Work With Us

Akpata Magazine has a mission to discover, nurture, and amplify compelling voices, both new and established.

Now, we invite you to join us behind the scenes. We’re opening applications for our internship program, offering a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the ecosystem of a literary publication right here from our base in West Africa.

As an intern, you will be given a structured opportunity to engage with the essential operations of a literary magazine. You will gain practical experience in manuscript evaluation, learning to apply editorial criteria to a diverse range of submissions. You will observe and participate in aspects of the editorial and production cycle, which includes developmental feedback, copyediting considerations, and the stages leading up to publication. You will also work closely with our diverse, exceptional, and award-winning editors.

APPLICATION DEADLINE: 20TH APRIL, 2025.

DURATION: Six Months

What’s it Like To Work at Akpata Magazine?

“It has been a dream come true for me. It exposed me to the ‘behind the scenes’ of how literary magazine issues are curated. The experience has been nostalgic, enthralling, and sizzling.” – Ikechukwu Henry (Prose Reader).

“Working at Akpata Magazine has been a learning experience. As an editor, I get to read many submissions. This has taught me to be attentive to detail. I’ve been exposed to great talent in the literary world. It has also given me the opportunity to help writers carve out a path for themselves in the world of publishing.” – Lerato Mahlangu (Prose Editor).

OPEN ROLES

1. Design & Visual Content Intern

• Focus: Creating simple visual elements for Akpata’s online presence.
• What You’ll Do:
  • Learn to use user-friendly design tools (like Canva) to create graphics for social media posts (e.g., quote cards, announcements, author spotlights).
  • Assist in formatting simple documents or promotional materials according to guidance.
  • Help maintain visual consistency across platforms.
  • Source appropriate images or visual elements when needed.
• What You’ll Learn: Basic graphic design principles, using online design tools, creating visually appealing content for social media, understanding branding basics, visual storytelling for literature.
• Who We’re Looking For: Someone with a visual eye (even untrained!), eager to learn design tools, detail-oriented, creative, and reliable.

2. Web Content & Platform Intern

• Focus: Helping to keep the Akpata Magazine website (WordPress) up-to-date.
• What You’ll Do:
  • Learn how to log in and navigate the WordPress dashboard.
  • Upload and format new content (like accepted pieces, blog posts, or announcements) following instructions.
  • Make basic updates to existing pages (e.g., updating team bios, contact info).
  • Check for and report broken links or simple display issues.
  • Learn the basics of organizing content on the site.
• What You’ll Learn: Fundamentals of Content Management Systems (CMS) using WordPress, basic website maintenance, formatting content for the web, principles of online publishing workflow, and attention to detail in a digital environment.
• Who We’re Looking For: Someone tech-curious, patient with learning new platforms, detail-oriented, organized, reliable, and interested in how online publications work. No experience needed

3. Book Reviewer

• Read and critically analyze assigned books across various genres (fiction, non-fiction, poetry, etc.).
• Write clear, concise, and engaging book reviews that offer insightful commentary on plot, characters, themes, and style.
• Adhere to deadlines and editorial guidelines.

4. Author Interviewer

• Research authors and their work to prepare for in-depth interviews.
• Conduct engaging and informative interviews (written, audio, or video) that explore the author’s creative process, themes, and perspectives.
• Craft compelling interview transcripts or summaries for publication.
• Maintain professional communication with authors and publishers.

To apply, send an email to contactakpata@gmail.com with the subject line ‘Akpata Internship Application – [Role You Are Applying For]’. In the email, briefly tell us why you are interested in this specific role and why you should be selected for it. No CV, formal cover letter, or bio is needed unless you wish to include one.

Before you apply, kindly note:

1. This is a volunteering role.

2. We are living in a time in which tools like Artificial Intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly integrated into various workflows. At Akpata Magazine, we believe in transparency and thoughtful engagement with technology.

3. We want to be upfront: we utilize AI tools in some of our processes. This might involve using AI assistance for tasks like generating initial drafts for social media posts, summarizing information, identifying patterns in submission data (while respecting confidentiality), refining administrative communications, exploring design variations, or transcribing interviews.

4. We prohibit the use of AI for creative writing submissions. We believe the literary arts should remain a space where human vulnerability, imperfection, and insight are preserved.

5. Our core philosophy is that AI should augment, not replace, human creativity, judgment, and connection. The heart of literature lies in authentic human experience, voice, and perspective. AI can be a powerful assistant for efficiency and exploration, but it is not the author, the editor, or the curator.

6. Even when AI is used in supportive roles, all content is rigorously cross-checked, rewritten where necessary, and refined to meet our editorial standards. Nothing gets published without passing through human eyes and human care.

7. As an intern, you may gain exposure to how these tools can be responsibly used in a creative environment. Part of navigating the future of publishing involves understanding both the potential and the pitfalls of such technologies.

8. We encourage critical thinking and open discussion about the role of AI in the arts—where does it genuinely help, and where must the human element always lead? We are learning and adapting, and we invite our interns to engage in this ongoing conversation with us.