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 The International Fund for Public Interest Media is hiring a Program Manager/Researcher, AI, Emerging Technology & Regulation: Apply!!

Position: Program Manager/Researcher, AI, Emerging Technology & Regulation

Location: Paris, France or one of the International Fund’s focus countries, with preference for Indonesia, South Africa, Ghana, or Brazil. Applications outside of Paris will only be considered if the applicant has an existing right to work in the country. 

Language: The International Fund’s working language is English. Fluency in other languages would be an advantage.

Timeline: Target start date of August 2024; applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis and the posting will remain open until filled.

Overview

The International Fund for Public Interest Media (the “International Fund”) is seeking dynamic and curious individuals to join a global team focused on the future of media amid the emergence of cumulative, transformational technologies, including GenAI. The International Fund’s Strategy for Emerging Technologies and Regulation (STaR) aims to promote the interests of public interest media in low and middle-income countries as these technologies and regulations emerge over the coming years.

This global team will support efforts by media organizations and journalists in the Global South to build and advocate for their own communities and shape the ongoing global discussion to promote informed, equitable and ethical use of transformational technologies. 

The Challenge

Around the world, public interest media faces fundamentally challenging conditions, from deteriorating business models as a result of declining revenue to the worrying rise of government crackdowns on journalists. In particular, the evolution of digital advertising has severely hampered traditional funding models for journalism. Public interest media is particularly endangered in low- and middle-income countries, where media infrastructure is most fragile and audience engagement has decoupled from advertising revenue. As news outlets struggle to stay afloat, information ecosystems begin to collapse.

Emerging technologies, particularly GenAI, present both threats and opportunities to the quality and economics of journalism with distinct considerations for countries outside of North America and Europe, particularly emerging market economies. 

About the International Fund for Public Interest Media

The International Fund, currently fiscally sponsored by Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors, provides a coordinated and well-resourced strategic international response to the crisis facing independent media around the world. In 2023, the International Fund launched its First Phase of Operations and, in 2024, it will complete the formal establishment of its headquarters in Paris with the status of an international organization.

The International Fund is the world’s only multilateral mechanism responding to the existential threats facing public interest media in low- and middle-income countries. First announced at the inaugural Summit for Democracy in 2021, it is designed to pool resources and expertise to boost the economic resilience of media markets. The International Fund’s grants provide direct funding to media outlets in need, and help develop long-term sustainable media markets, including through experimentation with national funds and new regulatory approaches. The International Fund complements existing efforts in the media development sector, catalyzing new money as a globally coordinated but fully independent vehicle.

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The International Fund is co-chaired by Maria Ressa, journalist, CEO of Rappler, and 2021 Nobel Peace Prize laureate, and Sir Mark Thompson, CEO of CNN and former CEO of the New York Times Company and Director General of the BBC. More details can be found at www.ifpim.org.

About the Strategy for Emerging Technologies and Regulation (STaR)

As part of its mission to boost economic resilience for public interest media, the International Fund has defined a thematic strategy focused on the future of media amid the emergence of cumulative, transformational technologies, including GenAI. The goal of STaR is to promote the interests of public interest media in low- and middle-income countries as these technologies and regulations emerge over the coming years.

This strategy supports efforts by media in the Global South to build and advocate for their own communities and shape the ongoing global discussion to promote informed, equitable and ethical use of transformational technologies. 

The International Fund seeks to become a thoughtful ally to independent journalism, offering potential solutions and building capacity for local industry groups to advocate on behalf of public interest media amid ongoing regulatory discussions.

The Role

The Program Managers/Researchers will help to shape and implement this newly developed strategy for the International Fund. Reporting to the Director of STaR, they will:

  • Support the development and implementation of the International Fund’s Strategy for Emerging Technologies and Regulation to:
    • Co-create and enable innovative financing models;
    • Convene Key Opinion Formers (KOFs) and encourage thought leadership;
    • Invest in ecosystem-level resources and infrastructure; and
    • Support outlet-level tech integration and innovation.
  • Build a pipeline of partners/grantees, leading outreach, making, and managing of STaR grants, including overseeing monitoring and evaluation, in close collaboration with colleagues across the organization and its focus regions.
  • Manage projects across various STaR work streams, including convenings, research, and publications, 
  • Contribute analysis and commentary that will help the International Fund become a global thought leader and convener around the topics of AI, emerging technologies, regulation, and impact on independent media. 
  • Support the development of the International Fund’s approach to ecosystem change across the medium to long term through research and building relationships with relevant stakeholders across tech, media, academia, civil society, and government;
  • Collaborate closely with colleagues (in particular, the What Works Unit), to conduct, commission, and evaluate STaR research projects. 
  • Ensure coordination, collaboration, and partnership with other media funders and media development actors working in the areas of technology, policy and regulation.
  • Externally represent the International Fund in the region and globally, where required, 
  • Demonstrate a commitment to working as part of a team, the humility to learn from others, and the confidence to experiment and innovate toward a long-term vision.

Candidate Profile

  • Minimum 5+ years of relevant experience in a similar role;
  • A deep understanding of journalism, technology, and the challenges facing independent media with the advent of these emerging technologies.
  • An understanding of media markets and business models, the development context, and a vision for the future of journalism and technology.
  • Knowledge or experience working on policy/regulation of digital platforms would be highly valuable;
  • Commitment to public interest journalism;
  • Project management experience with demonstrated track record of both strategic thinking (taking a concept and developing it into a program) and execution (taking it to market);
  • Strong organizational skills that reflect ability to multitask, prioritize and solve problems;
  • Experience setting up systems for knowledge and data management;
  • Experience working on wide-ranging projects with multiple levels of stakeholders;
  • Familiarity with a range of research methodologies including surveys and questionnaires, conducting interviews, and commissioning research partners to collect data;
  • Knowledge of qualitative and quantitative data collection, evaluation techniques and frameworks, and audience research protocols;
  • Ability to work collaboratively within a distributed, multi-cultural team based across many geographies, including experience working on projects and with teams in low- and middle- income countries;
  • Excellent communication and storytelling skills;
  • Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues across a range of time zones and functional areas;
  • Comfortable working in ambiguity and asking the right questions to bring clarity;
  • Flexibility to adapt to developing processes and frameworks.

Education

  • University degree or equivalent experience.

Contact Information

Please submit your CV and a short cover letter explaining (with examples) why you are a suitable candidate via the Bamboo HR applicant portal.

APPLY HERE

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