Volunteer Journalist

Job Summary

The Volunteer Journalist manages interview audio logs, fact-checking sheets, story pitch cards, and article draft revisions. Core duties include researching African tech and business trends; interviewing community leaders or policymakers; verifying data citations; updating articles based on editor feedback; and meeting weekly copy deadlines.

Key Roles & Editorial Responsibilities

1. Investigative Journalism, Research & Copywriting

• Research, outline, and write clear, balanced, and well-structured news articles, analytical briefs, and long-form feature stories.
• Monitor continental trends to identify, refine, and pitch original, high-impact story ideas that directly resonate with African audiences.
• Report across diverse thematic beats, including technology ecosystems, artificial intelligence, entrepreneurship, market economics, education, governance, environmental conservation, and emerging cultural movements.

2. Sourcing, Interviewing & Fact Verification

• Identify and conduct remote interviews with subject-matter experts, local entrepreneurs, academic researchers, policymakers, and community organizers.
• Perform rigorous background verification on all raw facts, direct quotes, statistical data, historical timelines, and spelling configurations prior to draft submission.
• Enforce strict sourcing standards, ensuring all external references, institutional whitepapers, and data indices are accurately cited and appropriately attributed.

3. Newsroom Collaboration & Professional Development

• Align all investigative activities with Gate of Wise’s editorial standards, ethical reporting codes, and digital publication guidelines.
• Review structural and grammatical edits constructively, revising article text based on feedback from senior editors.
• Maintain prompt, professional communication with the editorial desk and contribute consistently to the intellectual growth of the remote newsroom.

Foundational Capabilities & Prerequisites

Required Profile & Competencies

• Passion for Media: A clear, demonstrable interest in journalism, public-interest communication, and contemporary African socio-political and economic affairs.
• Linguistic Skill: Exceptional written and spoken command of the English language, with a natural eye for narrative clarity, logical prose structure, and grammatical accuracy.
• Research Aptitude: Ability to conduct independent research, separate fact from bias, and evaluate the credibility of secondary literature and digital sources.
• Ethical Framework: Strong commitment to fair, accountable, and responsible reporting practices.
• Remote Operational Literacy: Proven self-discipline to work independently in a remote virtual setting, meet tight publication deadlines, and maintain regular communication.
• Technical Infrastructure: Reliable daily access to a computer or functional digital computing device alongside a stable internet connection.

Experience Background

• Target Demographics: This role is tailored for university students, recent media or humanities graduates, aspiring columnists, and early-career communications professionals.
• Experience Advantage: Prior background in student journalism, personal blogging, academic research, corporate communications, or digital content production is a clear advantage, but is not mandatory.

Professional Gains & Incentives

• Editorial Bylines: Direct opportunities to publish approved articles under your own legal byline, creating visible professional equity.
• Newsroom Immersion: Practical, hands-on experience navigating the fast-paced ecosystem of a modern digital news platform.
• Professional Mentorship: Direct, regular feedback, career guidance, and editing support from seasoned journalists and editors.
• Credential Validation: A formal Certificate of Volunteer Service issued upon the successful completion of your agreed volunteer tenure.
• Career Progression Pipeline: Exceptional performance provides priority consideration for future paid writing assignments or permanent employment opportunities as the organization scales its budget.

Send the following application materials to careers@gateofwise.com: and cc: info@gateofwise.com

Applicants without published writing samples may submit two original pieces that demonstrate their research and writing abilities.

Skills Required:

• Communication / Pr / Journalism