Applications for AIJC 2025 fellowships now open

The WCJ's African Investigative Journalism Conference is running two Fellowship tracks in 2025 — one for practicing early-career journalists under the age of 30 with five or less years' experience, and one for mid-career journalists with five or more years' experience. Applications from freelance journalists are welcome.

The fellowship will cover major travel costs, including return flights from your home country to the conference, shuttles, accommodation, conference fees, as well as meals during the conference.

Attending the conference is the perfect opportunity to engage with the brightest minds in investigative journalism, gain valuable insights into the future of the industry, and equip yourself with the latest investigative tools and techniques.

Follow the link to fill in the application form.

🗓️ Deadline: 23 May, 5pm (SAST).

#AIJC2025 will take place at Wits University from 5 to 7 November. 

Gold standard of South African investigative reporting honoured at 2025 Taco Kuiper Awards

Sikonathi Mantshantsha of News24 took top honours at the 2025 Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism with his powerful series “Waste Land”, exposing the dismal state of municipal sewage and sanitation infrastructure in the Mogale City Local Municipality and the indignity suffered by people living in the area.

Dewald van Rensburg of amaBhungane received the runner-up prize for his meticulous investigative series, “The #Laundry”, exposing a vast, tangled web of international money laundering networks. The stories involved intensive collection and forensic analysis of enormous amounts of confidential data on major criminal enterprises plugged into South Africa’s financial system.

Finalists in 2025 also included Kyle Cowan (The Murray Murders, News24), Tarryn Crossman (Eastern Cape Kidnapping Crisis, Carte Blanche), and a collaboration between Pauli van Wyk (Daily Maverick) and Kyle Cowan (News24) for Thembi Simelane – Minister of (in)Justice.

Click here for the full article.

#AIJC2025 call for proposals ongoing

The Wits Centre for Journalism invites journalists, media professionals, trainers and academics to submit proposals around speakers, panels, themes or training that would elevate this year’s African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) and help shape a rich, interesting and relevant programme.

Do you have something that needs to be shared with your colleagues? Do you have a topic, or some particular training that you think would enhance AIJC 2025? Do you have an idea for a discussion that belongs on the programme?

Follow the link to complete the participation form by 30 May 2025.

WCJ welcomes Dr Thandi Bombi to the academic team

The Wits Centre for Journalism is pleased to welcome Dr Thandi Bombi, who joins the academic team as a lecturer in Journalism and Media Studies.

Bombi, who completed her master’s and PhD research through Rhodes University, joins Wits through the Department of Higher Education and Training’s (DHET) New Generation of Academics Programme (NGap).

Bombi says she has always been attracted to educational approaches where teachers and students are co-learners in the classroom.

“I am interested in creating a learning environment that we all can contribute to, and I aim to provide a space for the voices of the students I engage with. I believe education can change lives and I want to teach from that perspective. The material, for me, is made engaging when it is relevant to the lives and realities of the students,” she says.

Click here to read more.

Exciting opportunity in Greece for young South African journalism students and graduates 

The YOJO (Young Journalists) programme by the Incubator for Media Education and Development (iMEdD) is a digital-first newsroom of young journalists, combining an innovative news platform with a video-first approach to inform and engage audiences.

The programme, launching in 2026, seeks eligible young reporters worldwide for its newsroom, who will be mentored by industry-leading journalists and supported by state-of-the-art media tools. 

The Wits Centre for Journalism will host a live Q&A session with the YOJO team, giving South African students and new graduates a chance to learn more about this exciting opportunity in Greece.

🗓️ Tuesday 20 May at 9:30am (SAST)
🖥️ Teams meeting link: https://bit.ly/YOJO-Webinar

Handbook Download: Responsible Reporting on Whistleblowing

The Wits Centre for Journalism has produced a new handbook for journalists and media practitioners that guides responsible reporting on whistleblowers, in partnership with GIZ's Transparency, Integrity and Accountability Programme in South Africa and supported by the South African National Editors' Forum.

The project, led by the Centre's Dr Nechama Brodie and supported by prominent South African journalist Many Wiener, considers the role of journalism in not only protecting its sources, but also safeguarding ethical, accountable, and transparent media practices.

Download the handbook here.

• Tarbell invites experienced journalists to apply for its next round of grants to support original reporting on AI and its societal impacts. Successful applicants will receive grants up to US$15,000. Deadline: May 31. Click here for details.

• Young professionals in the news media industry under 30 years old are invited to enter the International News Media Association’s 30 Under 30 Awards, spotlighting rising stars in the industry. Deadline: June 27. Click here for details.

• Applications for the 2025/26 explain.co.za journalism internship programme are now open, offering strong mentorship from industry leaders. For interns who excel, there is a strong possibility of securing permanent employment. Deadline: July 31. Click here for details.