Media Innovation Expert

RNW Media is looking for a Media Innovation Expert (Media Viability Focus) who is a digitally savvy professional who collaborates with local public interest and independent media to amplify their impact in the digital space.

The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the media landscape, including building strategic media partnerships, revenue diversification strategies, and innovative operating and business models to enhance media viability.

Additionally, the Media Innovation Expert involves leading, supporting, and contributing to the development and implementation of digital media solutions in other media development areas, such as capacity building for digital content creation, moderation, marketing, media integrity, and the integration of AI in journalism.

Responsibilities

The Media Innovation Expert will:

• Develop and maintain a media viability strategic framework ensuring it aligns with RNW Media’s strategic goals and relevant international policy framework;
• Co-create and implement quality and locally relevant media viability solutions with public interest and independent media partners or individual journalists and media makers, especially around viable operating and business models, sustainable media partnership and mitigating media viability disruption factors such as censorship;
• Conduct in-depth assessment of partner organisations’ media viability efforts and provide capacity building services such as via consultation or translate technical initiatives into concrete digital projects and products;
• Collaborate with thematic experts and cross-functional teams to integrate media viability into broader organisational and programmatic initiatives;
• Conduct or support research activities on global media trends, challenges, and opportunities related to media viability, in collaboration with the Impact Team;.
• Collect and analyse data, case studies and best practice from RNW Media’s global community members to develop new interventions, solutions and knowledge products;
• Collaborate with the Learning Solution Team to convert digital media solutions into concrete learning products;
• Collaborate with other teams to strengthen the positioning and visibility of our media viability solutions before funders and stakeholders and develop new concept notes to contribute to active fundraising;
• Support organisational advocacy efforts centred to the intersectionality of the big techs’ transparency and accountability and media viability.
• Stays updated on industry trends, opportunities and technological advancements that can benefit our media viability efforts, especially the implication of deployment of AI on media viability;
• Implements other solutions with partners as requested to ensure programmatic deliverables on time, mainly around digital media content creation, distribution, moderation and marketing;
• Other activities assigned by the Director.

Qualifications

The Media Innovation Expert has:

• At least a bachelor’s degree in media studies, journalism and communication, business administration, communications, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in media viability, business development, or sustainability consulting, preferably in the context of public interest and independent media in the global south.
• Proven track record of working with public interest and independent media to develop sustainable operating and business models, facilitate media partnership and mitigate disruptions such as censorship.
• Excellent understanding of revenue generation strategies, including digital monetization, advertising, crowdfunding, paywall, membership etc.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously.
• Good understanding of other digital media themes and topics, such as digital content creation, distribution, moderation and marketing.
• Strong analytical skills and experience with data-driven decision-making. Experience and knowledge of mainstream data analytic tools.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with experience in delivering training, workshops or consultations.
• Ability to work in multicultural and multidisciplinary team collaboration environments and build relationships with diverse stakeholders. Being accountable, result-driven, bold and creative.
• Fluent in English both in verbal and written. French and Arabic Speaking is a plus.

How to apply

The deadline for applications is December 19, 2024. To learn more and apply, please click here.