Aga Khan University’s Graduate School of Media and Communications (GSMC) will for the first-time host the World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) Digital Media Africa Conference, scheduled to take place on September 18 and 19, 2024.
This year’s conference will focus on digital transformation and revenue growth for African news publishers, explore AI integration in newsrooms, discuss audience engagement strategies, and evolving advertising trends.
The programme will feature practical case studies on enhancing digital revenue and audience trust, explore new technologies and inclusive leadership and most importantly analyse different practical audience building strategies and public trust through inclusive leadership.
“As we focus on accelerating digital transformation for African news publishers, our goal is not just to adapt to the digital world, but to lead the way in shaping its future for African journalism,” said Professor Nancy Booker, GSMC Dean.
GSMC has played a critical role in industry-centric research in the region and this conference is well poised to enhance conversations around media viability and navigating the evolving advertising landscape in a disrupted era, an area that GSMC has offered thought leadership.
The World Association of News Publishers (WAN-IFRA) advocates for press freedom and media innovation globally, supports journalists and publishers and provides expertise to help them adapt to the digital landscape.
“By hosting this conference, GSMC will build on the work of different media development stakeholders and continue to foster innovation and resilience among news publishers in the evolving media ecosystem”.
Local WAN-IFRA's partners and sponsors for the conference include Churchill Otieno, Executive Director of the Eastern Africa Editors Society (EAES) who has been instrumental in the conceptualisation of the conference, as well as the WAN-IFRA Women in News team executives Jane Godia, Director Africa; Susan Makore, Director Insights and Global Advisory; and Melanie Walker, Executive Director Media Development. Additionally, Google, and in particular, Matt Cooke, Marianne Erasmus, and Chantal Ferraro, have been instrumental in supporting the return of the in-person conference which was first held virtually in 2023.
