ANIC is looking for ideas that will transform the way that African media work. This means that your idea should offer significant and tangible improvements to existing tools or techniques, or should propose new ways for African journalists to gather news, tell stories, engage with audiences, or sustain media organisations.
Ideas that have the potential to be replicated or that could scale continentally will have an advantage.
1. What do you propose to do? [20 words]
To establish a digital training center in Kampala, Uganda to equip children aged 8-13 years with digital and journalism skills.
2. Is anyone doing something like this now and how is your project different? [30 words]
It’s the first center in Uganda offering skills training to children to impart skills in Journalism and digital media ahead of the switch from analogue to digital terrestrial broadcasting System.
3. Describe the real world challenge that you are trying to solve for African media [50 words]
With the imminent switch from an Analogue to a Digital Terrestrial Broadcast System this initiative will nurture the young generation to be compliant. The vocational nature of the training will impart mostly the vital skills required for journalism in short terms which will help bridge the gap in time.
4. How and why will your solution work? [100 words]
The training centre will take on students on an individual basis in view of their needs rather than the traditional entry requirements that would require minimum “O” & “A” Level qualifications. On some occasions, sessions will be conducted in a local language to give every one a chance to exploit their potentials in this creative and challenging technological course. Practical sessions ranging from one day to a few weeks will be arranged as will be deemed necessary for particular modules. The training sessions will be extended to all parts of the country so people can get services nearer to them.
5. Who is working on it? [100 words]
Digital Skills Center is a legally registered production and consultancy body supporting the growth of Digital Technology through research, innovation and training. We work with broadcasters, the broadcasting companies, government regulatory bodies, ministries, and stake-holders in the broadcasting industries, the general public and international organizations to change the face of broadcasting in the region. We have a multi disciplinary team whose experience covers journalism, media technology, information Technology, Education, communication, Multimedia and beyond. Our research influences training and education policy and encourages development with the labour market. We have conducted ground breaking research on Analogue to Digital Switchover in Uganda.
6. What part of the project have you already built? [100 words]
We fully produce Kids News Network, a children’s news programme on the State Broadcaster Uganda Broadcasting Corporation and we also do children’s TV documentaries on other TV stations. All these programmes are done by children under the guidance of adult instructors targeting the audience of the over two million families in Uganda and others beyond. The productions focus on issues revolving around children’s rights and children’s role in society. Through these programmes, children gain journalist skills that they use to educate, inform and entertain their fellow children, parents and the public. It is this base that we are building on.
7. How would you sustain the project after the funding expires? [50 words]
Once the project has taken if, it is expected to become self-sustaining as market research has indicated it is a welcome idea that will attract many learners. Besides, efforts to source funding will be ongoing and given the viability of the project, other funders are expected to come on board.
Requested amount from ANIC: $97,000
Expected amount of time required to complete project: I Year
Total Project Cost: $132,000
Name: MUGABI ARTHUR
Twitter: @mugart1976
Organization: DIGITAL SKILLS CENTER
Country: UGANDA
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