Digital Transformation Lab
Equipping traditional regional newsrooms with AI verification tools, data visualization bootcamps, and cybersecurity assets.
Deadline: Dec 15, 2024
Grant Pool
$5,000 + Tools
Duration
3 Weeks
Tip: Early submissions receive preliminary editorial feedback if sent before the review cycle begins.
“Our digital lab provides newsrooms with hands-on training to survive and thrive in the online era. Selected participants receive funding for hardware upgrades, encryption software keys, and a dedicated intensive curriculum.”
Empowering the Modern Newsroom
The transition from print and traditional airwaves to digital formats is the biggest challenge facing independent media houses in East Africa today. The Digital Transformation Lab is a comprehensive residency program that equips 15 select regional newsrooms annually with the technical stack needed to survive.
Curriculum Modules
- AI and Verification: Automated transcription tools, geo-location mapping, and deepfake verification.
- Data Journalism: Scraping government budget PDFs, cleaning datasets with Python, and designing interactive charts.
- Cybersecurity: Hardening newsroom networks, deploying secure whistleblower leak portals, and encrypted communication systems.
Equipment Allocation
Newsrooms admitted to the Lab receive a $5,000 tech hardware grant to acquire secure computing terminals, legal software licenses, and private network servers.
Who Can Apply?
Application Timeline
Application Window
Cohort Selection
Lab Commencement
Apply online
Contact Desk
David Mkwawa
Operations Director
