DW Akademie Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund 2023

Journalists and newsroom innovators from Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe can apply with their ideas to improve their newsrooms in the area of AI and data journalism to better serve their audiences.

Our next innovation initiative starts with an IdeaLab in Namibia in September 2023 with innovative newsroom projects from Southern Africa, followed by a practical implementation of the ideas in late 2023.

This year we focus on two issues:

1. How do we make data available and understandable for our audience?
2. How do we deal with artificial intelligence (AI) in journalism? 

Artificial Intelligence is a hot topic – for good and for bad. It will affect many aspect of our lives. Journalism will be transformed by AI-technologies, from automatization of the news production and distribution to community management and audience research, fighting misinformation and content personalization. Is there a “responsible” way to use AI? How do we explain and report on AI’s impact on society? It is here, it will stay. And as journalists we need to deal with it. One way to understand AI is to explore and experiment with AI, creating insightful experiences.

Data is becoming increasingly available from satellite data to government budgets. Public institutions,  private companies, and research organizations gather large data sets and use them  to make decisions that determine our access to public services, welfare, education or employment. Making these numbers understandable for our audiences and putting them into context remains a challenge for newsrooms.  

Innovation means to find new ways to serve the audience. Innovation means to solve problems. Innovation means to adapt to changes or initiate change. DW Akademie wants to support independent journalism to develop the newsrooms of the future.

We are open for your ideas! We want to support hands-on, innovative solutions for reliable and balanced journalism. 

So, if you have an idea for journalism around data, visualisation or artificial intelligence that will improve your newsroom and your reporting – take your newsroom to the next level and apply!

• Table of Content
• About DW Akademie
• Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund
• Aim and Benefits of Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund
• Requirements for Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund Qualification
• Application Deadline
• How to Apply

About DW Akademie

We believe that independent media and responsible journalism are essential worldwide. Given Germany's history, we believe that people should be able to freely express their views and have access to independent sources of information. We consider this to be an important prerequisite for peace and democracy.

Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund

Aim and Benefits of Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund

What is the IdeaLab?

The IdeaLab will take place in September 2023 in Windhoek, Namibia. Final dates will be confirmed after the selection process.

• training on how to innovate: Understand how you can refine and test your vision.
• intensive project and product development based on a human-centered design process that puts the needs of your audience at the core
• try the first elements of your innovation
• pitch your idea and discuss with other media innovators

The IdeaLab will be interactive and based on the ideas and discussions between the journalism innovation teams.

How does the innovation fund work?

During the IdeaLab you have the chance to convince the other journalism innovators and experts of your idea. You can get … 

• seed funding to implement a pilot or prototype of your idea in order ro try and test your vision and creativity.
• coaching in your innovative endeavour with a dedicated counter part to bounce ideas, reflect the next steps and get feedback on the go.
• necessary specialised training, if you need further skills to implement your idea.   
• innovation check-ins with fellow community media innovators from Namibia, Zambia, Lesotho, Botswana, Malawi & Zimbabwe 

The piloting should take place between October and December 2023.

What do you need to provide?

• commitment of all participating team members to fully engage for the whole duration of the project (IdeaLab and prototyping phase)
• take part in the face-to-face workshop  18. to 22. September 2023 in Windhoek, Namibia. Your travel expenses will be covered (max. two people per team).
• an idea for an innovation that is relevant to your audience and your newsroom (we particularly encourage projects using vernacular languages as well) and a commitment to reliable and independent information.
• Smartphone and/or laptop computer to take part in the virtual elements
• commitment to give feedback and engage in dialogue with the other innovators and to attend virtual coaching sessions after the IdeaLab. 

Requirements for Southern Africa: Journalism Idea Lab & Innovation Fund Qualification

• You are part of an established media outlet or a civil society organisation that works journalistically and regularly publishes.
• Your idea and your participation need to be endorsed by your organisation. 
• You must at least be 21 years old (or older) and have a passport (if from outside Namibia) and be able to travel to Windhoek in Namibia (travel expenses will be covered).
• You must be based in Namibia, Malawi, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe or Lesotho.
• You must commit to ethical journalism and its guidelines (like the Code of Ethics of the Editors Forum of Namibia or the core principles of the Ethical journalism Network)

How does this innovation initiative work?

1. Application: You pitch your idea to a selection panel. 
2. IdeaLab: One week. Refine your idea. Understand how to innovate. Learn how to test your vision. Exchange with other innovative media practitioners from Southern Africa. 
3. Prototyping: During the IdeaLab you have the chance to win a fellowship to implement your innovative journalism idea in your newsroom: A small seed funding as well as coaching and technical support between October and December 2023.  
4. Feedback and Exchange: Engage with fellow media innovators from Southern Africa and get feedback on your prototypes. Join a community of innovation.

Application Deadline

How to Apply

For more details, visit DW Akademie website.