South Africa

South African Investigative Awards: Diverse Subjects, Nonprofit Surge, and Thanks to Whistleblowers

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Outstanding investigative stories on subjects from land reform and roads to sexual abuse and corruption were among the finalists at this year’s Taco Kuiper Award for Investigative Journalism. Panel convener Anton Harber said the diversity of stories and media showed the core strength of South African investigative reporting, which was now being deployed to tackle the coronavirus pandemic fallout.

Africa

Notes from Africa’s Investigative “Frontline”

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The first Southern African Investigative Journalism Conference in Botswana took place in that country’s capital Gaborone from October 7-8 this month. About 175 journalists from 10 countries participated in the event, which featured talks ranging from the dangers of reporting on corruption and the Panama Papers in Africa to personal testimonies of reporters who have faced persecution and threats of violence for their reporting.

Africa

African Investigative Journalism Takes on the Kleptocrats

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A collective of African Investigative journalists has found that publishing stories about corruption in their home countries doesn’t always put much pressure on those leaders who plunder state resources, but publishing in the countries where their donors live has the potential to hit them where it hurts — their bank accounts.

Africa

The Balancing Act of Donor-Funded Journalism: A Case Study from South Africa

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What started out in 2013 as a small donor-funded health journalism center situated inside a legacy newspaper in South Africa has transformed into a staff of 10, and 15 regular contributors across the continent. Today, Bhekisisa consistently produces impactful reports which help to influence policy and decision making, set agendas and define conversations.

Africa

“We Are Our Worst Enemies”

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As I am speaking to you today, our profession is under serious threat. Journalists are under siege because politicians have realized that we have become a bunch of cowards. We have become our own worst enemies because we want to make a living instead of making a difference in our communities, our countries, and our people. The pen is no longer mightier than a sword because the person holding it doesn’t have courage, guts, and zeal to use it as a weapon to defend the truth, justice, democracy, and our constitution.

GIJC17

GIJN Votes Joburg for GIJC17, Re-elects Board Members

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Global Investigative Journalism Network members have voted to hold the next Global Investigative Journalism Conference for the first time in Africa. GIJN’s member groups also voted to re-elect the current seven board members who were up for election this year. The conference will be held in Johannesburg in 2017, hosted by the Investigative Journalism Workshop, a GIJN member based at the University of the Witwatersrand and the sponsor of Africa’s annual investigative reporting conference, Power Reporting.