Digimethods Post-SACOMM workshop 2026

On Saturday 12 September 2026, the Wits Centre for Journalism will host a workshop examining digital and computational tools for researching the media. The workshop, a post-SACOMM conference event, is limited to 20 participants. No prior skills are needed. 

The workshop will be facilitated by Dr Alette Schoon of Rhodes University, who will run through hands-on demonstrations in which participants can try tools such as data visualisation, data scraping, vibe coding, network graphs and more. You will need to bring your own laptop.

Click here to secure your ticket. 

WCJ webinar - Under Duress: Journalism in Authoritarian Contexts

Join the Wits Centre for Journalism for a webinar with Dr Richard Stupart (University of Liverpool / South African Institute of International Affairs), who will present findings from a closed-door roundtable event in which 17 journalists from seven African countries with some of the worst press freedom credentials compared and contrasted their experiences. 

The findings, now available in a summary report which can be downloaded here, include insights into:

• The nature of the threats faced by journalists working in authoritarian contexts
• How pressures on journalism generally translate into different experiences fort editors and field reporters
• The emotional and psychological wellbeing of journalists
• Coping strategies in the face of hostile state and other opposition to watchdog reporting

While many of the themes developed in the roundtable conversation would be familiar to scholars of journalism under authoritarian conditions, the webinar will focus on some of the novel and unexpected insights that came out of the session.

Monday 25 May, 13:00 (SAST).

Click here to register.

WCJ lecturer Dr Thandi Bombi secures prestigious Carnegie Grant

WCJ lecturer and researcher Dr Thandi Bombi has been awarded the Carnegie Enabling Grant (1 May 2026 – 30 April 2028) for her research project titled "Listening Otherwise as a journalistic and research methodology: Developing a handbook for journalists and researchers".

This research aims to draw on key findings from Bombi's PhD research and develop her Framework for Listening Otherwise into a resource called the "Handbook for Listening Otherwise in Journalism Practice and Journalism Research".

"The project aims to draw on Participatory Action Research methodologies to develop and contribute practical and theoretical listening methods in the fields of journalism research and journalism education," says Bombi.

"The handbook is aimed at supporting journalists and journalism researchers and will lean on listening as a crucial and informative pedagogical practice. While the handbook will serve as the main research output for the project, the research will be conducted in six main cycles with various other research outputs that will later inform the handbook."

Citizen Justice Network helps police officer uncover R60,000 child maintenance error

The Citizen Justice Network (CJN), a community justice project of the Wits Centre for Journalism, has helped a South African police officer uncover and remedy a costly administrative error that had drained more than R60,000 from his salary in maintenance payments for someone else’s child.

This case, which had gone unresolved for nearly two years despite repeated attempts by the officer to seek help from court officials, highlights both the challenges many South Africans face navigating complex government systems and the critical role that community-based legal support can play in the pursuit of justice.

Read more here.

VOW 88.1 FM celebrates Freedom Day with historic broadcast tour

During Freedom Month, VOW 88.1 celebrated Madiba’s legacy with a history tour to landmark destinations across Johannesburg that played a significant role in South Africa’s journey to freedom. Ahead of Freedom Day on 27 April, the VOW team broadcast special shows from the Nelson Mandela Centre of Memory, Vilakazi Street in Soweto, the Apartheid Museum and Constitution Hill.

Take a look at footage from these events on VOW's Instagram page.

WCJ career-entry honours class takes part in 'court reporting week'

The Wits Centre for Journalism's career-entry honours class recently completed Court Reporting Week, a highlight on the academic calendar where students visit the Johannesburg High Court to deepen their understanding of court processes and the justice system.

"This year was even more enlightening as students went behind the scenes to witness the transfer of prisoners to and from the building, and also toured Kgosi Mampuru prison in Pretoria," said lecturer Dr Collen Chambwera.

"The Gallows Memorial was the highlight of this visit. It is one thing to learn about the brutality of the apartheid regime and court-sanctioned executions, and quite another to be in the same space where many entered and never left alive. We are ever grateful to court officials who make time to orient the students," he said.

Read student reflections from the tour on the Wits Vuvuzela website here.

• Join the Global Investigative Journalism Network for an online training session on using AI for data-driven investigations with journalist and media advisor Jaemark Tordecilla. 21 May, 15:30 (SAST). Click here for details.

• News24 has a vacancy for a political editor based in Johannesburg. At least 10 years' experience required, with a proven ability to work in a digital, fast-paced newsroom to produce exclusive content. Deadline: 21 May. Click here for details.

• The Kurt Schork Memorial Fund invites journalists around the world to submit entries for the 25th annual Kurt Schork Awards in International Journalism. Winners in each category will receive US$5,000. Deadline: 14 June. Click here for details.