Journalism and communication academics from the continent are packing their bags for the 2026 edition of the annual roundtable of the African Journalism Education Network (AJEN) to be held in Mauritius under the theme Reimagining African journalism education in a time of Technological Disruptions and Possibilities.
To be held on 12-14 August, the roundtable will also be a hybrid affair to allow virtual participation, said convener Christina Chan-Meetoo, also a senior lecturer in journalism at the University of Mauritius.
While the event’s programme is still being finalised, it has now been confirmed that there will be a keynote address by Ms Selvina Chadien-Sungeelee, Director of News at the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation, as well as the Adenauer Media Lecture by Prof Claudia Nothelle of Magdeburg-Stendal University of Applied Sciences in Germany.
In line with the roundtable’s theme, Prof Nothelle address is headlined Video Didn’t Kill the Radio Star. AI Won’t Kill Us.
Discussions in panels will include topics such as teaching entrepreneurial & freelance journalism and two academic tracks under the titles Artificial Intelligence and Journalism and Newsroom or classroom linkages, and Campus media as a teaching tool.
Day 2 of the event will kick off with a workshop on the theme “AI in journalism: Tools and applications in the modern newsroom.”
On the same day, AGILE/Fojo will lead a panel discussion on the co-design and implementation of a course on managing stress and trauma.
Ajen’s five interest groups will hold parallel meetings as follows:
- Gender Interest Group – Team leaders: Prof. Margaret Jjuuko and Christina Chan-Meetoo
- Campus Media Interest Group – Team leader: Dr Basil Hamusokwe
- Curriculum & Materials Development Interest Group – Team leader: Dr Sisanda Nkoala
- Professional Development Interest Group – Team leaders: Prof Nancy Booker and Pheladi Sethusa
- Research Interest Group – Prof Franz Krüger and Prof Modestus Fosu
Speaking ahead of the event, Prof. Margaret Jjuuko of Kampala International University, who serves on the Ajen Board and the Scientific Committee for the conference, said this year’s programme would place a stronger emphasis on academic research alongside discussions on journalism practice.
Prof. Jjuuko said the organisers received numerous paper submissions from across Southern, Eastern and West Africa, with only 13 abstracts selected because of time and space constraints.
The presentations will examine topics including the role of campus media in transforming journalism education in Zimbabwe, South African journalism schools’ responses to the decline of the country’s news industry, algorithmic challenges in journalism training in Mauritius, and the integration of AI into teaching and learning in Rwanda, she said.
Other researchers will discuss students’ use of AI tools in higher education, the opportunities and challenges AI presents for journalism training, and how actor networks influence AI accessibility and adoption in journalism education, with Kenya serving as a case study.
Prof. Jjuuko said organisers hope the Mauritius gathering will provide practical solutions to the challenges created by rapid technological advances while identifying new opportunities to strengthen journalism education across Africa.
The opening of registrations for online attendance will be announced in due course.
The round table is co-hosted by the Media Trust of Mauritius and the University of Mauritius. It is supported by the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung’s Regional Media Programme for Sub-Saharan Africa (KAS Media Africa) and the FOJO Media Institute.