African Investigative Journalism Conference 2024

The 20th edition of the African Investigative Journalism Conference is around the corner, scheduled to take place from October 30 to November 1 at Wits University. 

This year's event promises to be a bumper edition, again attracting some of the brightest minds in investigative journalism and media training from across the continent and beyond. Sessions will deal with several big issues facing journalism today including sustainability, climate change journalism, artificial intelligence (AI), south-south relations, and global north / global south relations. 

Article: Here's new conference convenor Beauregard Tromp on what people can expect this year.

Registrations are still open - don't miss your chance to attend. Click here to see discounts and register. 

For media access, apply here.

Speakers and sessions

The #AIJC2024 programme showcases a rich and diverse range of topics and stories from across the continent and beyond. The prestigious speaker lineup features Africa Uncensored co-founder John-Allan Namu, Al Jazeera Investigative Unit founder Phil Rees, renowned Ghanaian undercover journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, and chairperson of the International Press Institute Khadija Patel, and many others. 

Click here to see the full programme.

Follow this link to see the 2024 speakers.

Wits Centre for Journalism and AIJC announce 2024 investigative journalism Masterclass fellows

The African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), in collaboration with SKUP (the Association for a Critical and Investigative Press in Norway) and Bellingcat, an independent global investigative organisation, will host an intensive training workshop on the latest digital forensics and investigative journalism techniques.

Twenty-four masterclass participants were selected from nearly 700 applications received from print, online and broadcast media as well as investigative and fact checking organisations, and include award-winning investigative reporters, editors and trainers from 13 countries.

Click here to read more.

AIJC Awards finalists chosen from among incredibly strong entries in 2024

The 2024 finalists of the prestigious WCJ / AIJC African Investigative Journalist of the Year Award have been selected, recognising tenacious, hard-hitting examples of investigative reporting from and about Africa.

“Investigative journalists from across Africa gave our judging panel a most challenging time in their task of deciding the top spots for the AIJC awards this year,” says Gwen Lister, convenor of judges for the awards.

See more here.

WCJ students participate at the Athens iMEdD International Journalism Forum

Ruby Delahunt and Kabir Jugram, two full-time honours students at the WCJ, proudly represented the Centre at the International Journalism Forum in Athens, Greece, supported by the Incubator for Media Education and Development (iMEdD) in taking up roles in the student newsroom.

"We're incredibly proud of Ruby and Kabir, who held their own among student journalists from universities of Berkeley, Columbia, Athens, Pennsylvania, Delaware, John’s Hopkins, Gothenburg and many others," says WCJ Director Dr Dinesh Balliah.

"They represented the only African student newsroom in the mix, and they did a heck of a job flying the flag for the WCJ and Wits Vuvuzela, our student publication. Well done to them, and to our career entry programme coordinator Pheladi Sethusa for her mentorship."

The three-day forum delved into crucial topics including press freedom, artificial intelligence, data journalism, reporting on the climate crisis, corruption, war, and innovative sustainability schemes to promote media independence.

CHARM Africa members convene in Addis Ababa 

The Consortium for Human Rights and Media (CHARM Africa) held its annual strategy meeting in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 15-16 October. The WCJ was represented by its director, Dr Dinesh Balliah and the Centre's partnerships coordinator, Mr Chris Kabwato.

"Our annual meetings are a time to reset, reflect on the past year, and reaffirm our commitments to the project supported by SIDA," said Balliah. The project, which focuses on securing civic spaces and media freedoms in Africa, is now in its fourth year. 

• DW Akademie is accepting applications for its 18-month journalism traineeship, beginning in January 2026. The program offers a mix of academic study and on-the-job learning, as well as a trainee’s salary. Deadline: November 18. Click here for details. 

• Journalists worldwide who incorporate social research methods in their reporting can enter the Investigative Reporters and Editor’s Philip Meyer Journalism Award. Work must have been published / broadcast between Oct 1, 2023 & Sept 30, 2024. Deadline November 15. Click here for details. 

• The Global Investigative Journalism Network is seeking session ideas for the 2025 Global Investigative Journalism Conference, scheduled to take place from November 20 – 24 2025 in Malaysia. Suggest compelling panels, workshops and other presentations by December 20. Click here for details.