Project/Proposal Summary:
Public education within Kenya and in the U.S. is a critical objective of
USAID/Kenya’s Program Office. MSI has been tasked by USAID to create and
supervise a pilot radio program working with six vernacular radio stations in
Kenya [still to be determined]. These stations will be dedicating one journalist
from their station to be trained in development journalism. MSI will assist the
stations in identifying the journalist in each station to be trained. MSI will
also be working with the station editor and management to better understand the
long-term benefit and value of having a staff member trained in development
journalism.
Position Summary:
The pilot project is envisioned to last for six months. The focus is to be on
ensuring vernacular radio stations are staffed and equipped to receive useful
information from USAID so that USAID would be able to send a press advisory or
press release to these stations (as it does to the major English-language
stations), and have them dispatch a reporter to cover the event or report on
the news item. MSI is seeking an experienced radio journalism trainer, with
particular expertise in development journalism training, and with experience
training journalists in Kenya. The trainer will be engaged to lead two one-week
trainings: the first one at project inception, to train the journalists invited
to participate from the six vernacular stations, and another week at the end of
the project, focused on lessons learned. In addition, the trainer will be asked
to conduct at least one on-site training at each of the six vernacular radio stations,
working with the journalist, editor and station manager on development
journalism. The trainer is expected to work closely with MSI in developing the
curricula and agenda for these trainings, and to co-lead the trainings with the
Radio Project Coordinator. The trainer will help journalists to see
opportunities to convert a story into a set of stories, how to be more
interactive through “phone-ins”, and how to make constantly reported themes
sexier to its listeners.
**The position is open to Kenyan nationals and
internationals residing in Kenya**
Responsibilities:
• Assist MSI in developing training materials and agendas, for both the week
long and on-site trainings.
• Co-lead the trainings with MSI staff tasked to this project.
• Travel to the radio stations as determined by MSI Communications and COP.
• Provide training to the journalists, marketing staff, and station managers on
how to use development data in a fresh way.
Qualifications:
• A degree, preferably advanced, in journalism or communications or
international affairs.
• Minimum seven years professional experience in journalism with a minimum of
three years of radio journalism.
• Experience in the vernacular radio sector of Kenya would also be an asset.
• Fluent in English essential, knowledge of Swahili an asset.
• Experience working with international donors.
• Minimum three years’ experience working as a radio journalism trainer.
• Ability to travel within Kenya.
Only candidates who have been selected for an interview will
be contacted. No phone calls, please.
