Ten years after the tragic assassination of RFI reporters, Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon, in Kidal, in northern Mali, the memory of their professionalism and their passion for reporting remains vivid. To pay tribute to these two journalists, RFI is launching the tenth edition of the Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship. This scholarship aims to support and train young African journalists and technicians, with the aim of perpetuating the legacy of those who have disappeared.
The Fellowship is open to all young journalists and technicians under the age of 35, residing in one of the 25 French-speaking countries of Africa. Applicants must have worked in radio for at least two years. Applications are open until Friday, August 25 midnight, Paris time.
The ten journalist candidates and the ten technician candidates selected will participate in a training course which will take place in Abidjan. This intensive two-week training, from October 16 to 29, 2023, will allow participants to develop their skills in reporting and audio techniques. At the end of the training, the candidates will produce a report for the journalists and an “all-sound” element for the technicians.
A jury made up of representatives from RFI, the Ivorian press, the Sciences Po School of Journalism and INA will select a winner in each category. The scholarship will be awarded on November 2, the date chosen by the United Nations as the “International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists”. The winners will benefit from a one-month training in Paris.
This Fellowship is a unique opportunity to promote and support young African talents in the field of journalism and radio. It perpetuates the legacy of Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon and is a symbol of resilience and hope in the face of the challenges journalists face every day.
The tenth edition of the Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon Scholarship is therefore an opportunity not to be missed for all young journalists and technicians passionate about Africa. It is a chance to benefit from quality training and to pursue the mission of the two reporters, who paid with their lives to inform the world.
If you wish to participate in this Scholarship, do not hesitate to submit your application before August 25th