MARK THE DATE: Improving China literacy: A Workshop for African journalists, 20 November 2023, AIJC

The Africa-China Reporting Project has since its establishment in 2009, aimed to improve the quality of reporting on African & Africa-China issues by providing facilitation and capacity building for journalists and researchers. This is accorded through the awarding of reporting grants, facilitating skills training workshops, reporting resources and other opportunities to journalists and researchers. The ACRP, at its main objective, focuses support amplifying Africa’s perspectives to enhance its development.

The Africa-China Reporting Project will be presenting two sessions within the 19th annual African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), the biggest gathering of working journalists on the continent. The AIJC will be taking place at the Wits Science Stadium, West Campus, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.

Session title: Improving China literacy: A Workshop for African journalists

Date: 20 November, 2023

Time: 15:20 - 16:20

Place: African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), Wits Science Stadium, West Campus

20+ years into the era of China's deep engagement in Africa, knowledge about China in African newsrooms remains low. This is a critical knowledge gap for reporters given the outsized economic importance that China has for most African countries. And now, in this new era of Great Power Rivalry, it's even more important for journalists to improve their "China Literacy." This session would be led by a group of China-Africa experts and analysts who will provide a practical overview of the key issues specifically tailored for African journalists.

Speakers:

• Eric Olander, The China-Global South Project, Editor-in-Chief
• Bongiwe Tutu, Wits Centre for Journalism, Project Coordinator
• Geraud Neema, China-Global South Project, Africa Editor
• Cobus van Staden, China-Global South Project, Managing Editor

Session title: Amplifying African voices in climate change

Date: 20 November 2023

Time: 10:40am - 11:40am

Place: African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), Wits Science Stadium, West Campus

This session will provide actionable insights to African journalists about how to increase the prominence of African experts and other stakeholders in the climate change discourse that is currently lacking due to the disproportionate influence of non-African voices from the U.S. and Europe among other places. It will feature discussions from prominent newsroom leaders, climate change experts and the developers of two new resources specifically developed to improve the capacity of early-career digital journalists in Africa to improve their coverage of environmental issues.

Speakers:

• Cobus van Staden, Managing Editor, China Global South Project
• Enock Sithole, Lecturer, Wits Centre for Journalism
• Njenga Ndekere, African Climate Editor, China Global South Project

The African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC) will be held from November 20 - 22 2023. The conference promotes and recognises impacting investigations throughout the continent, while offering cutting edge skills and expertise from African and worldly perspectives. The conference further presents an opportunity of networking and sharing of ideas and experiences. The full AIJC programme is available here. You can register here to attend the conference.