News
Ajen publishes a monthly newsletter, called AJENda, to keep colleagues aware of changes to the journalism landscape in Africa from an academic, research and professional point of view.
New Publications in July 2026
These publications examine media, communication, power and social change across Africa and the Global South, exploring decolonising scholarship, participatory communication, digital food literacy in Nigeria and family conversations about sexuality in South Africa, highlighting communication’s influence on knowledge, behaviour, equity and wellbeing.
Beyond “Community”: Rethinking Power, Marginality and Democratic Value in African Journalism
Commentary by Carol Azungi Dralega Community media are often discussed in the language of possibility: participation, empowerment, local voice and...
The BRICS countries and the limits of South-South communication
by Augusto Santos Countries of the Global South are gaining geopolitical influence; the international order is becoming increasingly multipolar....
Global information environment under growing pressure as AI reshapes news consumption
The global information environment is coming under increasing pressure from artificial intelligence (AI), misinformation, political interference and the growing power of digital platforms, according to a new international expert survey. The 2026 Expert Survey on the Global Information Environment, published by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE), found that researchers are increasingly concerned about the ability of people to access diverse and reliable information.
New AI toolkit for African educators and students
A new educational toolkit developed by University College London (UCL) and the African Institute of Mathematical Sciences (AIMS) is seeking to expand access to advanced artificial intelligence education across Africa while placing ethics, governance and social responsibility at the centre of AI development.
St Paul University launches PhD programme at EACA as AI dominates discussions at the conference
St Paul University, in Kenya, has formally launched its PhD in Communication, positioning the institution to respond to growing demand for advanced communication research and expertise across Kenya and the wider East African sub-continent.
AJEN Round Table 2026: Day 3
On 14 August, the Board of Ajen held its meeting to take stock of the Round Table event and to discuss the way forward. They were joined by the representatives of KAS Media Africa for a tour of the Media Trust in Port-Louis and of the Mauritius Broadcasting Corporation in Moka.
AJEN Round Table 2026: Day 2
Day 2 of the 2026 Ajen Round Table kickstarted with a lively and 2-hour practical workshop on AI in journalism by Harry Misiko, Digital Lead at the Nation Media Group in Kenya.
AJEN Round Table 2026: Day 1
From 12-14 August 2026, journalists, educators, and media practitioners from across the continent gathered in Mauritius for the annual African Journalism Education Network’s (AJEN) fourth Round Table, under the theme “Reimagining African journalism education in a time of Technological Disruptions and Possibilities”.
New Publications in July 2026
This latest list of publications includes works that explore the evolving landscape of media and communication across the Global South. From the decolonisation of media and communication research in Africa, participatory communication and social justice in the Global South to the growing influence of social media on food literacy in Nigeria and family communication around sex and sexuality in South Africa.
Journalism in a State of Constant Crisis: Exhaustion, Adaptation & Democratic Self-Assertion
At the annual conference of the International Communications Association in Cape Town in early June 2026, the panel ‘Journalism in Flux: Changing Perceptions and Narratives’ addressed a fundamental question: What happens to journalistic work when institutions become fragile, funding models collapse and democratic certainties fade?
Information campaigns on migration: The regulation of mobility in West Africa
How has Europe sought to promote anti-migration narratives in order to control the mobility of African populations? Julia Van Dessel’s doctoral thesis L’immobilisation pour horizon. Fabrique et enjeux d’un instrument européen de dissuasion migratoire en Afrique de l’Ouest : les «campagnes d’information et de sensibilisation» offers a new and insightful answer to this question. It thus joins the now considerable body of literature on migration information campaigns (MICs) and the externalisation of European migration policy[1].
News Avoidance, News Fatigue: New Findings at ICA 2026
In an era of polycrisis, polarisation and digital upheaval, the media usage patterns of audiences are also undergoing profound changes. News avoidance and news fatigue are increasingly raising questions about citizens’ social and political engagement in various political contexts and media systems. Several panels at the annual conference of the International Communication Association (ICA), held in Cape Town in early June 2026, also addressed these issues.
Howzit, Here’s the News: Amahle-Imvelo Jaxa on AI, journalistic values and changing how we consume news
Amahle-Imvelo “Jaxx” Jaxa has built an audience of almost 400 000 followers by making politics, economics and current affairs accessible for everyday South Africans. Through short-form videos that prioritise context, verification and clarity, she demonstrates how digital creators are transforming the way news is consumed while reinforcing the enduring value of credible journalism in an increasingly complex media and information landscape.
As Guinea-Bissau’s democracy falters, journalism education becomes more vital than ever
Political instability and growing pressure on independent media in Guinea-Bissau highlight why journalism matters most during moments of democratic uncertainty. As competing political narratives cloud public understanding, the country’s experience underscores the critical role of journalism education in preparing reporters with the skills, resilience and ethical judgement needed to verify information, hold power to account and serve the public when reliable reporting is needed most.