By Jacob N.B. Parley
About 300 delegates, comprising journalists from media outlets along with other professionals from across West Africa are expected to gather in the Nigerian Federal Capital, Abuja, for a conference being organized by the Center for Journalism Innovation and Development, through the West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference (WAJIC) between July 24-26, 2023.
The forum, dubbed WAJIC2023, will bring together what its organizers have described as the largest body of journalists, media professionals, the academic community, policymakers, government institutions, and other relevant stakeholders across West Africa.
The two-day media conference is aimed at discussing the state of accountability journalism in West Africa and how innovation is impacting its evolution, values and principles.
Under the theme: “Accountability Journalism- Nurturing Innovation for a Sustainable Future”, the gathering will also foster networking opportunities and collaboration that can improve accountability journalism in ways that meet the yearnings of democracy and development in the interest of the African Continent
“The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development is excited to announce its maiden West Africa Journalism Innovation Conference (WAJIC). The conference will take place between July 24-26, 2023, and will be starting with an Art Exhibition on the evening of 24th July,” a communication from the organizing team said.
As part of the workshop, the 300 expected delegates will together explore innovative approaches to accountability journalism along thematic areas such as The Future of Journalism Education; Advancing Investigative Reporting for Democratic Accountability; Driving Accountability with Data Journalism: Methods, Analysis, and Visualization.
Other thematic areas include Solutions Approach to Journalism; Artificial Intelligence, Digital Technology and Journalism Interface; Press Freedom and Shrinking Spaces; Media in West Africa Elections: Observation, Reporting, and Polling.
Also forming part of the thematic areas are Media and Society, and Information Disorder in the Digital Age; Exploring Funding and Sustainability Models for Newsrooms.
The West African Journalism Innovation Conference (WAJIC’23) is organized by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID); a West African media innovation and development think tank.
The Center for Journalism Innovation and Development was established in 2014 as a non-governmental organization in Nigeria and continues to demonstrate leadership in investigations, journalism innovations, open data, fact-checking, and the promotion of press freedom and expression.
In 2020, the center expanded its footprints beyond Nigeria and moved into specific functions in Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, and the Gambia.
