Africa Uncensored, in partnership with DW Akademie, Odipo Dev and GIZ has announced the 2nd Cohort of the AI in the Newsroom Fellowship 2026. This six-month technical laboratory is designed to help journalists, editors, news content creators and newsrooms to transition from simple AI experimentation to the development of robust, bespoke workflows and products that enhance editorial processes.
What the fellowship offers
* Technical Upskilling: Deep dives into AI tools for data journalism, AI literacy trainings, and pairing with experts in the AI space.
* Project Mentorship: Dedicated support to help you move from a "bottleneck" to a finished, polished tool that is ready to deploy.
* Collaborative Network: Join a cohort of media professionals committed to raising the technical bar in journalism.
* Resource Access: Hands-on experience with a dedicated sandbox of tools, and the frameworks needed to address emerging and existing challenges.
Eligibility
* The organiser are looking for journalists, editors and news content creators with an interest in AI-supported journalism.
* Those who are able to define a clear use case stating how they plan to use AI tools to solve a challenge they have identifed, and who are able to use AI tools to advance their work.
* Fellows will be required to identify a concrete problem within their newsroom and demonstrate how their proposed AI prototype will help solve it.
* Additionally, applicantsa are expected to submit a letter of commitment from their newsroom, or if a freelancer, a personal letter of commitment for the proposed project.
* They should have a clear idea of where their needs are, and how AI can help address these challenges.
* They are comfortable experimenting with new tools and have a "hacker" mindset toward problem-solving.
* They are committed to the full project cycle (June – December).
* They want to responsibly adopt and use AI-augmented reporting tools in your journalism.
* Lastly, the organisers are looking for projects that prioritize transparency, financial accountability, and public interest.
Call for mentors and trainers
Africa Uncensored and DW Akademie have also announced a call for mentors and trainers to take part in the AI in the Newsroom Fellowship. They are looking for mentors and trainers who can help fellows solve real-world problems.
They are looking to fill two primary roles:
* Technical Trainers: Lead hands-on, deep-dive workshops on specific modules focusing on applying AI tools towards problem-solving in journalistic contexts, underpinned by product development to build practical solutions for newsrooms.
* Project Mentors: Provide 1-on-1 guidance to fellows as they develop their projects, helping them navigate technical roadblocks and ensure journalistic rigour, practicality and applicability in the Kenyan newsroom.
For complete job description and to apply, visit:
https://gfmd.info/careers/ai-in-the-newsroom-fellowship-call-for-fellows-and-mentors/
HOW TO APPLY:
To apply for the AI in the newsroom fellowship, please fill out this online application form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScz6FG7d3DhuN_1aezjte33WLBlkN9fkHigOkW2-y6uyZxwMA/viewform) no later than April 30, 2026. For more information, please visit this page (https://africauncensored.online/opportunities/call-for-fellows-ai-in-the-newsroom-fellowship-2026/). To apply and find more information on the call for trainers and mentors, please visit this page (https://africauncensored.online/call-for-mentors-trainers-ai-in-the-newsroom-fellowship-2026/).