Journalism in Senegal with Projects Abroad

  Senegal

Saint-Louis

Term: Throughout the year 
Dates: All Year Round (you set the start and end dates)

Description: Projects Abroad now has several radio journalism volunteer internships running in St Louis, the island city in the north of Senegal. Here we are offering interns the chance to gain practical journalism experience abroad in radio broadcasting. To participate in this internship, a good level of spoken and written French is required.

For interns who are on a gap year and are considering studying journalism in college, or for those looking for employment following graduation, a Projects Abroad Journalism Project will set you on the right track by adding to your work experience abroad and enhancing your résumé. These journalism internships are also suitable for working journalists and experienced professionals who wish to take a career break or broaden their horizons.

This is your chance to put together a portfolio of journalistic work while living in one of the most beautiful Francophone countries in Africa. Our volunteer journalism internships in Senegal give you access to invaluable work experience abroad and increase your prospects within a highly competitive job market.

International Radio Journalism Internships in Senegal with Projects Abroad

There are a variety of radio stations where interns currently work. Radio Fréquence Teranga is the most popular local radio station in St. Louis and broadcasts a wide range of programs in French and Wolof - the local Senegalese language. Its premises are relatively well equipped, the staff members are young and enthusiastic and the station is known for its lively and innovative output.

Radio Dunyaa began as a station in Dakar but now has affiliates in most regions of Senegal. The majority of programs broadcast in St Louis come from the local studios, although several times a day the station synchronizes with the programming from Dakar. This station is less well equipped, meaning that staff members often have more than one role.

RTS, or Radio-television Senegal, is the St Louis branch of the main state-run broadcasting company. RTS programs cover the entire national territory.

All of these stations broadcast a mix of music, news, current affairs, sports and religious programs. Interns main responsibilities tend to be in the news sections, but you are welcome to get involved in other areas according to your interests and even to suggest themes for programs that you would like to assist with.

Skills that you will develop during your internship include researching and writing stories and scripts, reading news bulletins, presenting segments of shows or co-presenting with a local colleague.

You will also have the opportunity to find out about studio production and other technical aspects of broadcasting. Interns will regularly attend press conferences and local events, as well as sports matches and concerts, all of which will provide you with plenty of interesting contacts and a great insight into local life.

When you first arrive at the radio station, you will be working with local staff for a couple of days before going into the field yourself to make your own reports. You will file them with your internship supervisor who will help you broadcast any interesting news. This makes the internships both interesting and challenging and you should expect to come up with your own ideas for reports and stories.

Highlights: Saint Louis, where Projects Abroad is based is on the coast in the North of the country, close to the border with Mauritania. Dakar, the capital, is about a 4 hours journey south down the 600km coastline. Senegal possesses many tropical palm fringed beaches and several national parks including Parc National de Niokolo- Koba where you can view wildlife like hippos, monkeys, chimpanzees, warthog, crocodile and if you're lucky the elusive lion and leopard.

In terms of accommodation, all our volunteers in Senegal stay in a home stay which is a great way to get totally immersed in the culture, and practice speaking French too! There will be a community of volunteers there for you to get to know and socialize with.

This project offers the opportunity to become fully immersed in the culture in a manner which even the most hardened of backpackers could never hope to do.

Qualifications: Volunteers must be at least 16 years old and submit 1 letter of recommendation.

Cost in US$: From US$ 3,245 up

Experience Required: no

This Program is open to Worldwide Participants.

Participants Travel to Senegal Independently or in Groups

Typically Participants Work Independently or in Groups of 2-5

Application Process Involves:

• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Post Services Include:

• Exit Debriefing Abroad
• Re-Entry Debriefing at Home

Projects Abroad's Mission Statement: As part of the global economy, Projects Abroad helps create local employment wherever we send volunteers. Employing local staff overseas and using their talents and knowledge is important to us. This local knowledge and support enables the organization to channel the skills of the volunteers from more affluent countries to regions around the world where they are needed. Volunteers also learn from their placements and the people they meet, and they gain experience in a chosen field. In the 21st century, we believe this mutual respect is what cultural exchange is all about.

Year Founded: 1992