The 18th African Investigative Journalism Conference was hailed as the biggest and best so far in the event's long history. Over 375 delegates travelled to Wits University from over 50 countries around the world. It afforded great networking opportunities, plenty of discussion, packed training sessions and some powerful new work was showcased. 

Click here to view a gallery of images captured at the event.

Annual Carlos Cardoso Memorial Lecture - the fight to end impunity for crimes against journalists

The annual Carlos Cardoso Memorial Lecture was a highlight of the conference, with guest speakers Baba Hydara and Penny Sukhraj telling of their campaigns for justice after their journalist loved ones were killed in the line of duty.

In the last 10 years worldwide, no one has been brought to justice in nearly 80% of the 263 cases of journalists murdered in retaliation for their work. Of these, at least 51 killings have taken place in Africa across 52 countries, including South Africa.

These statistics, revealed by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) in its latest Global Impunity Index report, paint a bleak picture of a profession under siege, and set the stage for a memorable lecture.

Veteran investigative journalist Cheryl W. Thompson, long-standing reporter for the Washington Post and now senior editor of National Public Radio, recently attended the 18th African Investigative Journalism Conference to share some important insights gleaned over a stellar decades-long career with delegates. 

From gathering records and landing interviews, to cultivating sources and staying organised, Thompson shares some essential tips for investigative reporters.

Other news from the WCJ

Greening Africa's news deserts

Franz Krüger, Adjunct Professor of the Wits Centre for Journalism and founder of the Wits Radio Academy, has released a new report titled Greening Africa’s news deserts, which considers important policy options to support local media in sub-Saharan Africa.

To further unpack the importance of the report and possible solutions, the Wits Centre for Journalism held a webinar on 26 October with an esteemed panel of guests.

Read the full article.

Book about farm killings actually about the media

In her latest book, Wits Centre for Journalism lecturer Dr Nechama Brodie says media coverage is distorting the facts around farm killings in South Africa, and that while very few farm murders appear to be committed for political reasons, the response to them is often political. Brodie was recently in conversation with Prof Anton Harber during the book launch in Johannesburg to unpack some key points made within.

Read the full review by Prof Anton Harber.

Safety and journalism: PhD students pitch research projects in Oslo

Three South African PhD students – Lebogang Seale from the Wits Centre for Journalism, Palesa Lebitse from the Wits School of Law, and Bella Boqo from Rhodes University’s School of Journalism & Media Studies – travelled to Oslo, where they worked with doctoral students from other participating countries to produce concept papers for new research projects related to issues of journalism and safety. The PhD students successfully presented their proposals at the 8th annual Media, War and Conflict (MEKK) conference that took place the week after their workshop. The WCJ’s Safety Matters project coordinator Dr Nechama Brodie also presented a new study-in-progress, looking at the impact of incidental crime on journalism in South Africa.

WCJ hosts French researchers for week-long workshop

In October, Wits Centre for Journalism Associate Professor Lesley Cowling hosted French researchers working on a project about the journalism of the Anglo-Boer War. Professor John Bak, a leading scholar in the field of literary journalism, Professor Gilles Teulie, expert on the Boer War and doctoral student Indiana Lods, were joined by WCJ researchers for a week-long workshop at Mangwa Lodge in the Dinokeng Reserve.

Researchers presented work on the global circulation of Emily Hobhouse’s reports on the concentration camps, how the black press reported on the war, the coverage of the war in the French colonial press, and the French soldier-diarists who fought (and died) on the side of the Boers. The participants also began preparing for the second phase of the project, a focus on the literary journalism of post-apartheid South Africa. The project - “A Centenary of (Post) Colonial Narrative Literary Journalism in South Africa and France” - is funded by the National Research Foundation (SA) and Campus France. 

Pictured: (front) Gilles Teulie, Lizeka Mda, Trevor Oosterwyk, Indiana Lods, Aarti Bhana, Lesley Mofokeng, James Bak; (back) Kevin Davie, John Bak. 

Join us for the launch of the latest State of the Newsroom report on 24 November, from 11:00 - 12:00.

Editor Alan Finlay is joined by Nadia Bulbulia, Executive Director of the National Association of Broadcasters; Mia Malan, Editor-in-chief at Bhekisisa; Kate Skinner, Director of the Association of Independent Publishers; and Adam Oxford, freelance journalist, consultant and trainer. They will explore whether innovative start-ups and local media hold the promise for a revitalised media landscape.

Click here to register for the webinar.

Jamfest 2022 was nothing short of a rousing success, with media makers and innovators from across Africa dialing in remotely for virtual sessions, as well as convening in person once again at the Tshimologong Precinct in Braamfontein, Johannesburg, to share ideas, stories and advice on a wide range of important topics.  

If you missed the festival, check out Jamlab's YouTube channel to catch up with some of the informative sessions.

Join the virtual book launch of Women Journalists in South Africa: democracy in the age of social media, co-edited by Prof Glenda Daniels and Dr Kate Skinner. It explores the contribution of women journalists to South African democracy in the social media age, offers a theoretical analysis of the journalism industry, and looks in-depth at how women are trolled and attacked.

They're joined by Nomshado Lubisi Nkosinkulu, head of communications at Media Monitoring Africa and Qaanitah Hunter, assistant editor, politics and opinions at News24. The discussion will be facilitated by Dr Nechama Brodie, acting coordinator of the Wits Justice Project. 

When: 23 November at 3pm.

Click here to register for the webinar. 

The Wits Centre for Journalism class of 2022 recently spent their last day in the Vuvuzela newsroom. "Crossing the finish line with these peeps makes the late nights and mini breakdowns all worth it," said student Elishevah Bome.

The students also completed the annual WCJ In-depth Reporting Project (the equivalent of an honours research project), which focuses on a specific topic for six to eight weeks in the final block of the year. This year, the project theme was: 'The Climate Crisis is Here', and students explored this within the subthemes of food, finance and society. They travelled across Gauteng to produce some promising work, which will be published on our website at the beginning of December once marking and subediting are complete.

Back row from left to right: Colin Hugo, Elishevah Bome, Tylin Moodley, Busisiwe Mdluli, Tannur Anders, Malaika Ditabo. Front row from left to right: Rufaro Chiswo, Mpho Hlakudi and Keamogetswe Matlala. Photo: Pheladi Sethusa

• News24 has a number of internship positions open in its Joburg and Cape Town offices for digitally savvy journalists, as part of the Media24 Graduate Programme. Twelve-month contract starting in Feb 2023. Deadline: 20 November.
   
• The KAS Media Africa Award is now taking applications for exemplary work in local journalism. All submissions must have been published between 1 October 2021 and 30 October 2022. Deadline: 30 November.
  
  
• The China Africa Project is looking for an experienced climate reporter to join its growing editorial team. Candidates should have a proven track record writing about climate, sustainability and environmental issues in Africa. Open until filled.
  
  
• Journalists who have uncovered commercial bribery can win up to US$10,000 in the Trace Foundation Prize for Investigative Reporting. The competition is open to print, broadcast or online reporters worldwide. Deadline: 31 January, 2023.

Thank you for reading!