Participants will undergo a specially-designed program which will support their efforts to reintegrate into the workplace with heightened media skills, strengthened soft skills and an enhanced understanding of their own career.

It will include leadership and career development coupled with industry updates to get up to speed on the latest trends and personal coaching to help participants craft a career development plan aligned to a changing news environment. This plan has a specific focus on building resilience in a time of change so that participants are comfortable in digital work and open to embracing technological changes.

Applicants should be based in the APAC region and have at least 3 years of working experience in the media industry before taking a career break of at least 9 months due to childcare, eldercare or personal incapacity. Multiple shorter breaks totaling 9 months or more do not qualify, neither does switching to work in a different industry by choice.

While most of the lecture components of the training sessions will be recorded, and subtitled in Traditional Chinese, a working command of spoken and written English is preferable in order for participants to communicate spontaneously and efficiently with the trainers and fellow participants. Subject to sufficient demand, live simultaneous translation in Mandarin can be provided.

Successful applicants who are active caregivers will receive a childcare/eldercare stipend to defray the cost of arranging for temporary day care while attending the program. Such applicants will be required to commit to and complete a minimum of 5 training sessions in order to receive the stipend. The disbursement of the stipend will be made after the program ends in June 2021.