Media Community Newsletter August 2024

Hello,

Find out why you should be sharing your stories on social media, nominate yourself for the Shireen Abu Akleh Prize and meet this year’s BBC News Komla Dumor Award winner.

1. Journalism trends: Journalism trends: Should journalists and newsrooms invest in robust social media platforms? There’s no denying that digital media, especially social media, has changed how stories are told, and in turn, how journalists work. In Africa, in particular, social media has become the primary news source for audiences. In a five-country survey by IT Security company, KnowB4, 84% respondents said social media is their primary news source; 80% used Facebook, and 50% TikTok. While the survey raised alarm about social media and disinformation, the popularity of social media as a news source has become an opportunity for media platforms who use them, including those who are on TikTok, like Pulse Nigeria, which has 134.1 million likes and 4.3 million followers. Worth thinking about using social media as a strategic platform to connect with audiences.

2. Who’s funding: The Shireen Abu Akleh Prize is a €5,000 award that recognises the courage and commitment of women journalists. It’s open to women journalists and media professionals globally. You must have a professional press card or recognized professional accreditation, nominations can be made by yourself, your media organization or third-party endorsement. Include detailed descriptions of your journalistic contributions in your submission. Deadline: 15 October. More info.

3. Training Opportunity: Are you a documentary photographer in Algeria, Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, Somalia, Sudan, and Tunisia? Apply to get into the Arab Documentary Photography Program by The Arab Fund for Arts and Culture, the Prince Claus Fund, and the Magnum Foundation. You’ll get a $7,000 grant to work on a project, along with mentors and training through specialized workshops. Deadline: 12 Sept. More info.

4. In the spotlight: “I hope this award inspires young girls like me, who wear the hijab and come from minority communities, to dream big and achieve their goals,” Rukia Bulle said when accepting the 2024 BBC News Komla Dumor Award. The Kenyan multimedia journalist was recognized for her “exceptional storytelling ability in covering human interest narratives and amplifying the voices of marginalized communities.” She also reports of children. Some of the stories she has written include Learners in peril: Worry over students’ safety in schools; Rising above the difficulties of dyslexia; and Magoha had a love-hate relationship with journalists. She has a degree in journalism from the United States International University and is currently pursuing a master's degree in International Relations. She was named among the top 100 Most Influential Kenyan Muslims in 2023.

5. Stories that moved us: Read more about how Zambia’s arts and creative sector is thriving thanks to a new arts and film policy that marks a strategic step towards bolstering its creative industries. The policy aims to diversify revenue streams beyond the dominant mining sector. Find out how growing up in the wilds of Kajiado County of Kenya inspired Mana Omar to pioneer a climate-resilient village to combat gender-based violence;  why diving and life-saving instructor Susan Mtakai’s deep-seated passion for the ocean has seen her open the marine sector for other women in government services and local communities in Kenya; and how Omotunde Akiode’s desire to bring joy to children led to an career that includes writing for  Supa 4 Team, which has the distinction of being the first African animated series to appear on Netflix. These are some of the stories published by bird story agency, the first new agency established to tell better stories about Africa.

It pays to tell better stories about Africa, so we partnered with the Thomson Foundation on a digital course called African Stories: A guide for journalists on how to tell better stories about Africa. It’s free and takes three hours to complete. Then you can pitch to bird story agency and get paid to publish stories that better represent Africa.