TERMS OF REFERENCE (ToR) DIGITAL COMMUNICATIONS AND PRESS OFFICER
Responsible to: Regional Director
Key relationships: Advocacy and Policy Research Associate, Projects and Programme Team, Administration, International Communications Team
Duration: Fixed term of 10 months (renewable)
Contract: Service contract or paid professional internship with will to shift in permanent position in the future based on resources mobilization success.
Working hours: Flexible with a volume of time allocated estimated at 20-23 hours per week (so part time) distributed from Monday to Friday with flexibility to cover for weekends emerging requests
Location: Dakar
About ARTICLE 19
Established in 1987, ARTICLE 19 works for a world where all people everywhere can freely express themselves and actively engage in public life without fear of discrimination. Our mission is to promote and defend the universal human rights of freedom of expression and information around the world, through international advocacy, campaigns, legal analysis, regional and national projects focused on Media freedom, Civic space, Digital rights, Transparency, Protection; and Gender equity and inclusion.
With main headquarters in London, ARTICLE 19 operates as a federated global structure based around a UK registered charity together with regional branches (in West Africa-Senegal, MENA-Tunisia, Central Asia-Bangladesh) and regional affiliates with independent Governance Councils operating in Central America-Mexico, South America -Brazil, USA, East Africa – Kenya, Europe-Netherlands. All the activities of the entities in the federated structure are consolidated under the statutory International Board and General Assembly with a calendar year end of 31st December. The West Africa regional office is based in Dakar, Senegal, 2010 where the organisation is locally registered, with projects across the region. He holder of this contract will provide the required services outside Dakar office.
THE POSITION
The Digital Communications and Press Officer is part of the West Africa regional team and
consultants, and works under the guidance of the Regional Director and close interaction with Projects team and international communication teams.
The communication and press is expected to be a high-performing one-person unit with a significant portfolio of services, which includes support advocacy and campaigns initiatives and
strategies through online and press messaging, information management and internal communications, amplification of ARTICLE’s voice as permission and programme through media, press and digital platforms, supporting projects team for communications delivery to ensure visibility, dissemination of their progress to change and learnings and large reach.
The Digital Communications Officer is responsible for engaging ARTICLE 19’s audiences online
through creative use of digital channels, including the website, social media; and through media outlets and press. Passionate about building online and press engagement, s/he leads on developing ARTICLE 19’s online and in-media presence. He/she supports campaigns communications strategies for advocacy and public awareness and programme communications plans for visibility, knowledge and learnings dissemination, large reach and public accountability.
KEY RESPONSABILITIES
A. Digital Communication (30% of the time/services)
Social media communications
- Lead on the development, and execution of high-quality social content relating to the regional teams of ARTICLE 19 including drafting, scheduling and researching for effective approaches.
- Manage the ARTICLE 19 West Africa exiting social media presence (through our major platforms – Twitter, Facebook) and create new ones (- Linked In, Instagram, and other emerging channels) in French and English.
- Ensure good use of e-communications spaces and means such Zoom, Signal, and others among the team
- Advise on approaches to amplify ARTICLE 19 West Africa digital content via related platforms such as Medium, Reddit and others.
- Ensure the creation of digital communications strategies around key pieces of work and advocacy/campaigns priorities, helping to identify the most effective ways of communicating our work using digital media.
- As focal point for the International Communications team, contribute to the creation of relevant digital communications strategies when requested
Digital content creation
- Develop audio visual content, including from time-to-time script writing and pitching ideas.
- Create and manage our multimedia resources, including sourcing photos and maintaining a digital resource library.
- When applicable, working with stakeholders and agencies on relevant needs
B. Press (25% of the time/services) - Conduct and keep updated the media and press mapping database for each country covered by
ARTICLE 19 West Africa and regional media including international press operating and/or covering
the region and respective countries - Establish points of contact with the media and press outlets and build effective strong relationships with the contacts and journalists’ networks, ensuring positive and collaborative relationships are maintained;
- Develop and implement media plans to ensure relevant media opportunities are fully realised and generate consistent coverage for ARTICLE 19’s strategic work, across a range of national, regional and international French, English and in-country languages, online news and broadcast channels;
- Ensure rapid and accurate responses to media enquiries including the co-ordination of reasonable out– of-hours response in consultation with colleagues by maintaining regular detailed awareness of the regional news agenda;
- Draft, review and publish media releases, and statements, through coordination with relevant team
- colleagues, including briefing materials for key spokespersons, all respecting the standards of Article 19 and best practices;
- Advise on and draft opeds as required and outline features to cover major stories by identifying opportunities or bringing issues to the attention of the, the Projects team and the Regional Director;
- Advise and support during interview preparation, and coach staff on press and media approaches;
- Ensure up-to-date media monitoring and archive including external subscriptions, evaluate regularly
media coverage and press activity for internal and external reports; prepare regular analytical press and media reporting and develop Watching Brief for the staff
C. Programme support and internal communications (25%)
- Develop and implement a plan to increase the visibility of the ARTICLE 19 WAF
- Support staff in use of social media, creating guidelines and support tools.
