Apprenticeship Newsroom Manager
About Media Challenge Initiative (MCI)
Media Challenge Initiative (MCI) envisions a humane and healthy media ecosystem shaping the future. At the core of this vision is Africa's first apprenticeship-driven social newsroom — a living system where young journalists, creators, editors, designers, researchers, and media entrepreneurs learn by doing, shape culture, and build sustainable media futures.
The newsroom is experienced through Switch Africa — a multi-channel, youth-first media ecosystem — and Solutions Now Africa, our long-form and solutions journalism platform. This is a living media ecosystem where learning happens through real production, real deadlines, real audiences, and real responsibility.
The Role: Apprenticeship Newsroom Manager
We are seeking an Apprenticeship Newsroom Manager to run the day-to-day engine of MCI's newsroom. This role is part editor, part coach, part systems operator.
Core Mandate
You are the custodian of the apprenticeship newsroom experience.
Your success is measured by:
- The quality of content produced
- The growth of apprentices
- The health and rhythm of the newsroom
- The credibility of Switch Africa and Solutions Now Africa
Key Responsibilities
You are responsible for
- Managing apprentices who run niched social channels
- Ensuring consistent, high-quality, youth-relevant content
- Translating learning objectives into production workflows
- Holding the newsroom to both creative excellence and discipline
You ensure that the newsroom
- Produces meaningful content
- Trains future-ready journalists and creators
- Operates calmly, ethically, and sustainably
1. Run the Apprenticeship-Driven Newsroom
- Design and manage the daily, weekly, and monthly newsroom rhythm
- Translate the fellowship curriculum into learn-by-doing newsroom workflows
- Ensure every apprentice has a clear role and desk, knows what they are producing and why, and receives regular feedback and mentorship
- Balance learning with production — without exploitation or chaos
2. Manage Multi-Channel Editorial Desks
You will oversee apprentices producing content for Switch Africa (short-form, social-first channels) and Solutions Now Africa (long-form, solutions journalism).
- Ensure each channel has a clear editorial focus, consistent tone and quality, and appropriate publishing cadence
- Coordinate cross-channel collaboration
- Prevent duplication, burnout, or mission drift
3. Editorial Oversight & Quality Control
- Set and enforce editorial standards
- Review and approve content before publication (or assign editors)
- Ensure accuracy, ethics, and relevance
- Embed solutions journalism, youth voice, and cultural intelligence
- Handle editorial corrections and learning moments constructively
4. Mentorship, Coaching & Growth
You are not just managing output — you are growing people.
- Coach apprentices through feedback, reflection, and portfolio development
- Identify strengths and growth areas
- Support apprentices to become one-person media teams, channel leads, and future editors, producers, or creators
- Work closely with the HODs and People & Culture Officer on performance reviews, learning milestones, transitions and exits
5. Newsroom Systems & Workflow Design
- Design efficient editorial workflows
- Use planning tools (content calendars, pitch meetings, editorial boards)
- Ensure documentation of processes
- Reduce reliance on heroics
- Build a calm, disciplined newsroom culture
6. Community Building
You understand that news does not thrive in isolation.
- Guide apprentices to think beyond publishing into community engagement
- Encourage formats that invite participation, response, and shared ownership
- Support offline and online activations linked to Switch Africa channels
- Build audience feedback loops, community-led storytelling, events, pop-ups, dialogues, and collaborations
7. Conversation Enhancement — From Content to Dialogue
You ensure the newsroom does not just publish stories — it leads conversations.
- Help apprentices design stories as conversation starters
- Encourage follow-ups, explainers, responses, and reflections
- Model how journalism can heal, not inflame
- Moderate sensitive issues responsibly
- Expand stories into ongoing youth dialogues
- Teach apprentices how to hold space for disagreement with care
8. Connections for Business & Sustainability
You recognize that journalism needs new business models rooted in trust and community.
- Help apprentices understand the relationship between stories, audiences, and revenue
- Support ethical brand, partner, and campaign collaborations
- Protect editorial integrity while enabling sustainability
9. Collaboration Across MCI
You will work closely with:
- CEO — vision, priorities, public positioning
- People & Culture Officer — apprenticeship structure, mentoring, performance
- Sustainability Officer — build and coordinate synergies to harmonise narrative and sponsored content
- Production Team — video, audio, graphics, editing and events production
- Research & Learning — insights, knowledge extraction and capacity building of apprentices
10. Safeguarding the Information Ecosystem
- Ensure newsroom content supports information integrity
- Guide apprentices on fact-checking, responsible storytelling, and digital safety
- Respond calmly and ethically to misinformation risks
Who We Are Looking For
Why This Role Matters
This role exists to answer a critical question:
Can we train the next generation of African journalists while producing real journalism every day?
You will help prove that the answer is yes.
Ready to Apply?
Send your CV and cover letter to info@mciug.org before 19th February, 2026.
Still have questions? Email us at info@mciug.org