In December 2024, INMA and Google News Initiative (GNI) awarded their fifth annual Elevate Scholarship to 50 news media professionals selected from 397 applications from 83 countries. This series features these impressive media professionals who are shaping our industry.

As a digital officer, journalist, video editor, and in-house designer at TellZim News in Zimbabwe, Courage Tanyaradzwa Dutiro wears many hats. And the range of topics he covers is just as diverse: climate change, environmental issues, courts, politics, and local sports, to name a few.

“My duties also include overseeing and publishing content on our social media platforms and designing digital content that resonates with our audience,” he said, adding he relies on analytics and insights from various digital platforms to guide his decisions.

Courage, who earned a bachelor’s degree in media and cultural studies from Greater Zimbabwe University, began his journey with TellZim as a graphic designer and journalist. This dual role paved the way for his current multi-faceted position.

He is carving out a name for himself by focusing on issues including climate change and the challenges facing marginalised communities. Courage was a 2023 cohort of the Oxford Climate Journalism Network (OCJN) and highlighted his commitment to climate change reporting through his in-depth coverage of climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in the Masvingo province.

Through his ongoing pursuit of professional development, Courage has also built strong relationships with key stakeholders in journalism and environmental sectors, enhancing his networking and collaboration skills.

Through his efforts as a digital content creator, Courage engages with audiences and drives traffic to the TellZim News Web site. He contributes to content strategy development, aiming to attract and retain readers through engaging content formats and trending topics, and his expertise extends to data analysis, audience segmentation, and marketing, where he collaborates with the advertising team to design compelling adverts.

Now, as an Elevate Scholar, Courage looks forward to deepening his understanding of audience demographics and behaviours for more effective content segmentation and community management. He is particularly interested in learning advanced strategies for building and engaging online communities on such platforms as WhatsApp, X, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube.

He would like to develop skills in digital product strategy, data analytics, data visualisation, advertising sales, and ad technology. Additionally, he looks forward to exploring the applications of generative AI in media to automate tasks, create content, and personalise user experiences.

“By getting these skills, I can contribute more effectively to the business side of news media and help organisations thrive in this Fourth Industrial Revolution,” he said.

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