Looking back at a hugely successful African Investigative Journalism Conference 2023

AIJC 2023 saw over 400 delegates from at least 35 African countries and 20 others globally travel to Wits University for three packed days of workshops, lectures and networking sessions.

More than 150 top-notch speakers showcased impactful journalism, gave great advice, sharpened skills, and opened the doors for collaboration across 80 sessions, dealing with all the major triumphs and challenges of African journalism this year. Themes included artificial intelligence, journalists’ safety, health reporting, financial investigation and environmental crime, among many others.

Take a look at a roundup from the conference here.

Although he puts down the chalk at Wits, Anton Harber is far from done

If there was a personification of the combination of academic and professional knowledge in journalism, it would be Professor Anton Harber.

Harber worked extensively in professional media before joining academia in 2001 to pioneer the establishment of the Wits Journalism Department, now the Wits Centre for Journalism (WCJ). He retires from Wits at the end of this year but plans to continue working in diverse media and freedom of expression projects.

Harber sits down with WCJ lecturer Enock Sithole to reflect on his academic career. Read the full article here.

Winner and runner-up crowned at inaugural African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award

Kenyan journalist Tom Odula took top honours at the inaugural WCJ/AIJC African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award for reporting that showed compassion in dealing with the victims of sexual violence, as well as dogged persistence and courage in bringing the perpetrators to book, through his exposé titled Sex for Work: The True Cost of Our Tea.

Dewald van Rensburg of South African investigative unit amaBhungane was named runner-up for his intensive investigation into how “shape-shifting money launderers” infiltrated South African banks over a number of years, revealing how the country had become a laundering hotspot of “staggering proportions”.

Click here for the full report.

WCJ launches African climate journalism hub 

To articulate the scale and urgency of the climate crisis, the Wits Centre for Journalism has partnered with climateXchange (cXc) to launch an African climate change journalism hub that aims to foster relatable climate content, measure impact, and provide reporting solutions to empower and engage audiences at a local level. 

Click here to read more.

SANEF financial journalism fellowship gets off to flying start with industry experts

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) financial journalism fellowship, sponsored by Deloitte South Africa and facilitated by the Wits Centre for Journalism, began with its first intake of 20 students in October.

Representatives of key institutions and industry experts have been keen participants in the programme, providing the students with the opportunity to better understand key issues and answer their burning questions. Guest lecturers have included: Simon Schaefer, Economist, Deloitte; Patrick Mathidi, head of Equity and Balanced Funds at Aluwani Capital; Jabulani Sikhakane, editor of The Conversation Africa, previously spokesperson for the South African Minister of Finance and National Treasury, and South African Reserve Bank (SARB); Jan van Schalkwyk, corporate executive in the Auditor General’s Office; and Nimrod Lidovho, team leader of Stakeholder Management and Public Outreach at SARB.

To complement the curriculum, we are hosting a series of masterclasses featuring guest speakers from industry, government and regulating bodies. Students had the privilege to hear directly from Auditor General Tsakani Maluleke, who was the speaker at the first masterclass.

WCJ at the Safety of Journalists conference in Oslo

In November, the Wits Centre for Journalism (WCJ) attended the 9th Annual International Conference on the Safety of Journalists (MEKK) at Oslo Metropolitan (Oslomet) University in Norway. This is the third time the WCJ has participated in the conference, as part of the multi-national Safety Matters PhD programme which is jointly run with Oslomet, Wits, the University of Sao Paulo (Brazil) and the University of Tulsa (US).

Under this year’s theme of advancing safety in environmental journalism, the MEKK conference offered a dynamic programme featuring a range of speakers, seminars, a screening of the documentary film 20 Days in Mariupol, and an artist presentation on violence against women, which was deeply relevant to the safety of journalists.

Click here to read the full article. 

Pictured: Team South Africa at OsloMet – Dr Nechama Brodie, Lawrence Hill of the Wits Medical School, WCJ master’s student Azania Mosaka, WCJ director Dr Dinesh Balliah and William Bird of Media Monitoring SA

• The WCJ’s Citizen Justice Network is looking for an intern to join the team at Wits University in Johannesburg. Help develop an exciting initiative that empowers communities and improves access to justice. Deadline: 8 December. Click here for details.

• Media companies with a positive social impact can apply for funding through the Media Development Investment Fund’s Ventures initiative, which invests in projects that address accountability, strengthen debate and reduce information poverty. Deadline: 10 December. Click here for details. 

• Food for Mzansi is looking for a junior journalist who will assist in the research, writing, and editing of news articles, features, and business reports related to South Africa’s agricultural industry. Deadline: 11 December. Click here for details.

• The Press Council of South Africa has two vacancies – one for a Communications Manager and another for a Fundraising Manager, both based in Johannesburg. Deadline: 15 January, 2024.

• The WCJ will reopen on 3 January. 

• The 2024 academic term begins on 12 February. Click here to view the timetable and essential links. 

• The latest State of the Newsroom report will launch on 16 January at the WCJ. Further details to follow. 

We wish you a safe and relaxing break over the festive period.