The program aims to equip journalists from investigative media and watchdog NGOs with open-source intelligence (OSINT) and SOCMINT forensic analysis skills to produce an evidence-driven analysis of information manipulation and interference (IMI) and coordinated inauthentic behavior (CIB), as well as to support access to credible information.
The goals for AAOSI Fellowships are to:
Build a strong pan-African network of OSINT investigators who can collaborate on transnational investigations with peers worldwide to unmask influence operations and information manipulation.
Equip investigative media and watchdog CSOs with open-source intelligence (OSINT) skills and tools to turbocharge their investigations into information manipulation.
Help newsrooms reach larger audiences and build deeper engagement with the public for data-driven discussions on key issues.
The Fellowship Program
The Fellowship aims to enhance information integrity in Côte d’Ivoire and Senegal by tackling misinformation, hate speech, and propaganda, while also strengthening local media and civil society resilience.
Eligibility Requirements
The newsroom/CSO must be registered as a media organization or digital outlet in Côte d’Ivoire or Senegal, with an explicit focus on audiences in Africa.
The newsroom/CSO must have a minimum of one year of experience in journalism, with a strong preference for investigative or data journalism.
The newsroom/CSO must have evidence of reports produced and published, with the latest not more than two months ago.
The newsroom/CSO must commit to timely and open communication from the management and assigned journalists.
The applicant must be attached or affiliated to a media house or digital news outlet or relevant organization where content produced during the project will be published. This also applies to freelance journalists.
The applicant must commit to publishing/disseminating their work on an appropriate public platform. CfA will assist with partnerships/syndications where appropriate.
The applicant must commit to agreed-on weekly online training and mentorship sessions.
The applicant must be willing to share their new skills and knowledge within their organization, by presenting their projects and techniques to their peers.
The applicant must be fluent in either of the languages of tuition and mentorship: English or French.
Benefits
The program will consist of:
Financial support: The chosen newsrooms or organizations will receive a modest grant to cover eligible activities and costs.
Technical support: CfA will offer hands-on technical training, followed by one-on-one project mentorship, along with support from CfA’s data technologists, data analysts, multimedia producers, and editors.
Publishing support: The newsrooms or organizations will publish content packages generated under the project on their respective media platforms and will also receive support to publish internationally.
Growing reach: CfA will offer amplification/growth support, including scaling/syndication support.
