Investing in African Journalism (IAJ)

Investing in African Journalism (IAJ)

Overview

The Investing in African Journalism program builds the skills of media workers across Sub-Saharan Africa through weeklong trainings in context-specific subjects.

Subjects include HIV/AIDS reporting, investigative reporting, security and safety, professionalism and ethics, economics reporting, and elections reporting.

Quick Facts

  • The program reached 126 journalists from 17 countries between January 2018 and April 2018.
  • The program achieved a gender balance of 48% women and 52% men. 
  • Six trainings have been conducted in five countries across the continent. Topics included investigative economic journalism, trafficking and migration, health and HIV/AIDS, elections reporting, security and safety training, and journalism ethics.
  • Participants work in 6 media sectors, including newspapers, radio, online, TV broadcasting, magazines, and press agencies.

The program has trained journalists from 17 countries:

A map of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the following countries highlighted: Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d'Ivoire, Central African Republic, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Niger, Nigeria, Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, and Uganda.

Goals

  • Build the capacity of local journalists by training them to analyze data and report ethically on topics that are relevant in their communities.
  • Create and develop networks among local journalists to encourage solidarity building, professional development, and better access to reporting.
This training allowed us to not only review our professional methods, but also remember our responsibility to our communities—to inform and not to inflame. A participant from the Central African Republic

Partners

US flag and seal of the US Department of State

U.S. embassies in Abuja, Kampala, Dakar, Pretoria, and Kinshasa
Department of State Public Affairs Section and 
Bureau of African Affairs

People