The International News Media Association (INMA) has announced the media professionals who make up the inaugural class of the INMA Africa Elevate Scholarship. The scholarship aims to accelerate careers and foster community through the mentorship of young professionals.
Some 145 people applied for the Africa Elevate Scholarship from 23 African countries, says the INMA.
The INMA says its Africa Elevate Scholarship programme is designed to provide a leg-up for high-potential young professionals from news media companies in Africa — to elevate careers with a spark that INMA is uniquely in a position to provide.
According to the association, scholarship recipients gain access to four mentorship-focused virtual sessions covering:
- understanding the business of media
- navigating the corridors of power in media
- what to know now about digital transformation, and
- how AI is being deployed at media companies.
Recipients also receive certification after the four sessions, a private group for peer-to-peer communication and one year of INMA membership, adds the INMA.
The association says that to be considered, applicants must be employed by a news media organisation in Africa, under the age of 35, in the news industry for less than 5 years and demonstrate a need for on-the-job training and education.
"INMA is proud to continue to support rising young professionals in Africa with the access and training they need to compete on the global stage," concludes Earl J Wilkinson, Executive Director and CEO of INMA. "The news industry is stronger when we lift up and retain young talent."
Individuals are encouraged to view the full list of recipients here.
For more information, visit www.inma.org.
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