What do MFJI students take back to their home countries?

Amy Wane, Senegal 

First of all, where are you interning? 

I am currently completing a three-month internship in Dakar, Senegal, with West Africa Democracy Radio (WADR), a regional radio station for West Africa. Its newsroom is made up of French- and English-speaking journalists from various countries across the region, while also working with a network of correspondents. 

WADR places a strong emphasis on issues such as human rights, press freedom, democracy and gender equality. It was precisely this editorial focus, along with the station's regional perspective on current developments, that particularly motivated me to do my internship there. 

What are your main responsibilities and in which areas have you developed the most? 

I had the opportunity to work on a multitude of topics that match my interests. My work plan for the three-month internship included a variety of activities: 

As a sports journalist, I produced reports and features, and I presented sports news bulletins. Among other assignments, I created an in-depth report on sports commentators and produced stories from Senegalese and Moroccan fan zones in Dakar during the FIFA World Cup. 

I also took part in World Cup discussion programs and worked for the sports magazine. As part of current affairs coverage, I reported on topics such as the Women's Africa Cup of Nations and the U18 African Basketball Championship (AfroBasket). 

In addition, I was able to develop my skills beyond sports journalism by producing five-minute social affairs features. 

For one of these stories, I accompanied a fish vendor who has been working in the profession for 40 years. I followed her through her daily routine, which begins at three o'clock in the morning, and told her story through direct and authentic observation of her working life. 

These experiences were made possible by the trust and professionalism of the team. WADR is a media organization that I would strongly recommend to future MFJI students. 

What role does this internship play in your professional plans in Senegal? And what are your next steps? 

This internship reminded me of what I love most about this profession: working in the field, meeting people and having the opportunity to tell their stories. At the same time, it allowed me to reconnect with my two passions: sports and radio. I also had the chance to work alongside experienced and highly skilled media professionals. 

My professional goal has always been to establish my own sports media outlet. Since returning to Senegal, I have been working on turning this project into reality. In particular, I want to help bring greater visibility to women's sports and strengthen the coverage they receive. 

Nahadjenin Seleho, Côte d’Ivoire 

First of all, where did you intern? 

I am currently in Abidjan, where I had the opportunity to complete two internships with two different yet complementary media organizations: 

AfrikEcho is a pan-African digital news outlet specializing in fact-checking and media literacy, with a regional focus on Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal and the Sahel region. 

Agence France-Presse (AFP) is the international French news agency, renowned for its news coverage, breaking news alerts and in-depth reporting. 

Both experiences have been extremely enriching for me. They allowed me to work as a journalist while exploring formats in which I had little or no previous experience, namely news agency journalism and media literacy education. 

What have been your main responsibilities, and in which areas did you develop the most? 

I research and produce field reports; write fact-checking, social affairs and business articles; and create video reports on issues affecting Côte d’Ivoire, Senegal, the Sahel region and other African countries. 

During my internship at AfrikEcho, I produced videos on topics such as the dangers of propaganda and disinformation. During my internship at AFP, I worked on a feature report entitled “In Abidjan, Finding Housing Is a Long and Costly Challenge.” 

Working on these topics allowed me to discover new perspectives, further develop my initiative and independence, and, above all, demonstrate my skills in multimedia journalism. 

What role does this internship play in your professional plans in Côte d’Ivoire? And what are your next steps? 

During both of my internships, I had the opportunity to produce journalistic content that meets international standards. This experience allowed me to further develop my skills with the goal of eventually working in an international newsroom, where I can contribute the journalistic knowledge, versatility and expertise I gained through the MFJI program. 

In the long term, I would like to work in a multimedia newsroom with a focus on international journalism. 

There, I hope to produce journalistic content that meets the high international standards that were instilled in us throughout our MFJI training. 

I also plan to launch my own media outlet in the coming months: a news platform specializing in environmental and climate issues, designed to make important ecological challenges accessible and understandable to a wide range of audiences. 

Ella Djiguimde, Côte d’Ivoire 

First of all, where are you interning? 

I am currently interning at Alerte Info in Abidjan, where I work with the newsroom’s digital and multimedia team. 

What are your main responsibilities, and in which areas did you develop the most? 

I produce field reports, conduct interviews, write news stories and create video content. This experience has mainly allowed me to strengthen my skills in multimedia journalism, particularly in developing content designed for both websites and social media platforms. 

What role does this internship play in your professional plans in Côte d’Ivoire? And what are your next steps? 

This internship is a continuation of my professional journey. It allows me to consolidate my field experience in Côte d’Ivoire while broadening my editorial and digital skills. 

Going forward, I would like to continue developing as a multimedia journalist, particularly by focusing on environmental and social issues, while expanding my collaborations with both national and international media outlets.