Humanitarian Journalism Trainer (HJT) – Guinea
Location:Conakry and Nzérékoré, Liberia (Two trainers)
Duration: 6 months
Anticipated Start Date:Mid to Late November
Deadline for Applications:Ongoing until position is filled
PROJECT BACKGROUND
Guinea is where the current Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) outbreak in West Africa was first diagnosed in March of this year. According to the Centre for Disease Control (CDC) by mid-October a total of 1472 reported Ebola cases have been reported with at least 843 deaths. On September 18 a disturbing incident took place in rural Guinea whereby five members of an Ebola prevention and awareness raising delegation were attacked and brutally murdered. They included 3 journalists and 2 health professionals. The World Health Organization says that community resistance and insecurity have continued in some localities in Guinea. This incident highlights the fear and misinformation that exist at the local level regarding this epidemic and the very real challenges facing those fighting it.
Internews recently began a yearlong project in Guinea to build the capacity of media professionals to report on humanitarian information in the east of the country, the province at the heart of the current Ebola outbreak. The outbreak of Ebola in Eastern Guinea coincided with the start of Internews Europe’s project in the region. As part of an existing humanitarian information project in Guinea, Internews has deployed experienced humanitarian journalism trainers to Guinée Forestière, Conakry, and other cities to train media workers in the most effective ways of explaining the disease to local communities and engaging them in the fight against its spread. These efforts have dramatically increased the amount of Ebola-related content on radio in the capital, in the South East and cross-border into Liberia. However, according to a mid October WHO Situation Report, an increase in new cases in Guinea is being driven by a spike in confirmed and suspected cases in the capital, Conakry, and the nearby district of Coyah. More resources and support are urgently needed to control the epidemic and prevent it from flaring up.
The “Information Saves Lives” project is designed to add value to the overall national/ international response to EBOLA in Guinea by providing a comprehensive and coordinated information-based response to the crisis. This intervention is seen as a core component of the social mobilization pillar of the WHO Roadmap. The project will ensure that local media, social media and interactive technology approaches play a vital role in amplifying and extending the impact and reach of public health messaging efforts. The response will not be limited to the production of health messages, but will coordinate, harmonize and disseminate a wide range of information in various media, formats and in local languages, with input from key government and health actors and including channels for audience feedback. Finally, the project will also ensure the widespread dissemination and consistency of accurate, timely, actionable Ebola-related information to the population in Guinea, and will offer two-way communication channels for information exchange within affected communities and between these communities and those seeking to assist them.
GENERAL FUNCTION
Two humanitarian journalism trainers (HJTs) skilled in humanitarian reporting and working with local counterparts in Guinea will provide training primarily for radio journalists on how to report accurately on the disease, on the humanitarian response to the epidemic, and on all issues of interest to the affected communities. As part of the training, the HJTs will connect local journalists with expert resources to educate them on all key aspects of the Ebola virus and the epidemic and to serve as on-going, reliable sources to keep them up to date with daily information for dissemination to their media outlet audiences. The HJTs will also oversee the daily production by a small local media team in the capital city of a daily Ebola e-newsletter and a radio program containing essential information about all aspects of Ebola, including PSA’s, updates on the epidemic, interviews with health workers, NGO’s, officials and affected people. The newsletter will be disseminated on email to local media, health workers, NGO’s, diplomats, Diaspora, etc., and can be carried in the print editions of the papers in Monrovia. The radio program will be disseminated on sound file via the Internet to all radio stations with connectivity, and also on disk or thumb drive where necessary.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Recruit, train and mentor a solid group of reporters, producers and technicians. Stay focused on health journalism and all the ethical implications associated to covering health-related issues.
- In collaboration with the Health Communication Liaison Officer (HCLO) be aware of agreed upon medical protocols re Ebola and stay up to date with latest Knowledge, Attitudes and Practice (KAP) survey results concerning the virus, how it is transmitted and the psycho-social impact on communities and the country at large.
- Set a clear distinction between humanitarian information and news reporting, and train the local team in humanitarian information gathering re the Ebola epidemic and its impact.
- Strive for community engagement – consider a range of tools and programs that can support humanitarian responders while at the same time allowing communities to have a voice, express their fears and beliefs concerning the virus, the medical response and their role in containing it.
- Assist team to turn latest Ebola updates into useful, actionable, accurate and engaging bulletins and features that communities can relate to and understand.
- Assist the team to produce news reports, news bulletins, programmes, PSAs and features to professional standards.
- Train the team to be able to do radio editing, recording and using of broadcast equipment to professional standards.
- Work as editorial advisor and at times give final editorial approval for broadcasts.
- Liaise with UN agencies and partner NGOs to provide content for the Humanitarian Information Service on Ebola.
- In collaboration with the HCLO, who will work directly with all Ebola responders, ensure that all content and messages are accurate and contribute to: 1) reduce transmission rates; 2) follow approved medical protocols, 3) reduce stigma towards Ebola survivors and their families.
- Contribute to the wider communications for the project as a whole with excellent writing and communications skills.
- Support the HPM with project management as and when needed.
ESSENTIAL QUALIFICATIONS:
- Relevant university degree in journalism, international relations, or humanitarian response.
- Previous experience in Africa is highly desirable and also reporting on a health emergency.
- Experience in all aspects of broadcast reporting, including editing, mixing, recording, etc.
- Fluency in editing software, such as Adobe Audition or Cool Edit Pro.
- A solid background in journalism and reporting, with radio as a preferred medium.
- Experience in training / mentoring junior reporters.
- Experience in leading and coordinating teams and staff – often with no or limited experience in journalism or reporting.
- Creative approach to information gathering considering quarantined areas and travel bans.
- Experience in Communication with Communities (CwC) projects, with a strong focus on the feedback loop from the communities into the humanitarian system.
- Understanding of the work of humanitarian and development agencies.
- A good understanding of technical language used by NGOs – and demonstrated experience of turning this into engaging content with “human speak” for ordinary people.
- A good understanding and experience of accountability platforms and tools –experience working with communities to gather their concerns and issues turning these into engaging content.
- Strong communication and diplomatic skills.
- Proven ability to develop and monitor work plans and training plans.
- Practical experience in establishing and operating participatory training programs.
- Experience living and working in Africa and/or conflict/post-conflict environments.
- Ability to adjust to shifting political circumstances and create programming accordingly.
- Sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics in the work place and experience supervising staff.
- Must be self-reliant, resourceful, good problem-solver, good humored, and flexible.
- Proficiency in both French and English (able to work primarily in French).
How to apply:
TO APPLY:
Please visit Internews' website to apply:
