Budding journalists are being offered a step up the career ladder thanks to a new mentoring scheme by the Script programme and Radio Nigeria.
The scheme gives journalists an opportunity to break into the science broadcasting field in Africa. Anyone who completes Script’s ‘Science Communication Skills for Journalists’ free online course is encouraged to apply for the opportunity by 30 April 2019. Successful applicants will be selected by an editorial panel made up of experts from SciDev.Net and Radio Nigeria by 1 June 2019. Applications will be judged according to their interest and story idea.
The programme will match up journalists with an editor who will guide them from story development through to broadcast. Mentoring will be conducted face-to-face, over email, phone, Skype or other appropriate means.
Script supports the development of high-quality science reporting in Africa by providing skills and opportunities to journalists and scientists. The programme is funded by the Robert Bosch Stiftung and implemented by SciDev.Net.
A good science broadcasting opportunity
“This is a chance for aspiring science journalists to see their story broadcast by one of Africa’s most successful media,” explained Charles Wendo, Script’s Training Coordinator. “We’re grateful to Radio Nigeria for partnering with Script and SciDev.Net to deliver this opportunity.’
Haruna Idris, Radio Nigeria commented: “Science broadcasting is very important to us because we aim to keep our listeners informed on issues that affect their communities and to encourage the development of innovative solutions to them. So we are excited about this opportunity to work with mentees to produce some new science stories for our listeners.”
Radio Nigeria is a publicly funded radio broadcasting organization. It has FM stations across 36 states.
SciDev.Net is the world’s leading source of reliable and authoritative news, views and analysis about science and technology for global development.