Central African Republic: Resident Journalism Advisor
Location: Central African Republic
Description
#CARCrisis: Supporting Local Media To Inform & Engage
with Local Populations
Position: Resident Journalism Advisor
Reports to: Project Director
Location: Bangui, Central African Republic, embedded within local partner RJDH
Duration: 3 months minimum
Anticipated start date: Early January 2015
Deadline for applications: Applications will be considered on a rolling basis
Position subject to confirmation of funding
BACKGROUND
For the past three years, Internews and its local partner, the Association of Journalists for Human Rights (le Réseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l'Homme - RJDH), have worked very closely to connect and support a unique network of 13 community radio stations with one another and create and set up a Community Radio Correspondents Network (CRCN) through a Coordination Centre in Bangui run by the RJDH.
Since the beginning of the current crisis in December 2012, the RJDH has consistently reported on the crisis and produced scores of stories on the rebellion, the ensuing humanitarian crisis, its impact on communities across the country and the efforts made by the humanitarian community to address some of the most pressing humanitarian needs in CAR.
The objectives of this project are to:
- Create access to timely, accurate and well-targeted information for local communitiesby supporting, rebuilding and establishing community radio stations and reinforcing community correspondents' networks in the conflict affected regions.
- Establish two-way communication flows between the media and humanitarian agenciesto ensure affected communities have access to timely, accurate and well-targeted information so they can make informed decisions to protect their lives and livelihoods and participate in the transitional process aimed at returning the country to constitutional order, effective government and civil peace. This program will support the RDJDH Coordination Center in the production of centralized news and information outputs, including an e-newsletter, a news website, radio programs and a crisis map.
- Build the capacity of the RJDH, the network of community radios and community correspondents to continue to report accurately and reliably on the humanitarian crises, and the ongoing political situation and mitigate conflict through conflict sensitive reporting.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Resident Journalism Advisor (RJA) will be embedded with the Coordination Centre of the RJDH, will provide editorial oversight for its outputs, implement and oversee all aspects of a regular training and mentoring programme for the RJDH, the network of community radio stations and community radio correspondents , including Training-of-Trainers.
More specifically, the RJA will play a vital role in the implementation of this project in CAR in the following capacities:
- Support the RJDH and the network of community radios and correspondents in the production of high quality humanitarian daily radio programming and e-newsletters and the maintenance of a humanitarian Crisis Map and social media outputs.
- Coordinate with the Project Director (PD) to ensure a smooth link between humanitarian, civil society and other organizations working in CAR.
- Produce regular multimedia materials (i.e. blog posts, photos, podcasts) documenting the life of the project for external audiences, as required.
- Prepare and assemble materials for monthly and quarterly reports, in compliance with donor guidelines, including documenting achievements and challenges for Internews learning purposes, as required.
- Liaise with international media and promote Internews' work, as required.
- Any other duties as required.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Fluency in spoken and written French and English.
- Extensive experience in broadcast training and mentoring.
- Extensive experience in facilitation and training using hands-on participatory approaches.
- Extensive experience working (i.e. reporting, training…) in crises and relief operations, preferably in Sub-Saharan French- speaking Africa. Previous experience in CAR will be an asset.
- Very good working knowledge of the mandates and modalities of the international humanitarian sector.
- Fluency in use of digital field recording equipment, basic studio equipment and software, such as Adobe Audition and/or CoolEdit Pro.
- Demonstrated skills in partnership/stakeholder management.
- Sensitivity to cross-cultural dynamics in the work place.
- Ability to work collaboratively as part of a team in a challenging and a highly fluid environment.
- Good interpersonal and networking skills to liaise authoritatively with figures from the local media community and the international aid sector.
- Ability to adjust to shifting political circumstances and create programming accordingly.
- An understanding of the vision/mission, core values and objectives of Internews.
- Understanding of and passion for the area of communications with refugees and disaster affected communities.
- Excellent communication and reporting skills, both written and oral.
- Excellent time management and the ability to prioritize a heavy workload under pressure.
- Excellent administrative and organizational skills.
- Willingness to work in demanding, stressful, and, at times, dangerous situations under difficult living conditions with respect for basic security rules.
- Psychological resilience and a sense of humor.
DESIRABLE:
- Knowledge of citizen journalism and familiarity with ways to leverage social media will be an asset, as will knowledge and experience of mapping and crowd-sourcing and mobile technology.
INTERNEWS IN CAR
Founded in December 2010 following an Internews training, the RJDH is a locally-led and locally-run organization that works closely with community radio stations' staff and local correspondents across the country to collect and disseminate information from and back to those same stations on a daily basis via mobile phones, an e-newsletter, their website ( www.rjdh-rca.net), Facebook ( www.facebook.com/RJDHRCA?fref=ts) and Twitter (@RJDH_RCA).
In CAR, Internews has run several projects in the country funded by the USAID, DFID's Humanitarian Innovation Fund (HIF), the US State Department and the United States Institute of Peace (USIP), most recently
- Integrating Local Media and Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) into Humanitarian Response
- The Community Radio Correspondents Network (CRCN)
- Mobile2Radio: Connecting Local Media, Humanitarian Actors and Communities through Innovative Communication Flows
Learn more about Internews' Humanitarian Communication Programs online and follow our work also on Twitter: @jqg @internews and @internewseurope #commisaid
