living in Africa.
- Have at least 18 months of experience as a storyteller, which includes:
- Formal or informal experience as a reporter
- Formal or informal experience in multimedia journalism (for example: radio, podcasting, photojournalism, video, etc.)
- Be able to commit to completing the four-week program. Please note,
- We estimate participants will spend approximately 8-12 hours over the course of the four weeks to complete online course work and approximately 60-80 additional hours over the four weeks to develop your story to final draft.
- Have or be able to obtain a computer with reliable internet connection for the duration of the certificate program.
- Produce final stories in .docx, .jpg, .mp3, or .mp4 formats.
- Be open to learning a different way of thinking and to having your previous assumptions or practices questioned.
- Be passionate about finding and telling powerful stories from your community.
What would I receive if I am accepted?
- Access to the full four-week online program in reporting skills for narrative change.
- One optional 30-minute session with a story consultant during the four-week period.
- A one-time communications and internet stipend of $200 USD at the start of the program.
What would I receive if I successfully complete the program?
- A second payment of $200 USD for program completion
- A certificate of completion from Global Press Institute
- A badge to add to your professional networking profile (i.e., LinkedIn)
- An opportunity to opt-in to join our network of publishing partners
- A chance to be considered for post-program employment opportunities with Global Press
If selected to participate in these opportunities, Global Press Journal and/or its partner news outlets may choose to review and provide feedback on stories, offer pitching opportunities, publish your stories, and/or discuss employment opportunities (selection is based on individual newsroom criteria and needs determined at the point the program has ended).
Our partner news outlets are local, regional and international news organizations that have made a commitment to support Certificate Program graduates. Global Press cannot guarantee graduates will receive employment or publication with external outlets or Global Press Journal. Ultimately, we see the greater value in the program as learning the techniques. These additional opportunities are a bonus!
