In collaboration with the FT, we’re looking for a mid-career journalist from, based in and covering Sub-Saharan Africa, with an ambitious written story to tell a global audience.
Think big. This might be what you’d expect to see on the home page of one of the world’s biggest newspapers.
We’re looking for a great writer with some experience who can break down a complex story in simple language, compellingly, in a way that has wide appeal and relatability. The selected Fellow will produce a piece of long-form journalism – an economic or business story from the region that resonates with FT’s global audience.
The FT Fellow will join the existing One World Media Fellowship cohort to learn alongside a talented worldwide peer group while receiving guidance and a reporting grant of £1,000.
The FT will provide further training, editorial support and one-to-one mentoring from senior editors, with the aim of showcasing the final piece at their global platform.
KEY DATES
- Open for entries: 7 September 2023
- Deadline: Thursday 5 October 2023, 5PM UTC
- FT Fellow announced: November 2023
USEFUL INFORMATION
What Do Fellows Receive?
- £1,000 reporting grant
- OWM Executive Producer for their project
- One-to-one mentoring by Senior FT editors
- A chance to publish their piece on the FT
- Workshops and webinars by industry experts
- Network of like-minded Fellows and Alumni
Who Are We Looking For?
We are looking for a mid-career journalist from and based in Sub-Saharan Africa, working in print, digital or multimedia reporting.
We will select one FT Fellow to join the current OWM Fellowship cohort.
We’re looking for a great writer with some experience who can break down a complex story in simple language, compellingly, in a way that has wide appeal and relatability.
We are particularly interested in journalists who have a keen interest in business and global affairs, an international mindset and sharp reporting instincts.
The ideal applicant would demonstrate strong writing skills and an ability to write engagingly and incisively about economics, corporate and markets issues.
There is a possibility of an extended engagement for a successful Fellow.
What Projects Are We Looking For?
The selected Fellow will produce a piece of long-form journalism – an economic or business story from the region that resonates with FT’s global audience.
This could be a story which has a political impact or which shines a light on an industry or sector or company. We are particularly interested in stories from countries that the FT does not cover regularly.
The primary form will be text, but there will be opportunities for special digital treatment of data and of visual elements.
The FT Fellow will be in regular contact with David Pilling, the FT’s Africa editor and Alec Russell, foreign editor, and will receive one-on-one training and mentoring from them and other senior editors.
To read some example FT stories from the region, check out the links in the Submission Information.
Frequently Asked Questions
APPLICATION
Is there an application fee?
Application to the OWM Fellowship is free.
Can I apply with more than one project?
We suggest you apply with your strongest proposal. However if you wish to apply with multiple projects, you need to fill in a separate application for each proposal.
Who do I get a reference letter from?
Your reference should be written on headed paper and can be from a tutor/lecturer, a commissioner, an employer, or an established practitioner in your medium that is familiar with your work. It should clarify in what capacity your referee knows you; confirmation that they are familiar with your work, and a comment on your application, particularly your ability to deliver the piece of media proposed.
How much research do I need to show?
We expect you to have researched and verified your stories before applying. We will generally not consider your proposal if you have not established contacts and contributors on the ground and obtained their agreement to take part.
How much experience do you expect the applicants to have?
For the FT Africa Journalism Fellowship, we will support a mid-career journalist. We expect a basic level of industry experience, and for you to be able to deliver the piece of media you are proposing. We will prioritise journalists who have already published some of their pieces, locally or internationally, and aiming to widen their access to a network of industry professionals in their field.
ELIGIBILITY
Which project locations are eligible?
For the FT Africa Journalism Fellow, projects should focus on stories, topics or issues in, about or related to countries across Sub-Saharan Africa.
What type of media do you support?
The FT Africa Journalism Fellowship is for print/text and and multimedia stories.
Who is eligible to apply for the Fellowship?
The FT Africa Journalism Fellowship is open to mid-career journalists working in written form, based in and from Sub-Saharan Africa.
Do you support completed projects?
Unfortunately, no. We support projects at planning or early reporting stages, where the main reporting has not yet taken place.
SELECTION
How does the selection process work?
Call for applications is open for 4 weeks. Applications are shortlisted in house then put to a jury panel of industry professionals who select the winning application. Selected Fellow will be announced in November.
Do you select Fellows based on the project or the applicant?
We consider each application individually, both in terms of the proposed project, and the applicant’s profile, experience and career ambitions.
What type of stories are you looking for?
We are looking for a piece of long-form journalism – an economic or business story from the region that resonates with FT’s global audience. This could be a story which has a political impact or which shines a light on an industry or sector or company. We are particularly interested in stories from countries that the FT does not cover regularly.
At One World Media, we look for stories that highlight the voices of people living in the global south, particularly those that are not often heard. We seek original stories, told in engaging ways. We encourage positive, empowering, and solutions oriented pieces, considering the context and working in partnership with local people.
I wasn't selected for the Fellowship. How can I receive feedback?
Due to the large number of applications we receive, we are not able to provide individual feedback on applications that are not selected. Here are some of the most common reasons for applications not being shortlisted: access not secured, budget not feasible, project too large scale, topic or characters not original, applicant too early or advanced in their career, research not thorough enough. It could also be that there was nothing wrong with your application and simply there were other stronger applications, so we encourage that you try again next round, with an updated proposal.
DELIVERY
How long should my final project be?
The FT Africa Journalism Fellowship will support a long read article around 2,000 words that can be delivered within 9 months.
How long do I have to deliver my work?
You have 9 months to complete your proposed media piece.
Will there be further support for the piece?
The FT Fellow will be in regular contact with David Pilling, the FT’s Africa editor and Alec Russell, foreign editor, and will receive one-on-one training and mentoring from them and other senior editors. There will be opportunities for special digital treatment of data and of visual elements. There is a possibility of an extended engagement for a successful Fellow.
If you have any questions about your application, or would like to find out more about the One World Media Fellowship, please get in touch via email.