- Monitor and report on key social media statistics making recommendations to the Regional Director and Programme team based on detailed analytics to demonstrate trends on social media engagement
- Actively contribute to media planning and content development processes. • Lead on the development of ARTICLE 19 WAF’s communications strategy, with a particular focus on audience engagement.
- Support project team to develop relevant communication plan for their respective projects including at the design of the proposal and to keep at updated throughout the cycle of each project
- Ensure communication coverage/organization of the events, workshops, meetings and relevant publication on internal and external channels
- Support the programme with documents editing and profiling (reports, training modules, briefs, booklets and other documents) and maintain the liaison with external contractual printers and libruary where applicable to ensure the quality of delivered printed material
- Work with projects and Operations team to design and acquire the visibility material and supplies ensuring high quality and compliance to internal and donors fixed standards Work with projects team to identify relevant success stories resulting in their projects implementation, support quality writing and coordinate publications and archives
D. Web and IT Support (15% of the time/services)
- Act as person of contact for all Website and IT relating issues
- Keep the website up to date, posting all relevant communications and organization the maintainance
- With support of the international Communication team, work to review the website structure and presentation ensuring attractivity and efficiency of the platform making it easy to navigate
- Support in creating e-platforms for program activities
- Manage on a daily basis the share-space and keep it updated
- Coordinate efforts for digital security
- Keep up to date IT and Communications assets/material inventory and renewal or acquisitions plans
- Work with the contractual IT Support provider and maintain daily contacts to maximize their support and delivery based on identified needs and gaps;
Other communications and organisational activities (5% of the time/services) - Support the with other communications projects and activities as required.
- Support in building internal capacity for digital communication knowledge and skills among the team
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Experience and knowledge
- Educated to degree level or equivalent (Certified trainings in relevant discipline for instance digital journalism and new media is an asset)
- Experience in communications, journalism or marketing role, specifically in managing social media, content development for websites (ideally through WordPress).
- Experience of producing multimedia content such as photography, video, audio, flyers and other visuals with skills in editing and use of Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, WordPress and/or else
- Press office experience, working directly with journalists, press and media
- Experience in managing media related events, and developing media partnerships
- Detailed knowledge of national and international media and press landscape in executing media work across multiple channels, including social channels, video platforms and audio platforms
- Excellent writing skills with the ability to identify and translate complex nexs issues and stories into content useful for media, press and social media platforms
- Practical experience to monitor media, analyse and report on media coverage
- Ability to work with different teams, develop trust and strong collaborative working relationships
- Strong aptitude for detail while working under pressure to meet deadlines
- Good understanding of human rights, and freedom of expression trends across the west Africa region
- Enthusiasm for and experience of supporting colleagues with digital communications activities, either through coaching/training or assisting with particular projects.
Skills/attributes
- Excellent interpersonal and verbal communication skills, with the ability to explain technical and complex concepts in accessible terms.
- Ability to think creatively and communicate key messages in interesting and effective ways.
- Excellent organizational and tasks management skills with the ability to manage a complex and varied workload, prioritize tasks and work well under pressure.
- Technical aptitude with confidence in navigating different digital platforms and software, as well as a strong attention to detail.
- Ability to use initiative and adapt to changing priorities.
- Excellent fluency in written and spoken French and good communication level in French. Good skills in Wolof is an asset
Other requirements - Ability to work in a multi-cultural work environment and commitment to equal service, respect and no-discrimination
- Commitment to ARTICLE 19’mission and human rights-based approach to communications
- Willingness and availability for occasional travel, and evening and weekend work
Applications
Any individual passionate with human rights, press and digital communications, ready to self-start and innovate continuously; and meeting the specification, skills and requirement above can apply by sending a motivation note, CV, samples of digital materials to senegalrecruit@article19.org
and CC senegal@article19.org
. Submissions will be analysed on a rolling basis and offer will be available until the best candidate is selected.