Media Lawyer- Internews 280 views

Job Summary

Reporting to: Senior Media Advisor
Location: Harare, Zimbabwe

Position overview
The Media Lawyer provides technical support to project partners and is actively involved in the planning and delivery of the project’s legal and regulatory component. This position will work under the supervision of the Senior Media Advisor.

Essential duties and responsibilities

Serve as an expert on Zimbabwean media-related laws and policies, including but not limited to access to information, journalist’s rights, telecommunication, and broadcast regulations; Work with the SMAZ local partners to enhance media advocacy efforts and government engagement on policies that meet international standards to protect freedom of expression and digital rights; Liaise with the SMAZ local partners under the guidance of the international media law expert to conduct the Political Economy Analysis of the media legal and regulatory environment in Zimbabwe; Provide technical expertise and guidance during the development of media law resources and review policy and legal resources produced under the project; Analyse and critique laws and legislative proposals from the perspective of international and regional legal standards on freedom of expression and freedom of information; Support project partners in monitoring media violations and legal and policy trends concerning freedom of expression and freedom of information; Build and maintain on behalf of Internews a network of legal and government contacts in the media law and policy sector; Provide technical support to Internews subgrant partners implementing media law and regulatory activities; Contribute to the writing and compiling of program reporting, including quarterly reports and other project-related reports.

Qualifications, skills and abilities

Law degree, preferably at Master’s level or higher with specialization either in international human rights law, media law and/or digital rights; Sound knowledge of international law on freedom of expression and freedom of information and a solid grasp of standards on media regulation and how they apply to the digital environment; Experience working in the field of freedom of expression and freedom of information, especially media regulation and digital convergence, e.g., licensing, spectrum policy, broadcasting regulation, digital switchover, media pluralism and diversity, competition, access to the internet and net neutrality; Thorough knowledge of international and regional human rights law and mechanisms in general and of recent developments at the international level; Excellent legal and policy writing skills, preference for editing materials for publications; Strong oral and presentation skills; Demonstrated experience working with government officials; Professional-level fluency in English; Ability to multi-task and proven organizational skills, with strong attention to detail; Must be self-reliant, resourceful, good problem-solver, good humored, and flexible.