Innovation Officer - Strengthening Media & Society Programme

Innovation Officer, Strengthening Media & Society Programme

December 2016 – December 2017

 

Programme

 

WAN-IFRA’s Strengthening Media and Society Media Freedom Programme seeks to build the internal capacity of media in developing countries and fragile states by strengthening digital actors, creating linkages between media, and empowering women media leaders. The programme addresses the media freedom environment in which media operate and attempts to strengthen the link between media and society as a means of promoting transparency, accountability and human rights. It is a two-year, €2 million initiative supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark. Operating in Egypt, Jordan, Palestine, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Kenya, South Africa, Uganda.

 

Role Description

The Innovation Manager will guide participants through the innovation cycle of the Strengthening Media & Society programme. From the initial submission of applications, through a period of incubation until the presentation of final projects, the IM will accompany SMS participants in the realisation of their innovation ideas. By the end of 2017, the IM will have curated a minimum of four SMS projects through to a stage of practical application in the newsroom.

 

Principle tasks

• Establish and maintain regular contact with all SMS innovation project teams
• Identify needs of each individual project and facilitate communication between project teams and relevant experts/advisors/mentors, etc.
• Assist in developing an innovation ‘toolkit’ specific to each project outlining how best a project can be assisted by the available experts engaged in the SMS programme
• Weekly liaison on progress with Regional Managers and SMS project staff
• Manage the innovation calendar:

1. One-on-one sessions
2. Webinars (in coordination with the Distance Learning Manager)
3. Tutorials
4. Peer-to-peer learning

• Document and share the story of innovation from the SMS programme
• Manage and run a dedicated ‘Innovation Network’ amongst participants, project staff, experts and advisors; manage communications, curate media and social media content, contribute to the SMS newsletter, post to the WAN-IFRA website and blog, etc.
• Maintain a detailed write-up of each project for inclusion in reporting and case study/presentation purposes
• Manage innovation ‘study tours’ whereby participants visit existing centres of excellence for innovation
• Contribute to the mapping of the innovation environment in each country/region:

1. Profile existing media labs/innovation projects involving media
2. Research and outline relevant start up communities, encourage communication and collaboration with SMS participants
3. Identify relevant academic institutions, encourage communication and collaboration with SMS participants

• Assist with the set up and management of innovation events, on-site visits, conferences, presentations, etc., as necessary

Requirements

• High level of knowledge in some or all of the following areas: media innovation, technology and ICT, press freedom, human rights, media development
• Previous project management experience
• A strong, demonstrable interest in current developments in media and news publishing
• Ability to work as part of a team, yet with a high degree of autonomy and self-motivation
• Ability to manage multiple tasks and to deliver results to tight deadlines
• Excellent writing and communication skills
• Excellent organisational skills
• Experience of remote working a plus
• Native English speaker, other languages a plus

To apply

 

Please submit a CV together, with two writing samples and a one-page (maximum) overview of how you believe innovation in media can have a positive influence on society, to wanifra.hr@gmail.com

 

About

 

The Media Innovation for Development call, part of WAN-IFRA’s Strengthening Media and Society in Developing Countries and Fragile States programme,offers participants and media who present interesting media innovation projects with a proven impact in society, to benefit from a one-year long accelerator and mentoring process by the Global Alliance for Media Innovation (GAMI) and the WAN-IFRA network. A 5,000€ grant will be awarded to the most outstanding project from each region.

 

The projects

 

SMS participants have been asked to dream big on behalf of their organisations, or to cooperate with colleagues from other media to develop a collaborative project. Their innovation ideas should take advantage of their skills (editorial, investigative reporting, technology, etc.) and put them to use in the interests of society. Projects should reaffirm the need for media, and media’s need for a strong community.

 

The goal is to get SMS participants to the point of having a pitch that could feasibly work, whether they’re convincing their boss, speaking to the bank, or meeting with a potential investor. The very best ideas will be invited to join a global pitch contest for the opportunity of winning a 5,000€ grant to take things to the next level.