GBLCAREERS

BBC Media Action is currently implementing a capacity strengthening project across the 6 Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates). It aims to empower journalists, citizen journalists, online publishers and other media practitioners with the technical and editorial capacity to produce accurate, balanced, impartial and credible reports. The reports will be based on multiple sources and present diverse viewpoints, and build their skills in facilitating common ground narratives and dialogue between different interest groups, with a particular focus on amplifying female voices. The project will aim to do this by conducting a series of online training courses, mentoring, and publishing initiatives for a total of 100 trainees. The trainees will enrol in the online modules, engage with a mentor and in online discussions with other trainees, produce and publish material online.

BBC Media Action is seeking mentors experienced in media to train in either one or a combination of the following areas:

• Online journalism & basic journalism skills, including newswriting, digital safety, journalism ethics and advanced journalism skills (in depth journalism, data journalism and conducting interviews).
• Social Media and User Generated Content.
• Mobile Journalism; editorial (digital storytelling for audio/ video) and technical (e.g. editing, using mobile cameras, mics etc).
• Skills in moderating a discussion/ online debate and online community management.
• The mentors will support the trainees throughout the whole training round, from the enrolment phase towards conception and production of the final output

Department/Business Unit: BBC Media Action

Reports To: Fawzi Barghouthi, Project Manager

Contract length: May 2018 – September 2018 (including Ramadan)

To apply: Please send your CV and a cover letter in English outlining your experience and suitability for the role (PDF or MS Word format)to . Please include the title of the position and your full name in the subject line by 28th May 2018. Applications received after this date will be automatically rejected.

Please also include within the email your daily rate (on the basis of an 8 hour working day). The work allows a high level of flexibility so please include your availability (which days of the week, and times (GMT)) including which time zone you would be working in.

If you have any questions then please send your email to Fawzi Barghouthi, , using ‘Enquiry on mentoring proposal’ in the subject line.

Please do not send certificates or other attachments. Applicants without a cover letter will not be considered. Please only apply if you meet the essential knowledge, skills and experience criteria. National terms and conditions will apply.

Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

  Main Duties:

• Coperate with the Community Manager in the delivery of the training programme.

• Provide support for a group of online trainees via the training platform, social media pages (closed Facebook groups), and group Skype chatrooms.

• Moderate trainee debate and discussions on these platforms.

• Guide, collect and assess trainee assignments.

• Support the research and evaluation activities by collecting and assessing samples of material produced by trainees (articles, audio and video).

• Follow the progress of trainees and report monthly on progress.

• Respond to trainee questions for each module they are responsible for.

• Provide input into the design of some of the modules as and when necessary.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Have at least five years’ experience in media or journalism in at least one of the areas above; at least three years in a senior role.

• Be from the one of the 6 GCC countries.

• Fluent in Arabic and able to have and moderate online conversation in Arabic (typed via Skype and Facebook Chatrooms). Have an understanding of the GCC context and be able to communicate in Arabic with trainees from GCC countries. Gulf experience and working knowledge of Khaliji Arabic is a distinct advantage.

• Be able to dedicate three evenings every week, approximately 2-3 hours long each, for mentoring. Dependent on where you are located and taking the time difference with the Gulf (between +3 and +4 GMT) into account. Some weekend work might be required.

• Be able to attend training for the trainer’s workshop (three days) which will be held in either London or Beirut.

• Have a thorough understanding of journalism ethics. Familiarity with BBC Editorial Values is an advantage.

Desirable:

• Previous training experience while it is not a pre-requisite, it is highly desirable.