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.
Bridging the AI Gap in African Journalism Education
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.
New Publications in July 2025
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.
Rethinking Practical Training in African Journalism
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 In this in-depth analysis, Dr Richmond Acheampong explores the disconnect between outdated, theory-heavy curricula and the fast-paced demands of contemporary media.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.
Climate change misinformation exacerbates the impacts of global warming
Rampant climate misinformation is accelerating the global climate crisis, warns a major new report by the International Panel on the Information Environment (IPIE). The global study, based on 300 academic sources, finds that fossil fuel companies, political actors, and digital disinformation campaigns are obstructing climate action through denialism, greenwashing, and misleading narratives. The IPIE calls for urgent countermeasures, including criminalising climate disinformation, and urges media platforms to uphold integrity. With global events like COP30 on the horizon, the fight against climate lies is more critical than ever for achieving emissions goals and environmental justice.
Ajen roundtable meeting 2025 to be held in Accra
The African Journalism Education Network (AJEN) will host its fourth Roundtable from 3–5 September 2025 in Accra, Ghana, at UniMAC’s Institute of Journalism. Under the theme Journalism Education Today: Embracing Change, Affirming the Basics and Shaping the Future, the event will bring together journalism educators from across the continent for high-level discussions, networking, and collaboration. Highlights include the Adenauer Annual Lecture by Prof Claudia Nothelle (Germany) and a UNESCO-led workshop on media and information literacy. The roundtable aims to advance journalism education in Africa amidst rapid media shifts, with support from partners like Fojo Media Institute and the Wits Centre for Journalism.
Ghana’s UniMAC is pioneering a rigorous PhD programme
The University of Media, Arts and Communication (UniMac) in Ghana has launched a pioneering PhD programme in communication and media studies — one of the few of its kind in the country. Developed across six specialist strands, the four-year programme combines rigorous coursework with advanced research training.
Pushed to the margins: The marginalization of Africa in the media
The marginalization of Africa in the mainstream media is overwhelming and consistent. Only a minimal proportion of available airtime or print space is devoted to African issues. Even fundamental events in Africa, such as “the deadliest war of the 21st century” (Tigray) and what is currently “the world’s largest and most devastating humanitarian crisis” (in Sudan), are largely marginalized or even completely ignored. Reporting on Africa is not only marginal, but still appears to be dominated by so-called K-issues (wars, crises, catastrophes). When Africa is reported on, which is rare, the coverage is usually negative.
Press freedom: Economy and authoritarian tendencies cause problems for the media
War, authoritarianism, and economic crisis: Various organizations used this year’s World Press Freedom Day to draw attention to the alarming state of press freedom around the world. Reporters Without Borders classifies the situation for journalism in its Press Freedom Index and accompanying report as “difficult”: in half of all countries worldwide, conditions for journalists are considered poor, and the average score of the countries surveyed has reached a new low. A look at the developments and background.
Debate on Trump 2.0 and the implications for Africa – Rethinking donor-funded journalism
USAID cuts have hit the media in Africa hard and worsened working conditions for journalists, who already struggle with low wages, harassment, and political repression. At the same time, power struggles between the West, China, and Russia over truth and discourse are increasingly influencing the future of African media landscapes.
New Publications in June 2025
Explore our latest list of new publications and articles that explore key themes shaping media and communication today. From African-centred scholarship and propaganda in the age of disinformation, to artistic resistance in SWANA regions and political communication from the margins, each work offers critical insights for scholars, students, and practitioners across the African and global communications research community.
Nelson Mandela University to host SACOMM 2025
All roads will lead to the Nelson Mandela University (NMU) in Gqeberha, South Africa, for the 2025 edition of the South African Communications Association (SACOMM) conference under the theme “Currents: People, Power, and Practice” from 8 to 11 September 2025.
Meet Your Colleague: Nompumelelo Gumede
Dr. Nompumelelo Gumede is passionate about making health communication more participatory and culturally grounded. Learn more about her research on youth-led interventions, arts-based methods, and why one-way messaging still fails African communities in this month’s Meet Your Colleague interview series.
Concerns over journalism education in Ghana
Journalism education in Ghana is a source of concern, so says Dr Richmond Acheampong, who lectures in journalism at the Christian Service University in Kumasi, Ghana.
New Publications in May 2025
Explore our latest list of new publications and articles that explore various facets of digital media, communication, social dynamics and other areas related to the African communications and media studies research community. From propaganda in digital media, public scholarship in the Mediterranean and African climate journalism to Africa-China relations and the evolution of Indigenous African communication systems in the digital age, each work offers urgent insights for media and communication scholars across Africa and elsewhere.
Meet Your Colleague: William Tayeebwa
Whether in a lecture hall, a research fellowship abroad, at conferences, and beyond, Dr. William Tayeebwa is committed to using media to tip the scales towards peace. As Senior Lecturer in journalism and communication at Makerere University in Uganda, where he led the department for six years until 2020, Tayeebwa says: “I love teaching because of the interactions with dynamic students whom you see transforming into amazing professionals.”