Deadline:
June 9, 2017
Applications are open for a new six-month
innovation support programme for existing or new South African journalism and
media teams. The Journalism and Media Accelerator (JAMLAB) will be home to
innovators who want to develop new forms of journalism and also reach new,
younger, audiences.
JAMLAB will provide participating teams
with the tools, facilities, contacts and the support necessary to realise their
ideas and ambitions, combining professional mentorship with a collaborative and
creative tech-advanced working space.
UP to six teams will be selected for the
programme, which runs from July at Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation
Precinct in Braamfontein. This will be the first accelerator programme to
launch at Tshimologong.
Successful applicants will receive:
-A six-month fellowship at Wits Journalism
-Free workspace and membership at the new
Tshimologong Precinct co-working space
-Mentorship and coaching from experienced
media, start-up and tech experts, and entrepreneurs
-Free places on a three-month Wits
‘Creating the Media’ certificate course
-Access to a software development team at
Tshimologong
-Opportunities to pitch to potential
investors and funders
JAMLAB will be seeking to ensure that
JAMLAB addresses historic inequalities of opportunities in South Africa and
that those who are selected are a diverse group of people who understand and
want to engage the widest range of South African audiences.
The partners are especially keen to see
women and women led teams apply.
Indra de Lanerolle, JAMLAB director, says:
“We are looking for great new ideas that can change the media and journalism
landscape. We want strong teams that are passionate about stories, information,
opinion and ideas. They must also have a keen interest to engage with new
audiences. Whether non-profit or for profit, brand new or old hands, as long as
you have the energy to do something new that can make a real difference to
media and journalism in South Africa.”
JAMLAB is a programme of Wits Journalism
and the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering in partnership with Ryerson
University, Toronto and Journalists for Human Rights.
Prof Barry Dwolatzky, director, JCSE and
founder of Tshimologong Precinct, says that this is an exciting collaboration:
“We are delighted to work with such esteemed partners to focus on creating new
ideas that bring technology and journalism closer together. As the first
accelerator programme to launch at the precinct, we are both excited and happy
to host the next generation of journalists and media moguls.”
To apply or find out more about the
programme visit http://medium.com/jamlab,
follow @jamlabafrica on Twitter or on Facebook Facebook.com/jamlabafrica.
Applications close on June 9, 2017.
Posts
