Hired in 2–6 months.
MCI fellows typically secure newsroom employment within 2–6 months of finishing the programme — compared to the 1–3 years it takes the average young journalist in Uganda.
Our impact · 2012–2025
Building Africa's next-gen multi-media journalists and multi-earning creators.
12 years in. 3,000+ young journalists trained. 206 fellows in 12 countries. A movement of storytellers using journalism to impact society.
- 3,000+
- Young journalists trained since 2017
- 206
- Fellows since 2018
- 12
- Countries with active alumni
- 7M
- Average reach per alumni TV story
The change we want to see
A humane and healthy media ecosystem that shapes the future. Our impact is measured not in workshops delivered, but in careers launched, stories that move decision-makers, and narratives shifted — from the village FM station to the international desk.
Impact in numbers
12 years of building multi-skilled, multi-earning journalists.
7M
Average reach for alumni stories on TV
300K+
Social followers · top-20 alumni
220K
Average weekly reach of alumni stories
3,000
Young journalists trained since 2017
206
Fellows since 2018
37K+
MCI followers
15
Awards received by our alumni
56
Alumni in communications roles
56
Alumni with masters in journalism
135
Alumni employed in media
10
Youth media start-ups launched
125K+
Views on YouTube
Multi-skilled, multi-earning journalists.
$250–$300 starting.
Fellows command starting salaries between $250 and $300 — significantly higher than the national average of $100–$150 for new graduates.
$1,350–$3,000 from gigs.
The transferable skills learned at MCI help alumni diversify income — earning $1,350–$3,000 from moderation, hosting, content creation, and film production alongside their journalism careers.
Impact of stories by our alumni
81% shifted the narrative.
Of alumni surveyed in 2021 across Fellowship cohorts and the MCI Academy, 81% had produced more stories challenging stereotypical narratives about Africa. Their reporting moved decision-makers, communities, and the rest of the press.
Source · 2021 alumni survey · n = MCI Fellowship + Academy cohorts
- Policy change11%
- Speaking opportunity29%
- Government action36%
- Story going viral43%
- Private-sector response46%
- Community action64%
- Other media outlets cover the story71%
Faces of impact
From students to credible journalists, stars and thought-brand leaders.
These are not exceptions. They are the model. MCI graduates consistently move from the classroom to the camera in 2–6 months — and from the camera to thought-leadership inside a year.
Sandra
Prime-time anchor & international show host
From a young, passionate journalist into a prime-time news anchor, international show host, panel moderator across the world — and the founder of a youth empowerment programme of her own.
Paul Kayanga
Lead political producer · NBS
Moved straight from the fellowship to becoming the best political reporter at NBS. With a 5-year run, he is now main producer for the biggest political shows — driving the investigations exposing corruption and sex offenders.
Sammy Wetala
TV host · filmmaker · brand influencer
Has become not only one of the best entertainment TV hosts in the country, but has also taken on a new journey as a filmmaker, writer, and brand influencer.
Faiza
Morning show host · weekend TV
In the four years since the fellowship, Faiza has become a household name on morning-show radio and weekend TV. She is a thought leader, influencer, and role model for young people.
Olivia Komugisha
Health & gender reporter · NTV
Joined NTV at a young age while still in the fellowship and established herself as one of the country's best health and gender reporters. She has since ventured into health communications.
Story spread · Africa to the world
Our fellows are filing from 12 countries.
From Kampala newsrooms to international desks at the BBC, NPR, Al Jazeera, and CNN — the MCI alumni network puts African storytellers on the platforms where the global conversation happens.
- Uganda
- Kenya
- Tanzania
- Nigeria
- DR Congo
- Sudan
- Somalia
- Zimbabwe
- Canada
- USA
- United Kingdom
- Ireland
Where our fellows work · where they're published
On every screen Ugandans wake up to — and beyond.
Ugandans wake up to news delivered by MCI alumni daily. Our footprint runs across breakfast, mid-morning, lunch-hour, evening, and primetime broadcasts — and crosses borders into Africa-wide and global newsrooms.
Local newsrooms
Across Ugandan TV, radio, and print.
- DW
- BBC
- NTV
- NRG Radio
- GBS
- Galaxy TV
- Smart 24
- Family TV
- Spark TV
- DreamTV
- NBS
- NBS Sport
- KFM
- KHS
- Bukedde
- fresh tv
- Daily Monitor
- New Vision
- UBC
International newsrooms
Africa-wide and global desks.
- NPR
- DW Akademie
- The Guardian
- Bird
- CNN
- Al Jazeera
- Human Rights Center
- Richmond Confidential
- BBC Africa
- Berkeley News
Our journey
Evolution Through Time
2012
The Inter-University Media Challenge launches
2016
MCI + the Academy go full-time
2018
The Fellowship Programme
2020
MCI Media Hub
2023
MCI SDGs Media Van
2024
Africa-wide expansion
Financial growth · 2021–2024
Funded by partners. Earning our own.
Since 2021, MCI has grown both grant funding and social-enterprise revenue to back the vision of building the next generation and to underwrite long-term organisational sustainability. Every dollar shown is the result of collective trust from a coalition of partners.
Grants Social enterprise
- 2021$615K$525K$90K
- 2022$832K$645K$187K
- 2023$1.04M$780K$258K
- 2024$1.09M$888K$199K
Our partners
- European Union
- DW Akademie
- Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung
- The Elevate Prize
- Segal Family Foundation
- German Embassy
- IPDC · UNESCO
- US Mission Uganda
- Mastercard Foundation
- UNFPA
- UNDP
- Meedan
- Africa Check
- UN Women
- ICNL
Why this matters.
Without facts, you can't have truth. Without truth, you can't have trust. Without all three, we have no shared reality, and democracy as we know it — and all meaningful human endeavours — are dead.
MCI's training rebuilt my confidence as a young reporter — I now lead investigations that hold power to account.
The 6S framework is the most coherent media reform agenda I've seen on the continent. It connects skills, stories, and structures.
From rural newsrooms to fact-checking labs, MCI shows up where the gaps are biggest — and stays long enough to make change stick.
Build the next decade with us
Journalism can make the world a better place.
Whether you are a funder, a newsroom, a university, or a creator — there is a place for you in the next chapter of MCI.