JAMLAB open for new journalism candidates

The Wits Journalism and Media Accelerator (JAMLAB) is open for applications from existing or new South African journalism and media teams for a new six-month innovation support programme. Applications close on 9 June 2017.

JAMLAB will provide participating teams with the tools, facilities, contacts and the support necessary to realise their ideas and ambitions, combining professional mentorship with a collaborative and creative tech-advanced working space. It will be home to innovators who want to develop new forms of journalism and also reach new, younger, audiences.

Up to six teams will be selected for the programme, which runs from July at Wits Tshimologong Digital Innovation Precinct in Braamfontein. This will be the first accelerator programme to launch at Tshimologong.

Successful applicants will receive:

A six-month fellowship at Wits Journalism
Free workspace and membership at the new Tshimologong Precinct co-working space
Mentorship and coaching from experienced media, start-up and tech experts, and entrepreneurs
Free places on a three-month Wits ‘Creating the Media’ certificate course
Access to a software development team at Tshimologong
Opportunities to pitch to potential investors and funders

The programme will address historic inequalities of opportunities in South Africa and those who are selected will be a diverse group of people who understand and want to engage the widest range of South African audiences. The partners are especially keen to see women and women led teams apply.

Indra de Lanerolle, JAMLAB director, says, “We are looking for great new ideas that can change the media and journalism landscape. We want strong teams that are passionate about stories, information, opinion and ideas. They must also have a keen interest to engage with new audiences. Whether non-profit or for profit, brand new or old hands, as long as you have the energy to do something new that can make a real difference to media and journalism in South Africa.”

JAMLAB is a programme of Wits Journalism and the Joburg Centre for Software Engineering (JCSE), in partnership with Ryerson University, Toronto and Journalists for Human Rights.

Prof Barry Dwolatzky, director at JCSE and founder of Tshimologong Precinct, says, “This is an exciting collaboration. We are delighted to work with such partners to focus on creating new ideas that bring technology and journalism closer together. As the first accelerator programme to launch at the precinct, we are both excited and happy to host the next generation of journalists and media moguls.”

For more information, go to medium.com/jamlab.