What this life looks like
You are the first draft of history. Print and Digital Journalists investigate, report, and write the stories that inform citizens, hold power accountable, and document the world as it unfolds. Africa's media landscape — print newspapers, online news platforms, magazines, and newsletters — needs journalists who combine old-school reporting rigour with digital-first skills.
What she actually does
You identify stories through tip-offs, public records, and source cultivation, research and verify information, interview sources, write accurate and compelling articles, meet editorial deadlines, manage social media, engage with online readers, and operate across platforms — web, mobile, newsletters, and social media — simultaneously.
Where you can work
| Sector | Places in Africa |
|---|---|
| Digital News Platforms | TechCabal (Nigeria), The Continent (Pan-Africa), Zikoko, The Elephant (Kenya), Africa is a Country |
| National Newspapers | Daily Trust (Nigeria), Business Day (Nigeria), Daily Nation (Kenya), Mail & Guardian (SA) |
| International Media | Reuters Africa, AFP Africa, Associated Press Africa — wire agencies with major African operations |
| Magazines | True Love Africa, Drum (SA), Okay Africa, Vanguard Magazine — print and digital magazine journalism |
Why it matters in Africa
Across Africa, print media is transitioning to digital. New digital-native news organisations — TechCabal, The Continent, Africa is a Country, Zikoko, The Elephant — are emerging alongside established newspapers. The need for journalists who can produce quality journalism for multiple platforms while navigating African contexts is greater than ever. Press freedom challenges make this work both important and demanding.
Your pathway in
- Study Journalism or Mass Communication at university, or any subject you want to report on seriously
- Start a blog, newsletter, or student publication now — build a body of published work as early as possible
- Apply for internships at newspapers, online news organisations, or magazines in your city
- Develop a specialisation — health, technology, economics, or politics — alongside general reporting skills
- Master digital journalism tools: social media verification, data journalism, and multimedia storytelling
Skills you will need
- Reporting and research
- News writing
- Source development and protection
- Fact-checking and verification
- Digital storytelling
- Social media journalism
A woman in this field
Kadaria Ahmed
Nigeria
Kadaria is one of Nigeria's most respected journalists and media executives. She has worked as a broadcast journalist, print journalist, and media entrepreneur — founding Radio Now FM in Lagos and hosting the landmark 2019 Nigerian Presidential Debate that became a model for election journalism in Africa. She is known for her relentless journalistic standards, her willingness to challenge power, and her role in training the next generation of Nigerian journalists.
Take your first step
- Start a blog or newsletter on a subject you are passionate about — write and publish one piece every week for three months
- Read the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) Journalists' Safety Guidelines at ifj.org — essential reading before you begin reporting
- Research journalism training organisations in Africa: the African Centre for Media Excellence (ACME) in Uganda and Code for Africa offer excellent programmes
- Follow TechCabal, The Elephant, and Mail & Guardian on social media and study how they frame and present stories
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