2023 Programme will include Sub-Saharan Africa cohort for first time
More than 30 senior editors from around the world will make up the 2023 cohort of the prestigious Journalism Innovation and Leadership (JIL) Programme at the University of Central Lancashire (UCLan).
The 32 participants of the flagship programme, which is sponsored by the Google News Initiative (GNI) and International Media Support (IMS), hail from 12 countries across four continents and work in senior roles for a broad range of media organisations, from national broadcasters and news publishers to new digital start-ups and technology companies. The Class of 2023 comprises 18 women and 14 men.
The Programme offers a 30-week part-time, postgraduate certificate and a two-year master of arts course that have been co-designed by a team of practise-led academics and innovative industry leaders to foster the next generation of diverse news media leaders.
"Journalism is such a dynamic industry and we need innovation to ensure we have a thriving media landscape. I’m looking forward to learning from experts and peers while developing new ideas to reach, engage and monetise audiences around trusted news."
— Jacqui Merrington, Discovery Director at Reach Plc
For the first time, participants will have the option to attend face-to-face sessions in both the UK and Africa after UCLan extended the JIL Programme to Sub-Saharan Africa following a successful two-year run in the UK.
The Programmes, which will begin in January, will run concurrently and be taught entirely online to make the course more accessible, with the option of attending two intensive learning blocks in person or online - one will be in Preston and the other in Cape Town.
Jacqui Merrington, Discovery Director at Reach Plc, said: “I’m delighted for the opportunity to return to UCLan where I started as journalist and develop as a journalism leader. Journalism is such a dynamic industry and we need innovation to ensure we have a thriving media landscape. I’m looking forward to learning from experts and peers while developing new ideas to reach, engage and monetise audiences around trusted news.”
Senior Reporter at Bloomberg in South Africa Colleen Goko said: “I'm looking forward to breaking my own mental barriers and ideas of what the face of leadership is, and what qualities leaders possess.
“I'm excited to gain insights from mentors and peers navigating this path, and collaborating to make journalism an authentic experience that is an accurate reflection of our generation.”
"I'm excited to gain insights from mentors and peers navigating this path, and collaborating to make journalism an authentic experience that is an accurate reflection of our generation."
— Colleen Goko, Senior Reporter at Bloomberg in South Africa
Thanks to ongoing support from the GNI, 30 of this year’s cohort have been granted scholarships, of which 15 places were reserved explicitly for participants from Sub-Saharan Africa. The GNI also helps to facilitate the industry mentoring programme by offering key network connections and providing access to a pioneering approach and practice across the news industry. IMS, which works to support news organizations operating in some of the world’s most difficult places, has provided support for two editors from Georgia to participate.
Dr François Nel, Reader in Media Innovation and Entrepreneurship at UCLan and director of the programme, said: “This will be the third year of the Programme and we welcome our first-ever Sub-Saharan Africa cohort. The class of 2023 boasts a vast range of experience and shares a passion for transforming the journalism industry and supporting their communities.
“I am sure this cohort will learn a great deal from each other as well as tapping into the expertise of the Programme’s tutors and mentors.”
More information about the Journalism Innovation and Leadership Programme is available on the UCLan website.
The UCLan Journalism Innovation and Leadership (JIL) Programme class of 2023:
Collins Liberty Adede is a Correspondent for Voice of America and a radio and TV journalist (Kenya)
Aby Agina is a Senior Anchor, Producer at CNBC Africa and a member of the Kenya Editors Guild (Kenya)
Nino Bakradze is an editor and co-founder of the investigative journalists' team, iFact (Georgia)
Ranoba Baoa is the Managing Editor for the Fiji Sun (Fiji)
John Baron is editor of the West Leeds Dispatch (UK)
Matt Brindley is Head of Output at ITV News (UK)
Christina Chimuka is General Manager at Jester Media, a TV Show host and lifestyle consultant (Zimbabwe)
Maeve Connolly is the deputy digital editor of the Irish News (N Ireland)
Laura Davis is Reach Plc's Senior Editor North West (UK)
Nata Dzvelishvili is the CEO at Indigo Media (Georgia)
Sakarie Nour Farah is a Senior Correspondent at Garowe Online (Somalia)
Colleen Goko is a Senior Reporter at Bloomberg (South Africa)
Emily Hewett is the Head of Audience Development DC Thomson (UK)
Lucy Jones is Deputy Managing Editor at the Telegraph Media Group (UK)
Stanley Kwenda is a Senior Journalist with BBC World Service in London (UK)
Vimbiso Matarise is Operations Manager at Jester Media (Zimbabwe)
Jacqui Merrington is Discovery Director at Reach Plc (UK)
Leyla Mohamed is the Editor at IMS Radio Ergo (Somalia)
Silence Mugadzaweta is a Digital and Online Editor at Alpha Media Holdings (Zimbabwe)
John Mwaura is an Editor at KTN News (Kenya)
Fridah Naliaka is a Digital Sub-editor at Royal Media Services (Kenya)
Paul Nyakazeya is Group Digital Manager at Modus Media (Zimbabwe)
Ciaran O'Neill is a journalist with the Mediahuis group in Northern Ireland (UK)
Morongwa Wandile Phala-Goodwill is a Sub Editor with Dikgang Publishing Company (Botswana)
Ivor Price is a journalist and author, co-founder and editor-in-chief of Food for Mzansi Group (South Africa)
Harriet Rose-Gale is Head of Features (Digital and Print) at SWNS (UK)
Dereje Moges Tadesse is Vice CEO of Amhara Media Corporation (Ethiopia)
Legolo Tebogo is a Senior Information Officer at the Department of Information Services (Botswana)
Ibrahim Khalilulahi Usman is a broadcast journalist and managing editor with Ghanaian Streets (Ghana)
Maximillah Walukhu is a radio journalist with the Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (Kenya)
Justus Wanzala is an Editor and Reporter at Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (Kenya)
