Northern Uganda Journalists Embark on Digital Skills Fellowship in Gulu

The Northern Uganda Media Club (NUMEC) has launched a significant Digital Journalism and Content Innovation Fellowship in Gulu City. This three-month program brings together 17 journalists, primarily from Northern Uganda, to navigate the evolving media landscape.

The intensive residential bootcamp, which began on September 7, 2026, focuses on equipping participants with crucial skills in digital journalism, data analysis, photojournalism, social media engagement, and podcast creation. This initiative is particularly timely as technological advancements and shifting audience consumption habits compel media organizations to innovate their news production and distribution methods.

During the opening day, media trainer Chowoo Willy emphasized the need for journalists to adapt their storytelling techniques for contemporary audiences. The fellowship attracted considerable interest, with applications received from journalists beyond Uganda, including from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Togo, and Kenya, highlighting a widespread demand for these digital skills.

For many journalists accustomed to traditional radio reporting, this fellowship offers a vital pathway to expand their reach through digital formats. “This training is very important because we are moving away from old ways of telling stories,” noted Teddy Dokotho, a journalist with Nation Media Group. A key takeaway for her was the importance of using data to verify information, stating, “Digital storytelling enables fact-checking other than relying on sources alone.”

NUMEC CEO Alfred Oryem explained that the fellowship was conceived in response to the “digital disruption” impacting the media industry. He noted that NUMEC had previously published work from regional journalists due to a lack of digital presence for their radio stories. The fellows are seen as pioneers expected to champion digital journalism practices and disseminate their newfound skills throughout the region, aiming to bridge the gap between traditional reporting and modern digital journalism.