Terms of Reference – Editorial/ Newsroom Mentor for Ethiopia Insider

BBC Media Action is an international NGO working in Ethiopia since 2001 as a registered charity with the Authority for Civil Society Organisations (ACSO). BBC Media Action uses media and communications for good informing, connecting and empowering people around the world.

Background

Public interest media content is essential for promoting transparency, accountability, civic participation, and social change. However, many journalists and producers working on public interest issues lack the digital skills and technical knowledge to effectively package and disseminate their stories in engaging formats suited for today’s audiences.

This assignment is part of the Public Interest Media and Healthy Information Environments (PIMHIE) project funded by FCDO and led by BBC Media Action, which focuses on strengthening media outlets through a combination of support packages, capacity building, technical assistance, salary support to fund for new, dedicated digital roles, and strategic support to improve the sector’s operating context.

The project aims to achieve two key outcomes: first, it seeks to enhance the ability of media organizations to deliver high-quality, inclusive public interest media content that engages audiences, builds trust, and strengthens resilience against disinformation, while remaining robust amid political and economic challenges; second, it strives to improve the wider enabling environment for information and media within the program countries. The overall impact is the creation of healthier information environments in multiple country contexts, were trusted public interest media content flows more freely and widely, supporting informed communities.

As part of its media capacity development initiative, BBC Media Action is recruiting a Journalism Mentor for Ethiopia Insider, one of our media partners, to provide hands-on editorial guidance and technical support.

Objectives of the Assignment

The purpose of this assignment is to provide mentorship and capacity support to the senior editor in newsroom management

Specific Objectives

1. Strengthening the organization’s editorial governance by reviewing existing policies and workflows
2. Enhance editorial efficiency, quality, and consistency by establishing clear editorial roles and decision-making processes
3. Build the editorial team’s capacity and leadership effectiveness by mentoring the editor

Scope of Work / Key Responsibilities

1. Review existing editorial policy, guidelines, and workflows. Finalize a clear, coherent, and ethically grounded editorial policy aligned with the organization’s mission. Ensure the policy integrates human rights based, gender-sensitive, and ethical journalism standards
2. Develop practical editorial workflows for story pitching, editing, fact-checking, and publication by establishing clear editorial roles, responsibilities, and decision-making processes.
3. Design and recommend realistic editorial timelines and publication deadlines
4. Support the editor in building and managing an effective editorial calendar
5. Provide hands-on guidance to the editor on working under tight deadlines
6. Strengthening the editor’s leadership, coordination, and team management skills
7. Introducing tools and systems for tracking assignments, progress, and deadlines
8. Facilitate capacity-building sessions for the editor and editorial team
9. Support editorial team to ensure consistency in tone, style, and quality across all editorial outputs
10. Advise on conflict-sensitive reporting practices
11. Provide actionable recommendations for sustaining editorial discipline and team accountability.

Duration and Level of Effort

Contract Duration: January 15 – March 30, 2026

Work engagement: Part-time, 1-2 days per week (10 – 20 days)

place of work: Onsite at Ethiopia Insider Office and Virtually

Reporting

The mentor will report to the Training Coordinator and Project Lead at BBC Media Action and work in close collaboration with the Ethiopia Insider team to align with project objectives.

Payment and Reporting Schedule

Payment shall be made monthly upon submission and approval of the deliverables. The mentor shall submit progress reports and deliverables in accordance with the agreed schedule.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s or bachelor’s degree in journalism, Communication or Media Studies
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in news production, editing, or reporting.
• Previous hands-on experience in mentoring and coaching journalists and media managers
• Strong editorial judgment and understanding of ethical journalism principles.
• Experience with digital journalism tools, social media platforms, and multimedia storytelling.
• Higher level of writing, teamwork, and interpersonal skills.
• Knowledge of Ethiopian media landscape and the challenges of public interest media.