WCJ hosts over 150 academics and communications professionals at the 2026 SACOMM conference

How are humans asserting themselves in the time of technofeudalism? This is the question more than 150 academics and communication professionals looked to answer at the annual South African Communications Association (SACOMM) conference, held at the University of the Witwatersrand from 9 – 11 September, hosted by the Wits Centre for Journalism.

Under the theme of Asserting the Human in the Time of Technofeudalism: Global South Perspectives, scholars and educators from 19 institutions across southern Africa, together with multiple journalism and communications practitioners, presented and debated new and recent research looking at how African audiences, developers and scholars are engaging with technology.

Read the conference overview here.

African Investigative Journalism Awards shortlist announced

The top five finalists of the prestigious African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award 2026 have been selected from a record number of 204 entries received from across the continent.

The annual gala award ceremony will be held on 11 November in Nairobi, Kenya during the 2026 African Investigative Journalism Conference.

Read more here.

Registration for #AIJC2026 is ongoing via Quicket - secure your ticket for this milestone edition here. 

WCJ hosts West African journalists in Ghana training workshop

The Wits Centre for Journalism partnered with the Media Foundation for West Africa to deliver a three-day journalism training workshop on Africa-China Relations.

Held in Ghana from 2 to 4 September, the workshop was attended by 20 journalists from Ghana, The Gambia, Liberia, Nigeria and Sierra Leone. The programme covered topics such as forensic investigations into infrastructure contracts, fact-checking, Africa-China trading and investment and mining. The workshop is part of the WCJ’s outreach journalism programme which seeks to build the capacity of journalists to cover issues critically.

Join the 2026 Adenauer Media Lecture, hosted by the Wits Centre for Journalism

KAS Media Africa and the Wits Centre for Journalism invite you to the 2026 Adenauer Media Lecture, "The Value of Being Human: Journalism in the Age of AI."

As artificial intelligence transforms how information is produced, distributed, and consumed, journalism faces a fundamental question: What is the unique value that only humans can provide? In this keynote, Ellen Heinrichs, founder and CEO of the Bonn Institute, argues that the future of journalism will not be defined by competing with AI, but by strengthening the distinctly human qualities that technology cannot replace. Trust, curiosity, empathy, dialogue, and the ability to navigate complexity are becoming journalism’s greatest assets.

🗓 13 October, 10:30 - 12:20, Room 240, New Commerce Building, Wits West Campus. 

📩 RSVP: [email protected]

MediaControl RSA workshops empower investigative radio journalism in South Africa

The Wits Centre for Journalism and International Media Academy (Berlin) have partnered to host a series of investigative radio journalism workshops, with presenters and reporters from across South Africa.

Guest lecturers have included veteran American investigative journalist Ron Nixon, Sikonathi Mantshantsha of News24, and founding executive director of Campaign On Digital Ethics Kavisha Pillay, who guided journalists across a comprehensive programme including how to plan a radio investigation, physical and data safety best practices, navigating challenges that arise during reporting and production, and using data sources in building an investigation.

Building on the intensive four-day hands-on initial training, participants are supported by mentoring and then move to a production phase, putting theory into practice by crafting their radio investigations.

The initiative forms part of the Centre's ongoing efforts to strengthen the practice of radio journalism in the country.

Call for Papers: Cross Current and Critical Encounters at the IALJS convention

The International Association for Literary Journalism Studies invites submissions of original research papers, abstracts for research in progress and proposals for panels on Literary Journalism for the IALJS annual convention on 19-21 May 2027.

The conference will be held in Africa for the first time ever at the Breakwater Campus of the UCT Graduate School for Business in Cape Town, South Africa, hosted by the Rhodes University School of Journalism and Media Studies, the Centre for Film and Media Studies at the University of Cape Town and the Wits Centre for Journalism.

Follow the link for details.

WCJ hosts content creation workshop with Dan Corder

The Wits Centre for Journalism recently welcomed Dan Corder to facilitate a hands-on content creation workshop designed for Wits students across all faculties.

The first cohort included Witsies studying a wide range of disciplines – from humanities, law and business, to education and accounting – who won their place by pitching a compelling story about Johannesburg.

Read more here.

Watch student and facilitator reflections here.

Digimethods workshop covers critical computational tools for media professionals 

The Wits Centre for Journalism hosted the 2026 Digimethods workshop on 12 September, a post-SACOMM conference event designed to equip media and communications professionals with the latest digital and computational tools to aid in media research. 

Led by Dr Alette Schoon of Rhodes University, the workshop saw participants explore real-world research questions using modern media research technologies covering data visualisation, data scraping, vibe coding, network graphs, machine learning and more.

• Daily Maverick is looking for a Senior Health Reporter to lead its coverage of South Africa's health sector. Proven ability to write clearly, accurately and compellingly on deadline is required. Deadline: 7 October. Click here for details.

• There's still time to apply for the WCJ’s 2027 postgraduate honours, master's and PhD programmes, open to aspiring and working journalists, communicators and media professionals. Deadline: 30 September. Click here for details.

• Journalists worldwide can now apply for travel fellowships to attend the World Conference of Science Journalists 2027 taking place in London on 6–9 September. Successful applicants will receive financial support towards travel, visa costs, local transport & more. Apply by 23 October. Click here for details.