We are hiring two people to build our Engaged Journalism Accelerator (closed)

The European Journalism Centre (EJC) is looking for two driven, well-connected and resourceful people to drive our new Engaged Journalism Accelerator programme.

[Editor: this position is now closed, sorry. Stay tuned for more details on the Accelerator soon.]

We believe journalists play a key role in improving people’s lives through access to information, data and perspectives that build bridges. Yet European journalism faces disappearing advertising revenues, declining public trust, the rise of misinformation, and increasingly polarized societies.

Engaged journalism — reporting that empowers communities and their conversations — offers a solution that can positively impact both society as a whole, and the future of news organisations.

With a total budget of $1,500,000, the Engaged Journalism Accelerator will support, promote and train people and projects across Europe over a two-year period. Its primary outputs will be a cross-border European training and mentorship programme, toolkits and resources for anyone interested in the topic, and a prototype fund to kickstart the next generation of engaged journalism pioneers and projects.

The positions

We’re hiring a Programme Lead and a Programme Assistant. (We’re also hiring a Community Editor for all our programmes).

Programme Lead

As the Engaged Journalism Accelerator Programme Lead, you will be responsible for overseeing the success of the Accelerator. You’ll devise a fund, training programme, and resource plan that have demonstrable impact not only on immediate beneficiaries, but the wider journalism ecosystem in Europe. Specific responsibilities include:

• Working closely with the EJC Director to develop a programme that delivers exceptional impact and value for money.
• Delivering a fund/award/grants process and reaching a diverse set of applicants.
• Building training programmes and resource plans that extend the value of the Accelerator beyond grantees.
• Connecting ​journalists, ​communities ​and key ​stakeholders ​like ​governments, ​NGOs ​and other ​funders to the aims of the project through community outreach strategies.
• Managing key stakeholders through the project’s lifecycle (two years) and liaising directly with the EJC’s funders and partners.

Successful applicants will be exceptional communicators who can work well under pressure and have an ability to blend strategy and execution. The ability to activate a network to evangelise the Accelerator programme is essential. You will have at least five years of experience building or leading on comparable programmes for journalists, and be fully aware of the latest thinking in media revenue, technology and audiences. Experience of working with start-ups or digital innovators is essential.

Commitment: 1.0 FTE (full time) or 0.8 FTE (4 days a week).
Location: Brussels or Maastricht ideally. Remote working is a possibility.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Start date: March/April 2018.
Contract: One year temporary contract, with option to renew for second year.

Programme Assistant

As the Engaged Journalism Accelerator Programme Assistant, you will support the Programme Lead in delivering this exciting project. Your job will be to lead on project and grantee management, as well as community engagement and project communications. Specific responsibilities include:

• Implement community strategies that raise awareness and encourage engagement amongst key audiences
• Support potential beneficiaries, review incoming applications, select and guide grantees throughout the lifecycle of the project.
• Organise and deliver training events and workshops across Europe.
• Co-ordinate the production of resources and content to extend the reach of the Accelerator.

Successful applicants will love to communicate, inspire and get things done. This is a tough but rewarding role, with tight deadlines and challenging logistics. You will have at least two years of experience working on similar programmes in media or NGOs. You have a passion for media innovation and quality journalism.

Commitment: 1.0 FTE (full time) or 0.8 FTE (4 days a week).
Location: Brussels or Maastricht.
Salary: Commensurate with experience.
Start date: March/April 2018.
Contract: One year temporary contract, with option to renew for second year.

Why work at the European Journalism Centre?

The European Journalism Centre is an international non-profit that connects journalists with new ideas. Since 1992, through grants, events, training, research and media development, we have been building a sustainable, ethical and innovative future for journalism. Our team is diverse, multicultural, multilingual and passionate about our mission.

Last year we estimate we directly reached over 100,000 journalists with our events, training and programmes. Partners like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Google News Lab, Facebook, the European Commission, Free Press Unlimited and the News Integrity Initiative work with us because we are independent, well-connected and at the centre of European news innovation.

We enjoy flexibility in our working hours, and we pride ourselves in being a great place to work for parents with children of all ages. Generous holidays, competitive benefits and new computer equipment are standard for all employees.

Many of us have taken unconventional career routes to get to where we are and so we value culture, and a willingness to learn, more than formal qualifications.

We offer two locations for you to be based, Brussels or Maastricht, and travel is an important and fun part of the job.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, pregnancy, parental status, national origin, ethnic background, age, disability, political opinion, social status, veteran status, union membership or genetics.

To apply, please send the following to jobs@ejc.net before 2300 CET on Wednesday 28 February 2018.

• A cover letter outlining one journalism project that could receive support from the Engaged Journalism Accelerator. Tell us why they need it and how it would benefit them.
• A previous example of your communication style. It could be a blogpost, a Twitter thread, a Facebook post, a YouTube video, an Instagram Story…
• A link to a LinkedIn profile, portfolio or CV.

Related:

1. We’re also hiring a Community Editor. Take a look.
2. European Journalism Centre strategy in 2018.
3. More on the Engaged Journalism Accelerator.
4. Our News Impact and Journalism Grants initiatives.