Facilitator/Expert media regulation and journalism ethics

For many people around the world, access to reliable information is by no means a given. Nevertheless, impartial information is of crucial importance to all of us if we wish to survive and develop as human beings. Free Press Unlimited works to ensure that objective news coverage and information are and remain available to people the world over. Particularly in countries where there is little to no press freedom.

Across the globe, journalists and media pioneers have taken it on themselves to supply their communities with objective information. Free Press Unlimited actively supports these professionals in over forty countries, by offering them, among other things, trainings and temporary financial and material aid, and by strengthening their professional capacity. So that as many people as possible gain and keep access to truly vital information.

Free Press Unlimited is currently seeking to hire (as soon as possible): A Facilitator/Expert media regulation and journalism ethics. The expert is responsible for facilitating the exchange of thoughts, experiences and to enrich and guide debates aiming at the development of a charter for positive media regulation. Diverse emerging media gather in a number of round-tables to design an ethical charter that reflects the journalistic standards that emanate from the debate. Through a participatory approach and an open round table discussions participants will be supported to reach charter drafts that are made definitive through multiple revisions and multi group contributions. The expert is facilitating and enriching the content and the output of the debate. He will be supported by other experts such as members of regional, international media institutes who will contribute with lessons learned and best practices to the design process as well as by the project management team.

Job responsibilities:

• Overall responsibility for the quality and content of the debate
• Design specific agenda that leads to the development of a charter of best practices (in cooperation with beneficiaries)
• Assess participants needs
• Study and understands Middle East media landscape specificities
• Makes sure that the process is inclusive and constructive not divisive
• Make sure that the round tables run timely and smoothly
• Contribute to the planning of events by recommending locations, experts and further participants
• Communicate clearly on the goals and the expected results of the round tables with all stakeholders
• Coordinate and facilitate editing and reflection processes
• Anticipate possible obstacles and finds timely solutions
• Communicate and coordinate timely and regularly back to the programme team
• Gather/Produce material to support analyses, discussions and production of the charter
• Assist in various experts identification/recruitment for the round tables

We're looking for an energetic and driven individual with:

• Proven experience in facilitating complex group discussions
• Excellent mediation skills, not conflictive or confrontational
• Previous experience and excellent understanding of media and development in the Middle East
• High knowledge of subjects, trends and developments around journalism ethics, code of conduct and media regulation
• Proven methodology and strategy to hold result oriented complex discussions

And

• Arabic native speaker or equivalent knowledge of Arabic
• English speaker
• Excellent work ethics
• Reliable team player
• Excellent communication skills
• Has sense of humour
• Is charismatic and persuasive
• Problem-solving skills and is creative;
• Result oriented

The Coach/moderator position is a 10 weeks-time work spread in two years; many of the sessions held in the first half of 2014. If you are interested in this position, please send -as soon as possible- your motivation letter and CV (preferably in PDF format) and before 14 March 2014 to Free Press Unlimited's secretarial office at vacancies[at]freepressunlimited[dot]org.