5 things every African journalist should know

Find out how media organizations can get up to $100,000 support, how to write about an African election and meet the marathon running grandmother.

1. Journalism Trends: What angles can journalists explore when writing about African elections? We recently launched How to Write about An African Election: A Guide for journalists and media outlets to report balanced and accurate angles about African elections. Journalists can foster the African democracy that highlights policies, progress, success, and the boundless possibilities and opportunities within the continent. The guide is a tool that African journalists can use to refocus their angles away from tension and violence. Download it here.

2. Who’s funding: Are you a media organization that needs support and tools to compete more effectively for audiences and revenues? Apply for the Media Viability Accelerator Forward program and get up to $100,000 alongside new audiences. Deadline: 4 June 2025. More info. 

3. Training Opportunity: Are you a woman journalist from Nigeria, Uganda, Kenya and Zimbabwe? Are you passionate about visual storytelling and want to boost your photojournalism skills? Apply for the Global Press Shifting Democracies Reporting Fellowship for women journalists. The two-year program comes with mentorship and funding worth up to $30,000. Deadline: 8 November 2024. Apply here.

4. In the Spotlight: Ghanaian journalist Jonathan Donkor’s Tired Tyres and the Tragedy Tied to Them is a compelling example of how storytelling can be used to save lives. The story, published by Ghanaian Times, is an investigation into the booming used tire market in Ghana, and its impact on road safety. The piece won the Road Safety Prize at Ghana’s National Journalism Awards. Jonathan is an award winning journalist and creative writer. He writes about issues that include migration, road safety, climate change, and business.

5. Stories that moved us: Find out how TikToker Marie Mbullu connects African innovators with resources and opportunities through her Habari Njema page, which has 643.7k followers. In Kenya, 70-year-old Joyce Nduka proved that it’s never too late to run when she chose to run for charity. In Kigali, Chantal Murebwa has turned her passion for fashion and women’s empowerment into New Kigali Designers and Outfitters, a thriving garment factory employing nearly 300 people.

Follow @BirdStoryAgency on social media for more stories that represent Africa better, away from stereotypes of poverty, disease, poor leadership, corruption and conflict. Media outlets that want to use bird content, for free, can contact tom@africainsight.co.ke