The UNESCO “Promoting Excellence in Journalism Education in Africa” initiative invited 30+ universities and training centres across the continent to help develop criteria for excellence in journalism education. The initiative is supported by Google News Initiative and coordinated by the Wits Centre for Journalism and the School of Journalism and Media Studies at Rhodes University (South Africa).
Based on the agreed upon criteria, the centres were invited to self-assess and identify gaps in their own programmes. They submitted a proposal for one of the 10 grants available to help address these gaps. The proposals involved integrating new UNESCO curriculum resources on fake news and disinformation, migration, terrorism and climate change, into their programmes, or deepening links between universities and the media industry. Some institutions also proposed activities promoting key international days like World Press Freedom Day to mobilize partnership, devise innovative teaching methodologies adapted to challenges identified in Africa, or take steps towards building a community of practice in African Journalism Education.
The project builds upon an earlier initiative supported by UNESCO in 2007, when 12 journalism schools were identified as centres of excellence in journalism education according to a set of criteria developed at the time. Throughout the current project, 100+ schools in the region were exposed to the process of developing new criteria that address the latest developments in the media sector and challenges relevant to the African context. Ultimately, the project aims to strengthen the African media landscape by helping to better address the training needs of the next generation of media workers.
Discover the 10 proposals selected for funding
A total of 53 proposals from academic institutions from 23 countries across the five regions in Africa were received. Follow the link to learn more.
The Criteria for Excellence in Journalism Education
The five criteria for excellence in journalism education have been developed in consultation with journalism educators from across Africa. See details here.