Programme Officer

JournalismAI is looking for a Programme Officer (Full-time) to support the execution of its grant funding programme and other activities. The Programme Officer will work closely with the Programme Lead, the Project Manager & Team Leader, as well as the greater JournalismAI team.

🗓️ Applications close on 12 January 2026.

If you have any questions before applying, please contact JournalismAI Project Manager & Team Lead, Tshepo Tshabalala, at hello@journalismai.info 

Location

Remote - candidate must be based in South Africa (preferably Johannesburg)

About JournalismAI

JournalismAI is a global initiative that empowers news organisations to use artificial intelligence responsibly. We support innovation and capacity-building in news organisations to make the potential of AI more accessible and to counter inequalities in the global news media around AI. JournalismAI is a project of Polis – the LSE's journalism think-tank and is supported by the Google News Initiative.

Our activities include the JournalismAI Innovation Challenge, supported by the Google News Initiative, a grant programme enabling small and medium-sized publishers to experiment, implement, and share best practices of AI technologies; JournalismAI Skills Lab, an initiative that upskills and equips individuals to develop their own GenAI-based tools, prototypes, or proofs-of-concept the JournalismAI Academy, a training programme to help publishers leverage the power of artificial intelligence; the JournalismAI Festival, an annual conference celebrating the most exciting developments at the intersection of journalism and AI; and the creation of training resources for journalists, including the JournalismAI Starter Pack and JournalismAI Discovery.

About Polis, LSE

Polis is the journalism think-tank at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). It’s a forum for public debate, research, and policy intervention on key issues of news and journalism. We produce outstanding research on the impact of journalism in our societies.

The role

The Programme Officer is expected to coordinate the effective functioning and execution of a media support programme and its associated activities, like the JournalismAI Innovation Challenge, Academy, and Festival. The Programme Officer, while not a supervisor, manages activities within the project, programme, and other activities.

You will need to be able to handle complex situations involving different viewpoints, cultures, and political agendas. This role requires balancing immediate needs with long-term goals.

The ideal candidate will have experience working in and with small teams, in journalism or related fields. They will be comfortable with working across multiple countries and regions, while coordinating with local partners and stakeholders. They should be good at managing relationships across programme participants and partners. They should have a good understanding of global power dynamics, equity, and localisation in development.

You should apply if:

  • You understand the importance that technology plays in the present and future of journalism, and believe in the potential of using technology as a force for good to support journalism’s mission in society.
  • You are excited by the opportunity to oversee every phase and facet of a project, including building systems to support effective delivery and growth.
  • You lead with empathy and take pride in putting your team in the position to thrive, valuing deep listening and collaborative work.

Responsibilities

  • Create and implement a comprehensive marketing plan/strategy for JournalismAI programmes
  • Create and maintain an outreach plan and database for upcoming programmes
  • Support in managing and reviewing applications for programmes
  • Facilitate and manage virtual meetings between participants and other stakeholders
  • Create and implement a comprehensive marketing plan/strategy for JournalismAI’s research initiatives
  • Ideate on a public-facing presentation of research
  • Provide overall support for JournalismAI research activities

Qualities to be successful in this role

We expect that the strongest candidates will have the following skills and areas of expertise in varying degrees:

  • Substantial experience working in and around journalism – for media organisations or journalism support organisations.
  • Relevant programme management or programme coordination experience: you enjoy creating projects and delivering them on time and with demonstrable impact.
  • Proven experience in working in international and interdisciplinary teams that get things done while taking care of each other.
  • Familiarity with artificial intelligence technologies, their applications in – and implications for – journalism.
  • Awareness of the representation issues that characterise both the field of journalism and artificial intelligence in relation to gender, ethnicity, geography, among others.
  • A great communicator – both at explaining and listening. You get excited about people and processes and thrive at the intersection of the two.
  • Detailed knowledge of and demonstrated proficiency in using information management systems, like Google Suite and Airtable.
  • Excellent written and spoken communication skills in English are important. Additional languages are advantageous.

Compensation and work conditions

  • This is a one-year, non-renewable, full-time position with an annual salary between £ 15,000 and £ 21,000, commensurate with experience.
  • The successful candidate must be based in South Africa (preferably Johannesburg)
  • Flexible work schedule – some travel may be required.
  • 30 days of paid annual leave, which can increase based on project requirements and team needs.
  • Our preferred start date for the successful candidate is 2 March 2026

How to apply:

Please fill in this application form and upload your short resume.

Applications submitted via email will not be considered!