Bloomberg Media Initiative Opens Applications in 3 African Countries

Financial journalists and professionals interested in financial journalism can now apply to the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) Executive Training Program 2015.

The program, which is funded by Bloomberg Philanthropies, with additional support from the Ford Foundation, brings together the University of Pretoria’s Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) and five other preeminent business and journalism schools in Africa, to offer applicants the opportunity to develop their skills and knowledge about financial reporting.

Leading faculty from the Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies in South Africa; the University of Lagos’s Department of Mass Communication and the Pan Atlantic University’s Lagos Business School in Nigeria; the University of Nairobi’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication and Strath more Business School in Kenya will develop and deliver this unique multi-disciplinary training program that combines instruction in public policy, business, journalism, capital markets and data, with an emphasis on democratic values and professional integrity.

Interested parties who possess a recognized tertiary qualification (degree or diploma) and have experience in journalism or a related field are encouraged to apply on www.gibs.co.za/bmiaor email [email protected] for further information.

“The Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) is designed to increase the number of journalists and others able to strengthen the contribution of business and financial media to the sustainable development of Africa," said Erana Stennett, BMIA Program Director.

“We believe the graduates of this training will be well equipped to make a greater contribution to citizens, public officials and investors, and to transparency, governance and accountability.

The BMIA, which spans three years, is a $10 million commitment launched by Michael R. Bloomberg in 2014 with the aim of building media capacity and advancing transparency, accountability and good governance in Africa.

Speaking at the launch, Bloomberg commented that well-trained financial journalists can have an immeasurable impact in advancing economic and social growth.

Dr. Lucy Voss-Price, program director at GIBS, commented, “This program is a turning point for data-driven financial journalism on the continent. If you want to be one of the most informed, employable and credible business and financial journalists, this course will set provide you with everything that you need.”

The six-month certificate program has been developed primarily for mid-career journalists - especially those with an interest in moving into financial journalism, financial professionals with an interest in financial journalism, government professionals responsible for public policy, communications and banking/financial specialists, civil society and NGO professionals with a stake in communicating of economic and financial data.

Founded in 2000, GIBS is an internationally accredited business school based in Johannesburg, South Africa’s economic hub.

As the “business school for business”, GIBS’ purpose is to significantly improve the performance of individuals and organisations through business education in dynamic markets.

Consistently rated as one of the top business schools in South Africa, in May 2014 GIBS was again ranked among the top business schools globally by the Financial Times in Africa for executive education program.

This is the eleventh year running that GIBS has been ranked among the top business schools worldwide.

In October 2014 the GIBS MBA was ranked among the top 100 business schools globally in the prestigious Financial Times Executive MBA Rankings. GIBS is the only business school in Africa to appear in this ranking.

GIB is accredited by the Association of MBAs (AMBA), the Council on Higher Education (CHE) and is a member of the South African Business Schools Association (SABSA), the Association of African Business Schools (AABS) and the European Academy of Business in Society (EABIS).

On the other hand and launched by Michael R. Bloomberg in 2014, the Bloomberg Media Initiative Africa (BMIA) is a three-year pan-African program that will provide cross disciplinary education programs to strengthen business and economic media capacity, convene African and international leaders to examine worldwide best practices in financial journalism, and improve access to information in order to advance transparency, accountability and governance on the continent.