The African Union Media Fellowship Programme (AUMF) is excited to announce a study tour to the European Union institutions from 9-15 June in Brussels for its second cohort of 20 fellows, who are media professionals from 20 African countries. This tour, taking place during the European elections 2024, is designed to enhance their understanding of European Union (EU) media practices and policies, fostering stronger ties and greater understanding of the African and European media landscapes.

During their time in Brussels, the fellows will take part in a comprehensive training programme to gain deeper insights into the EU’s mandate, policies, institutions, and the AU-EU partnership. This training aims to equip the fellows with a robust understanding of how EU institutions operate and their interactions with the media, to help enrich their journalistic perspectives and professional skills.

The tour will feature meetings with officials at the heart of the EU’s communications teams, including the Audiovisual Services, Communication, and Spokesperson Services of the EU headquarters. These meetings will provide the fellows with the opportunity to network with EU spokespersons, share experiences on daily press briefings, and explore the workings of the EU Visitors Programme.

In addition to the meetings, the fellows will participate in specialized workshops aimed at addressing contemporary challenges in journalism. These include a workshop on tackling misinformation and disinformation and a one-day workshop on mobile journalism. These sessions are designed to equip the fellows with skills and methodologies to enhance their reporting capabilities and adapt to the evolving media landscape.

This study tour, supported by the European Union, is a critical component of the AUMF's mission contributing to innovative and creative media outputs, promote ethical journalism, and facilitate cross-border collaboration among media professionals. By engaging with EU media houses and institutions, especially during the European elections, the fellows will gain invaluable experiences that will help them challenge the prevailing narratives about Africa, and its relationship with the EU, and contribute to a more informed and nuanced global media environment.

To further enrich the European experience, the study tour will include participation in the Global Media Forum in Bonn, Germany. This unique interdisciplinary platform brings together media professionals, policymakers, and leaders from various sectors – including civil society, culture, education, business, and science – to foster dialogue and exchange ideas across cultures.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Ms Faith Adhiambo | Information and Communication Directorate | African Union Commission | E-mail:  ochiengj@african-union.org ; AUMediaFellowship@Africa-union.org  | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia,

Mr Biruk Feleke  I Press and Information Officer I Delegation of the European Union to the African Union I email Biruk.Feleke@eeas.europa.eu I Twitter I Facebook I +251911514809  

Information and Communication Directorate, African Union Commission I E-mail: DIC@africa-union.org I Web: au.int | Addis Ababa, Ethiopia | Follow Us: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube