Are you an experienced journalist, researcher or data analyst based in the Upper East, Upper West, Northern, North East, Savannah or Bono East Regions of Ghana? Are you passionate about fact-checking and reporting?
Then take advantage of this opportunity!
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) is recruiting fact-checkers to contribute to its work on improving information hygiene through the production of fact-check reports to counter mis/disinformation and polarising narratives on conflict and triggers of insecurity in the northern part of Ghana. The fact-checkers will benefit from capacity-building workshops on countering pro-conflict propaganda and narratives of violent extremism aimed at contributing to peaceful elections and community resilience.
The selected candidates will work closely with professional Fact-checkers at Fact-Check Ghana of the MFWA for 10 months, and produce fact-based and conflict-sensitive reports.
Responsibilities
- To conduct regular searches for narratives, claims and statements that are social, political, ethnic or security-related and produce fact-checked reports about such claims using approved fact-checking instrument(s) on which fact-checkers will be trained.
- To subject all fact-checked reports to acceptable fact-checking principles outlined during the fact-checking training and in line with principles set out in the fact-checking instrument(s) for the project.
- To cooperate and support other fact-checkers to jointly debunk pro-conflict propaganda, polarising narratives on conflict and triggers of insecurity or claims which may require the effort of more than one fact-checker.
Who can apply
An applicant must be a researcher, data analyst or a television, radio, newspaper and online reporter who is based and working in any of the six Regions in the Northern sector of Ghana, namely Northern, Savannah, Upper East, Upper West, North East and Bono East Regions.
Education
A first degree or diploma (with a minimum of three years of experience) in journalism, data journalism, mass communication, digital communications, political science, economics, finance, computer science or any related field is required.
Eligibility criteria
Ideal candidates must have background knowledge of the concept of ‘fake news’ and mis/disinformation and be familiar with the use of verification tools.
An applicant must:
- Have exceptional analytical and report-writing capacity
- Be able to meet tight reporting deadlines and work under pressure
- Have worked for at least three years as a journalist, researcher or data analyst
- Reside and have worked in any of the six regions for at least two years and have considerable knowledge about the political, social, ethnic and security-related context of any of the regions
Application Deadline:
Applicants must submit a CV including two referees by Wednesday, January 31, 2024, to the email: applications[@]mfwa.org with “Fact-checker Application” as the subject of the email.
Note: Only shortlisted applicants will be contacted.
For further clarification, kindly contact the MFWA on +233 30 255 5327 or Evans on +233509006973.
The recruitment activity forms part of MFWA’s project on “Enhancing the Media’s Role in Conflict Resolution, Peacebuilding and Democratic Consolidation in Ghana” being implemented with funding support from the US Embassy in Ghana.
