Grants for African journalists to attend Power Reporting 2014

Wits University will host Power Reporting – the African Investigative Journalism Conference – on 3-5 November, 2014.

The university has a budget to bring 30 African journalists to Johannesburg for the conference. China-Africa Reporting will also host a roundtable for journalists working on or interested in China-Africa issues on Thursday, 6 November, a day after the main conference.

Places are open to print and broadcast journalists with a proven track record in investigative journalism who want to develop their investigative skills and learn from other African and international journalists.

The social consequences of mining and the extractive industries will be a major theme at this year’s conference, while the skills base will extend across computer research and data-driven journalism, physical and online security, understanding company documents, media law and script writing. Making documentaries for the web (WebDocs) including all the skills of story-telling, photography and film, will be a first for this conference.

Information about the conference is available here.

The conference will be in English and there will be no translation facilities available.

The bursary will cover flights to South Africa, airport transfers in South Africa, accommodation in single rooms at Stay City, Berea, and transport to and from the conference, meals and conference fees. It does not cover home-country transport or visa costs, which must be self-funded.

To apply for a place write a short motivation (maximum 500 words) and send it with your CV and at least one example of your published or broadcast work (preferably a link) to Margaret.renn@wits.ac.za

If you want to attend the China-Africa Reporting roundtable should make their intention clear in your original motivation letter.

Applications are open now and will close on 15 September. Early application is encouraged, as decisions will be made throughout August and September so that delegates who require visas have time to apply.

The Forum for African Investigative Reporters, FAIR, will be holding a delegate meeting in Johannesburg either before or after the conference [subject to confirmation]. This is for FAIR members only. FAIR members should also make it clear in their original motivation letters that they want to attend the delegate meeting.