MFJI: Hands-on experience in DW’s editorial offices

Brigitte Yoda

Internship with the French editorial team 

What did you hope to learn during the internship? 

I wanted to gain a practical understanding of how an international newsroom works, discover the technical tools involved – particularly editing – and learn from experienced professionals. I also wanted to immerse myself in the day-to-day workings of journalism and to further develop through exchanges with team members. 

What were your three main takeaways? 

To treat every subject with accuracy and to choose quality over speed. The editorial process has essential stages such as proofreading and fact-checking which ensures high reliability. Above all, I've discovered a caring work environment, where helping each other and sharing knowledge are very important. 

How do you aim to apply these skills? 

They will all be invaluable to me. My next project will be a series of reports that focus on innovative citizen initiatives in French-speaking Africa. I want to combine different formats – video, audio, podcast and web writing – to tell these stories in a lively, accessible and impactful way, and at the crossroads of on-side journalism and digital storytelling. 

Ella Djiguimde

Internship with the French editorial team

What did you hope to learn during the internship? 

Above all, I hoped to strengthen my skills in international journalism and discover the working methods of a major media outlet. I was particularly curious to understand how a multicultural newsroom functions, and to learn how to produce content for a French-speaking African audience in a demanding work environment.  

What were your three main takeaways? 

I had to produce news stories with a high accuracy and I honed my skills in line with DW's editorial expectations. I also learned the importance of collaborating in an international environment, working with colleagues from diverse backgrounds. 

How do you aim to apply these skills? 

I plan to build on my experience at DW and to continue producing quality content, with a critical and constructive eye on the major issues affecting Africa in particular, but also the world. 

Adnan Salif Hamidou Sidibe

Internship with DW’s Fact Checking team 

What did you hope to learn during the internship?  

I have three years' experience in fact-checking and an African award under my belt, so I primarily wanted to deepen my skills in advanced visual verification methods, particularly in an international context. I also wanted to better understand the dynamics of misinformation in Europe and to strengthen my ability to work in a multilingual environment, especially where English is spoken. 

What were your three main takeaways? 

• Coordinated, well-organized teamwork is a great asset in fighting disinformation through fact-checking and Media and Information Literacy. 
• Artificial intelligence will continue to shape the world's fight against misinformation. 
• By working with international editorial teams, I was able to hone my skills in scouring social networks for stories that need verification.  

How do you aim to apply these skills? 

I want to integrate these new approaches into future fact-checking productions. I also plan to finish my Master's with flying colors and to get back into combating misinformation in the Sahel, particularly on environmental issues. 

Abdou Khadim Thiam

Internship with DW Business 

What did you hope to learn during the internship? 

I hoped to gain insight into how an international editorial team works that specializes in economics and finance. I wanted to deepen my skills in economic journalism, and particularly in processing financial information for an international audience. I also hoped to improve my English writing skills and familiarize myself with DW's editorial standards and multimedia formats. This experience enabled me to evolve in a multicultural environment and enrich my knowledge and interpersonal skills. 

What were your three main takeaways? 

• International coverage of economic news: To approach economic topics from a comparative perspective, putting Europe, Africa, and the rest of the world into context. I did this particularly when writing an article on the presence of French companies in Africa, specifically in the Sahel, at a time when tensions between Paris and its former colonies are escalating. 
• Editorial precision: The need to produce clear, accurate content tailored to a variety of audiences. This allowed me to strengthen my skills in summarizing and simplifying complex financial data. 
• Mastering collaborative work in a digital newsroom: I gained a better understanding of the importance of integrated workflows (journalists, editors, graphic designers, social media) to ensure that information is disseminated effectively and consistently. 

How do you aim to apply these skills? 

By developing my own media projects, particularly a digital media project based in Dakar on economic and financial issues. I’ll be able to strengthen the international coverage of my content, adopt more demanding editorial standards, and further explore digital formats (podcasts, vodcasts, explanatory videos). My next project is to expand my platform so that it offers economic journalism that is both educational and accessible and that it can reach both African and international audiences. 

Ibrahim Billa, Burkina Faso 

Internship with DW French editorial team 

What did you hope to learn during the internship? 

I was interested in several aspects: 

• Learning more about radio journalism practices 
• Mastering the tools and software used in the newsroom 
• Being able to cover African and international news through the production of audio and online reports and articles 
• Understanding how an international multimedia newsroom works 
• Making new useful contacts 

The internship fulfilled these expectations. 

What were your three main takeaways? 

• The need for constant communication with the editorial manager regarding progress of the work to be done 
• The ability to work under pressure 
• Flexibility is a major asset 

How do you aim to apply these skills? 

I plan to apply them in an international editorial setting, to further refine them, and over the medium and long term, to consider launching my own editorial project. 

Amy Wane

Internship with DW French editorial team 

What did you hope to learn during the internship? 

I wanted to develop my skills as a journalist, particularly in the field of radio. My goal was also to work in a multicultural environment, collaborating with journalists from across the African continent, in order to enrich my understanding of the profession and broaden my professional horizons.

What were your three main takeaways? 

First of all, I was struck by the kindness, rigor, and discipline that reign within the editorial team. I also had the opportunity to cover a variety of topics—from sports to politics to social issues—which allowed me to express my creativity and develop my writing skills. Finally, I realized the importance of feedback in the journalistic production process, a practice that is deeply rooted in German professional culture. In a short period of time, I learned a great deal, much more than in previous experiences, including an internship in Senegal.

How do you aim to apply these skills? 

My ambition is to create my own pan-African media outlet. I am convinced that if I apply the rigor, discipline, and sense of a job well done that I observed in the French-language newsroom, this project can be a real success. This internship has given me the tools I need to make concrete progress in this direction.

All of the students listed above are part of the first class of the Master francophone en journalisme international (MFJI). The master's degree program is a cooperation between the École Publique de Journalisme de Tours (EPJT), the University of Tours and DW Akademie, and is aimed at media professionals from French speaking countries in North and West Africa. It is funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development.