Opportunities

Independent journalism is considered an important pillar of democratic societies, enabling citizens to make informed decisions, creating trust in quality information, and the role of journalists as watchdogs of society. Independence is often considered a pre-requisite for good quality news and watchdog journalism and has been described as free from control or influence. Despite being an omni-present normative standard, independent journalism often appears in academic works as a buzzword, implicit assumption or underlying belief system. This handbook brings together work which examines the conditions, functions, perceptions, delimitations and challenges surrounding independent journalism as a concept, practice, standard, organizational form and discourse.

Digital media technologies have become a key site upon which political meanings are produced, consumed and challenged. While politicians use digital popular cultural repertoires to ingratiate themselves with the electorate, the same technologies are being harnessed by ordinary people to speak truth to power, exposing abuses, mobilising protests and demanding accountability from authorities, often bypassing centralised traditional media.

The Government of the Republic of Mauritius invites applications from deserving students who are resident citizens of African Union or African Commonwealth countries for the Mauritius‑Africa Scholarship Scheme (MASS) 2026, supporting full‑time on‑campus undergraduate...

The University of Leeds and Boston University present the interdisciplinary symposium “Cultures of Platformisation in Africa”, exploring how digital platforms shape economic, social, and political life across the continent. The symposium examines both the...

The Wits Centre for Journalism invites applications for a one-year contract Researcher position. The successful candidate will lead research and media capacity-building initiatives for the WCJ’s Africa-China Reporting Project.

Deadline: 15 February 2026 The ICA 2026 preconference African and Global Media Representations of Africa is now calling for papers. This gathering invites scholars to rethink how Africa is narrated and understood across media systems, both within the continent and...

Deadline: 3 February 2026  The International Association for Media and Communication Research (IAMCR) is inviting abstracts for its 2026 conference, hosted by the University of Galway. The conference theme, Peripheries and Connections: Media, Communication and...

Indigenous languages carry culture, history, and identity, yet many remain endangered or marginalized in mainstream media. The 10th Anniversary Symposium of the Indigenous Language Media in Africa (ILMA) Research Focus Area will explore how media can preserve, revitalize, and promote these languages, connecting ancestral knowledge with contemporary communication practices and future innovation.

Rhodes University’s School of Journalism and Media Studies will host an intensive post-conference workshop for 20 participants, focusing on digital and computational tools for media research. Co-hosted by Drs Alette Schoon and Thandeka Bukula, the workshop will provide hands-on demonstrations and practical exercises designed to help participants explore real-world research questions using modern media research technologies.

African Journalism Studies (AJS) invites scholars and practitioners to submit research articles for a special issue focused on indigenous language community media and journalism practice across Africa.

One World Media is offering support for journalists and filmmakers reporting from the Global South, providing funding, mentoring, and access to a global network.