Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Deadline: August 20, 2025
The African Women in Journalism Project (AWJP), in partnership with DW Akademie, is inviting applications for the Gender + AI Fellowship 2025, exclusively for Kenyan women journalists. This unique fellowship is designed to empower female journalists with the knowledge and skills to explore the intersection of gender, media, and artificial intelligence (AI) in Kenya’s rapidly evolving media landscape.
Participants will undergo specialized training, mentorship, and collaborative projects that focus on how AI technologies influence gender representation, media narratives, and newsroom practices. The fellowship seeks to amplify women’s voices in tech journalism and foster critical reporting on AI’s societal impacts, with a gender lens.
Structure
Duration: 4 months (October 2025 – February 2026)
- Training phase
- Online trainings on AI literacy, gender sensitive reporting and intersections between AI and gender
- Online training conducted by AWJP and DW Akademie, seasoned journalists, editors, and AI experts
- Mentorship phase
- One-on-one mentorship with senior media professionals
- Story development guidance and pitch feedback, as well as editorial coaching
- Support with Data analysis and visualisation
- Fellowship phase
- Fellows will work on original journalism projects supported by a stipend
- Fellows will also receive support with data analysis and visualisation
- Showcase and Networking
- Final showcase event with the presentation of completed stories
- Networking with other fellows, media organisations and project partners
Outputs: Each Fellow is expected to produce at least 4 high-quality journalistic products: The published stories should be centred around the topics of AI and gender in the context of governance, development, finance, education, health, and climate.
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Eligibility Criteria
This fellowship is open to women journalists who meet the following criteria:
- Professional Affiliation
- Staff affiliated with a media organisation (including TV, radio, print, or digital outlets). Roles may include: reporter, editor, social media content manager, moderator
- Freelance journalists who meet all other eligibility criteria.
- Geographic Location
- Applicants must be based in Kenya, with priority given to those residing or working in Nyanza, Western, Rift Valley (including Turkana), Central, and the Coastal Region.
- Technical Requirements
- Proficient in English (written and spoken).
- Access to stable internet and a laptop or desktop computer to participate in online training and mentorship activities.
- Publishing Commitment
- Must submit a letter of intent to publish from an editor or media outlet as part of the application. Commitment to publish/broadcast the story within two weeks of submission and to share analytics.
- Topical Interest & Commitment (a motivational statement with a maximum 500 words)
- Demonstrated interest and experience in covering issues related to Gender and AI
- Strong motivation to develop impactful journalism that advances the rights of women, girls, and underrepresented groups.
- Interest in gaining skills to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) for gender-sensitive reporting and to contribute to shaping inclusive AI strategies in journalism.
Application Process and Documents Required
To apply, please complete and submit the online application form and upload the following:
- Curriculum Vitae (maximum 2 pages)
- 1–2 samples of published work (provide links or upload as PDFs)
- Story pitch (maximum 300 words): A brief proposal for a story you would like to develop during the fellowship, focusing on AI and gender
- Motivational statement (maximum 500 words)
Selection Process:
Applications will be reviewed based on:
- Demonstrated passion for journalism and gender storytelling
- Clarity, originality, and relevance of the proposed story idea
- Understanding of or interest in AI and gender-related issues
- Diversity of applicants across region, media sector, and topic focus
- Shortlisted candidates may be invited for a virtual interview
