By Nneka Nwogwugwu
The International News Media Association (INMA) is accepting applications for its Africa Elevate Scholarships, which aim to mentor young African media professionals and help them accelerate their careers.
INMA is about the business of journalism and wants to help applicants get opportunities whether future interest is audience development, product & tech, advertising, marketing, or data.
In 2025, the Elevate Africa Initiative will:
Educate through 4 topical summits: Conduct four virtual summits focused on newsroom transformation, revenue, audience development, and product & tech.
Elevate young professionals: The Africa Elevate Scholarship will focus on professional mentorship, navigating the corridors of power, understanding the business of media, digital transformation, and what to know now about AI.
Spotlight emerging leaders: The Africa Emerging Leaders programme will identify up-and-coming media leaders below senior management ranks.
The agenda for 2025 aims to provide free access to 10 hours of programming across four vital subjects:
- Newsroom Transformation Summit: How news media companies in the region are reinventing newsrooms for the digital age is the focus of this summit which will highlight how to best use data, personalisation, liquid content, and bridge roles. We will look at how to use GenAI to unlock journalistic efficiencies.
- Revenue Summit: Dive into what the best news media companies are doing to grow digital advertising and subscriptions – notably in markets where this swims against cultural tides. This will feature a global keynote followed by African best-practice sessions. This summit is solely about revenue development.
- Product & Tech Summit: Practical applications of digital products such as mobile, Web, tablets, smartphones, audio, and AR/VR products is the focus of this summit. Meanwhile, learn how to navigate the emerging world of AI tech players and LLMs.
- Audience Development Summit: Encouragement of the use or engagement with a media company’s Web site, mobile site, tablet, apps, newsletters, text alert service, video, audio, social network, print products or the marketing or onboarding of features related to these assets is the focus of this summit.
Benefits
1. Four Africa- and mentorship-focused virtual modules covering:
- Understanding the business of media
- Navigating the corridors of power in media
- What to know now about digital transformation
- How AI is being deployed at media companies
2. Access to livestream virtual modules and recordings
3. Access to private WhatsApp group for peer communications
4. Recognition of your selection to the programme
5.Certification after verified completion of all four modules
6.One year of INMA individual membership
7. Participants will receive four Africa- and mentorship-focused virtual modules that cover the business of media, digital transformation, AI, and more. They will also receive one year of INMA individual membership and other incentives.
- Successful applicants will be employed by a news media organisation in Africa.
Eligibility
Applicants must demonstrate a need for on-the-job training and education.
Applicants must be under the age of 35, with less than 5 years’ experience in the news industry.
The deadline is April 16.
How to Apply
Click here to start application
The International News Media Association (INMA) is offering Africa Elevate Scholarships to mentor young African media professionals and help advance their careers. The initiative includes education through virtual summits on newsroom transformation, revenue growth, audience development, and product & technology. The scholarships focus on professional mentorship, including navigating media business, digital transformation, and understanding AI.
The 2025 agenda provides ten hours of free programming on transforming newsrooms using data and GenAI, boosting digital advertising and subscriptions, and engaging audience development strategies. Benefits include access to livestreams, peer communication channels, certification, and INMA membership. Eligible applicants must be under 35, with less than five years of industry experience. Applications are due by April 16.
