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International Consultant – Design and Implementation of the AI & Media Learning


2026-03-11

Terms of Reference (TOR)

International Consultant – Design and Implementation of the AI & Media Learning Journey

Media Development Center (MDC) – Birzeit University

Background

The Media Development Center (MDC) at Birzeit University is implementing the project “Strengthening Media Resilience through Digital Transformation, AI Innovation, and Community Engagement in Palestine.”

The project aims to strengthen the resilience, adaptability, and pluralism of the Palestinian media sector by empowering journalists, educators, and youth to produce ethical, innovative, and inclusive media content that promotes constructive public discourse.

In Palestine, journalists and media institutions operate under exceptionally challenging circumstances shaped by political constraints, limited resources, and the rapid transformation of digital information ecosystems. Journalists often face restrictions on movement, safety risks, and technological barriers that make it difficult to maintain independent and credible reporting. At the same time, the global media landscape is undergoing a profound technological shift driven by artificial intelligence, algorithmic content distribution, and data-driven journalism.

Universities and journalism training programs have not always been able to adapt quickly enough to these developments. Many academic programs still emphasize traditional reporting skills without sufficiently addressing emerging digital practices such as AI-assisted reporting, automated verification tools, or algorithmic accountability. This gap between education and the evolving media industry creates challenges for young graduates and media professionals who must navigate increasingly complex digital environments.

To respond to these challenges, MDC is establishing an AI & Media Learning Journey aimed at building the capacity of a national network of educators, trainers, and media professionals to understand and responsibly integrate artificial intelligence into journalism and media education.

The Learning Journey will bring together 20 experts from universities, media organizations, and training institutions and guide them through a structured blended learning process combining online learning, face-to-face workshops, and supervised project development.

Participants will collaborate in small groups to design and develop practical outputs such as training programs for journalists and media students, educational modules for universities, policy papers on AI in media, and stakeholder roundtable discussions addressing ethical and governance issues related to artificial intelligence.

These outputs will later support the training of at least 120 journalism students, recent graduates, and media professionals through cascading training initiatives implemented across Palestinian universities and media institutions.

To support this initiative, MDC seeks to recruit a highly qualified international consultant with strong expertise in AI applications in journalism, media innovation, and digital media training.

Objective of the Consultancy

The objective of this consultancy is to design, implement, and supervise a comprehensive AI & Media Learning Journey that equips a cohort of media educators, trainers, and media professionals with the knowledge and practical skills required to integrate artificial intelligence responsibly into journalism practice, media education, and media innovation initiatives.

The consultant will be responsible for developing the conceptual and pedagogical framework of the learning journey, delivering key training sessions, and mentoring participants as they design and implement their own AI-related interventions in journalism training, media practice, and media policy discussions.

Scope of Work

The international consultant will work closely with the Media Development Center to design and implement the AI & Media Learning Journey using a blended learning model that combines online learning sessions, face-to-face workshops, and remote mentoring.

The learning journey will guide participants through three interconnected phases: foundational knowledge building, collaborative project design, and supervised implementation of participant-led initiatives.

Participants will work in teams to design practical interventions such as training programs targeting journalism students and professionals, AI-related media education modules, policy papers addressing the governance and ethical implications of artificial intelligence in media, and stakeholder roundtables aimed at fostering informed dialogue around emerging technologies in journalism.

The consultant will supervise and mentor participants throughout the process to ensure that the outputs produced are relevant, innovative, and aligned with international best practices.

Key Tasks

Design of the AI & Media Learning Journey

The consultant will design the conceptual framework and pedagogical architecture of the AI & Media Learning Journey. This will involve defining the learning objectives, identifying the most relevant thematic areas, and structuring the sequence of learning activities and practical assignments.

The consultant will also develop the training methodology, ensuring that the program integrates international best practices in professional training and adult learning. The learning journey should encourage collaborative experimentation, peer learning, and practical application of AI tools within journalism and media education contexts.

Delivery of the Learning Journey

The consultant will deliver key training sessions within the program and facilitate both the online and face-to-face components of the learning journey. This will include introductory sessions that provide participants with a conceptual understanding of artificial intelligence and its implications for journalism, as well as advanced sessions exploring practical applications of AI tools in media production, verification, research, and digital storytelling.

The learning journey is expected to include approximately eight interactive online sessions delivered before and after the face-to-face component, as well as an intensive three-day in-person workshop focusing on collaborative learning, hands-on experimentation, and group project development.

Given the operational context and possible restrictions affecting mobility or travel, the face-to-face workshop may be conducted online if circumstances require. The consultant should therefore design the learning methodology in a way that ensures flexibility and allows the program to be delivered effectively in either a physical or fully online format if necessary.

