By Google Gemini AI The African Journalism Education Network (Ajen) roundtable which was held on 3-5 September, at the University of Media, Arts and...

The African Journalism Education Network (AJEN) held its fourth annual Round Table at tUniMAC, Institute of Journalism, in Accra. A central highlight of the gathering was the Day 2 Adenauer Media Lecture, delivered by Professor Claudia Nothelle, titled “Fake News and Fact-Checking: Understanding the Mechanisms Behind Modern Disinformation,” examined how disinformation spreads in today’s digital environment, how audiences respond, and what journalism educators and practitioners can do in response.

The recently concluded 2025 South African Communication Conference (SACOMM) in Gqeberha has been hailed as a resounding success, having brought together more than 130 delegates from across South Africa and beyond. For the Local Organising Committee (LOC) chair, Dr. Janelle Vermaak-Griessel, the highlight of the conference was the strong sense of community enjoyed throughout the event.

The recently concluded East African Communication Association (EACA) conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, brought together over 300 delegates from across East Africa and beyond to deliberate on the role of media in African integration, the future of journalism education and the growing impact of digital technologies on the continent. 

Preparations are well underway for the fourth Roundtable meeting of the African Journalism Education Network (AJEN) to take place at the University of Media, Arts and Communication, Institute of Journalism (UniMAC, IJ), Accra, Ghana, on 3-5 September 2025. Various speakers have been lined up to discuss various issues affecting journalism education on the continent.

Contemporary media plays a crucial societal role in educating, informing, and entertaining, but coverage of sexual violence carries added responsibility. Media framing shapes public understanding, influencing beliefs, attitudes, and victim-blaming. Activists like Mbali Shongwe emphasise centering survivors’ voices to humanise statistics, while guidelines urge journalists to report ethically, sensitively, and responsibly. Insensitive coverage risks retraumatising survivors, perpetuating myths, and normalising sexual violence, highlighting the need for media accountability and survivor-centered reporting.

Professor Joseph Kwasi Agyemang, Professor of Accounting Sciences at the University of South Africa (UNISA) and the University of Eswatini, has stated that the inclusion of non-journalism professionals in journalism faculties can have both positive and negative implications on the quality of journalism training, depending on how these individuals are integrated into the curriculum.

In 2023, a coup overthrew the government in Niger, followed shortly thereafter by a coup in Gabon: an indication of the fragile security situation in many African countries, which is also being discussed in Western media. Reports from Africa correspondents of selected German-language media outlets and news magazines provide insight into the international community’s reactions to both coups.

Across Africa, the demand for quality journalism education is rising rapidly, yet journalism schools are unable to keep pace. In several African countries, public universities offering journalism programmes are often overcrowded, underfunded and constrained by outdated curricula. 

The Adwa Victory Memorial Museum in Addis Ababa is preparing to welcome African media and communication scholars to the 15th edition of the East African Communication Association (EACA) conference, scheduled for 27-29 August 2025.

In the global rush to harness the transformative power of Artificial Intelligence (AI), Africa’s journalism schools are perilously trailing. While AI rapidly redefines how news is gathered, verified and delivered, from algorithmic news writing to AI-assisted investigative reporting, many African journalism programmes remain frozen in time, still prioritizing analog newswriting techniques over digital fluency. In an era where misinformation spreads at the speed of light and audiences demand data-backed, real-time reporting, the absence of AI integration in African journalism education is not just a curriculum shortfall; it is a crisis of relevance.

Explore our latest list of new publications and articles that explore key themes shaping media and communication today. From rethinking propaganda in an age of disinformation to unpacking trust in science communication, these works challenge dominant narratives and offer fresh, critical perspectives. Also featured is African-centred research that examines how news media across the continent shape public discourse around AI.

Journalism education in Africa is facing a critical reckoning. Despite a steady stream of graduates, many enter newsrooms ill-equipped for the realities of modern journalism, lacking practical skills, digital fluency, and newsroom readiness. In this in-depth analysis, Dr Richmond Acheampong explores the disconnect between outdated, theory-heavy curricula and the fast-paced demands of contemporary media. Drawing from voices across academia and industry, the article highlights urgent reforms, including integrated newsroom labs, mentorship models, and campus media incubators as key to reshaping journalism training for a digital, truth-seeking future.