Dr Dinesh Balliah, the Director, Wits Centre for Journalism, the host of the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC), has announced the launch of the African Investigative Journalism Network (AIJN) to support journalists across the continent.
Dr Balliah made the announcement while delivering her opening remarks at the 20th edition of AIJC which commenced on October 30, 2024, at the Wits Centre for Journalism, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg.
In her address, Dr Balliah explained that the AIJN has been set up as requested by journalists across the continent and it will help to improve investigative journalism across the continent.
Dr Balliah noted the network will be dedicated to the core mandate of the AIJC of strengthening and deepening investigative journalism in Africa.
She said “The Network will be used to cater for the urgent needs faced by many freelance journalists on the continent who lack organizational backing and institutional association to access funding for their critical investigative journalism projects.
“The Network will also cater to critical skills development and training in specialized areas of investigative journalism.”
While commending the setting up of the AIJN, Prof Mucha Musemwa, Dean, Faculty of Humanities, University of Witwatersrand, South Africa, said it will be important for journalists across the continent to connect and care for one another while fostering collaboration and committing to excellence in investigative journalism.
Prof Musemwa also noted that events like the AIJC exemplify how journalism can hold power accountable and promote transparency in society.
Dr Naledi Pandor, Chair of the Nelson Mandela Foundation, in her speech, identified the numerous challenges that media practitioners experience in their work and the need for robust collaboration to enable them to work together and drive impact.
Dr Pandor said “we are living in troubled times, perhaps the most difficult time since the creation of the United Nations. This is a rare period of global aura and alarmed at the global inability to respond effectively to violent oppression and abuse of the human rights of others.”
She buttressed that due to the state of human rights issues globally, the media should not be under attack and should be able to execute its work without fear of attack and intimidation.
The AIJC 2024 is a 3-day fully packed conference with training sessions, story showcase and panel discussions on topical issues in the media across Africa. The conference will offer a platform for journalists to connect with leading experts and provide the capacity to sharpen their skills for impactful storytelling and accountability.