Mentoring and Supervision of Participant Projects

Participants will work in teams to develop practical outputs emerging from the learning journey. The consultant will provide continuous mentoring and technical guidance during this phase.

The consultant will review project concepts, provide feedback on design and methodology, and guide participants as they develop training programs, educational modules, policy papers, and stakeholder engagement activities. Particular attention will be given to ensuring that these initiatives are realistic, ethically grounded, and relevant to the needs of the Palestinian media ecosystem.

Suggested Training Topics

The final curriculum of the AI & Media Learning Journey will be proposed by the selected consultant. However, the learning program is expected to cover several key thematic areas relevant to the integration of artificial intelligence in journalism, media education, and digital media innovation.

One important thematic area relates to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence and algorithmic systems. Participants should gain a conceptual understanding of how machine learning systems operate, how algorithms influence digital information environments, and how automated decision-making systems shape the visibility and distribution of news content. This component should also address issues such as algorithmic bias, data quality, and the implications of predictive models for public communication and media credibility.

Another key topic concerns prompt engineering and effective human–AI interaction. Participants should explore the techniques used to design prompts that produce reliable and meaningful outputs from generative AI systems. Training in this area should address both generative prompting strategies and structured prompting approaches that allow journalists and educators to guide AI tools in producing research insights, summaries, analytical outputs, or creative content. Participants should also develop a critical understanding of the limitations of generative AI systems and the importance of verification and editorial judgment.

The learning journey should also address AI-assisted media production and digital storytelling. This area focuses on how artificial intelligence tools can support journalists in producing multimedia content, including automated transcription, translation, image generation, video production, and audio editing. Participants should explore the creative opportunities that these technologies provide while critically examining issues related to authorship, editorial responsibility, and intellectual property rights.

A particularly important topic involves verification of AI-generated content and detection of synthetic media. As generative technologies make it increasingly difficult to distinguish authentic content from manipulated media, journalists must develop strong verification skills. The training should introduce participants to digital forensic techniques, deepfake detection methods, and multi-layer verification strategies that help identify manipulated images, videos, and audio recordings.

Another key area concerns the role of artificial intelligence in research and investigative journalism. AI technologies can assist journalists and media researchers in gathering and organizing information, analyzing large data sets, conducting literature reviews, and identifying emerging patterns or research gaps. This component should examine how AI tools can support investigative reporting and academic research while also addressing risks related to data accuracy, source reliability, and plagiarism.

The learning journey should also address applications of artificial intelligence in media education and training. Participants who work as educators and trainers should explore how AI tools can be used to design teaching materials, training curricula, learning exercises, and interactive learning environments. The training should encourage participants to experiment with AI-assisted curriculum development and adaptive learning methods while maintaining strong academic integrity standards.

A further thematic area concerns ethical and governance frameworks for artificial intelligence in journalism. Participants should examine the ethical implications of AI technologies, including algorithmic bias, transparency in automated decision-making, and accountability in AI-generated content. Discussions should also address international debates on AI regulation, responsible innovation, and the role of media institutions in shaping public understanding of artificial intelligence.

Another essential topic relates to digital security and cyber risks in the age of artificial intelligence. AI technologies are increasingly used both to strengthen cybersecurity systems and to conduct sophisticated cyber attacks. Journalists and media organizations must therefore understand emerging threats such as AI-generated phishing campaigns, prompt injection attacks, and deepfake-based social engineering.

Finally, the learning journey should encourage participants to explore future trends in artificial intelligence and media innovation, including developments such as intelligent agents, automated news generation systems, and AI-driven audience engagement tools. Participants should critically assess how these emerging technologies may transform journalism practices, media organizations, and public communication in the coming years.

Expected Deliverables

The consultant is expected to produce the following deliverables:

A Learning Journey Framework Document describing the structure, methodology, and pedagogical approach of the program.

A detailed curriculum outlining the proposed training modules and learning objectives.

Training materials and session plans for the learning journey.

Delivery of the agreed online sessions and face-to-face workshops.

Mentorship sessions supporting participant teams in the development of their projects.

Technical feedback and guidance on the training programs, policy papers, and initiatives developed by participants.

A final consultancy report summarizing activities, results, and recommendations for scaling the initiative.

Duration of the Assignment

The consultancy is expected to take place over a period of approximately three to four months, aligned with the implementation timeline of the AI & Media Learning Journey.

The assignment will involve both remote engagement and participation in selected in-person training activities, depending on the project schedule.

Required Qualifications and Experience

Application Requirements

Interested consultants are required to submit their CVs, technical and financial proposals to bsomeiri@birzeit.edu by 28th March 2026

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