The African Journalism Education Network (AJEN) has called for more innovative approaches for teaching journalism across African institutions of higher learning, with a strong emphasis on developing curricula that equip students with the skills necessary to produce high-quality, ethical, and sustainable content.
The roundtable, which was hosted at the Aga Khan University in Nairobi brough together leading academics, journalists, and policymakers from around the world to explore the critical role of journalism education in addressing the complex challenges facing media and society in Sub-Sahara Africa.
In her opening remarks, Prof Nancy Booker, Dean of GSMC and AJEN Vice President stressed on the need to ensure future generations inherit a safe and sustainable environment. “The future of journalism is more alive than ever especially now against the backdrop of global crises that demand the attention of media stakeholders. As the Aga Khan University, we are preparing our students with the necessary skills and competence for this new order,” she said.
Key topics on the agenda included sustainable journalism education, gender reporting, climate change education, and the future of media in a rapidly evolving landscape.
Professor Nicholas Oguge from the Centre for Advanced Studies in Environmental Law at the University of Nairobi delivered a keynote address that highlighted the crucial role of journalism in raising awareness and understanding of climate-related issues.
Prof Oguge emphasized on the need to integrate climate change education into journalism curricula and explore strategies for journalists to address and expose the challenges posed by the climate crisis.
Pamella Sittoni from the Thomson Foundation Board pressed home the importance of advocating for a balance in gender reporting, citing the State of Women in the Media report produced by AKU-GSMC. "We need to mainstream gender reporting advocating for a balance." She added, “Women start to feel like they are part of the society when they see their stories regularly shared in the media.”
Through panel discussions, the roundtable also explored avenues for nurturing a new generation of journalists equipped to tackle contemporary challenges. Discussions centered on creating inclusive and supportive learning environments that empower young people to become effective agents of social change. Maurice Otieno, Executive Director of Baraza Media Lab, highlighted the necessity for a comprehensive approach to journalism, emphasizing Baraza Media Lab's commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration among young journalists.
Asha Mwilu, Founder and Editor of Debunk Media, posed a thought-provoking question: "Are we fully assessing the skills and knowledge of our journalism students?" She emphasized the need to recognize the diverse talents of young people, including coding and other technical skills, and urged educators to adapt their curricula accordingly. Professor Sisanda Nkoala from the University of Western Cape echoed these sentiments, stressing the importance of reinventing journalism to address emerging trends and issues.
The Adenauer Annual Lecture, which was delivered by Prof. Dr. Claudia Nothelle, University of Applied Sciences Magdeburg, Stedal addressed the challenges journalists are facing in the digital age sustaining their practice. The lecture looked at the impact of social media, fake news, and dis/misinformation on journalism, and exploring strategies to build sustainability by maintaining credibility and building trust with their audience.
