Media Challenge Initiative

Non-profit + 1 more

Apprenticeship Newsroom Manager

Job details

Contract Type

Description
Who We Are Looking For
  • A coach-first leader who enjoys mentoring young journalists and turning mistakes into learning moments

  • A youth-centered editor who understands culture, social media, and how young people learn, earn, belong, and become

  • A strong newsroom practitioner with hands-on experience in journalism, digital media, or content production

  • A systems thinker who can design clear newsroom rhythms, schedules, and accountability without killing creativity

  • A conversation leader who sees stories as dialogue starters, not just published outputs

  • A community builder who believes journalism only thrives when audiences feel ownership and belonging

  • A bridge between impact and sustainability, comfortable engaging ethical partnerships without compromising editorial values

  • A calm, emotionally intelligent presence who can hold pressure, conflict, and care in a humane way

  • A future-facing media thinker excited about apprenticeship models, innovation, and reimagining how newsrooms work in Africa


Responsibilities
1. Run the Apprenticeship-Driven Newsroom
  • Design and manage the daily, weekly, and monthly newsroom rhythm
  • Translate the fellowship curriculum into learn-by-doing newsroom workflows
  • Ensure every apprentice has a clear role and desk, knows what they are producing and why, and receives regular feedback and mentorship
  • Balance learning with production — without exploitation or chaos
2. Manage Multi-Channel Editorial Desks

You will oversee apprentices producing content for Switch Africa (short-form, social-first channels) and Solutions Now Africa (long-form, solutions journalism).

  • Ensure each channel has a clear editorial focus, consistent tone and quality, and appropriate publishing cadence
  • Coordinate cross-channel collaboration
  • Prevent duplication, burnout, or mission drift
3. Editorial Oversight & Quality Control
  • Set and enforce editorial standards
  • Review and approve content before publication (or assign editors)
  • Ensure accuracy, ethics, and relevance
  • Embed solutions journalism, youth voice, and cultural intelligence
  • Handle editorial corrections and learning moments constructively
4. Mentorship, Coaching & Growth

You are not just managing output — you are growing people.

  • Coach apprentices through feedback, reflection, and portfolio development
  • Identify strengths and growth areas
  • Support apprentices to become one-person media teams, channel leads, and future editors, producers, or creators
  • Work closely with the HODs and People & Culture Officer on performance reviews, learning milestones, transitions and exits
5. Newsroom Systems & Workflow Design
  • Design efficient editorial workflows
  • Use planning tools (content calendars, pitch meetings, editorial boards)
  • Ensure documentation of processes
  • Reduce reliance on heroics
  • Build a calm, disciplined newsroom culture
6. Community Building

You understand that news does not thrive in isolation.

  • Guide apprentices to think beyond publishing into community engagement
  • Encourage formats that invite participation, response, and shared ownership
  • Support offline and online activations linked to Switch Africa channels
  • Build audience feedback loops, community-led storytelling, events, pop-ups, dialogues, and collaborations
7. Conversation Enhancement — From Content to Dialogue

You ensure the newsroom does not just publish stories — it leads conversations.

  • Help apprentices design stories as conversation starters
  • Encourage follow-ups, explainers, responses, and reflections
  • Model how journalism can heal, not inflame
  • Moderate sensitive issues responsibly

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