The Highway Africa project at Rhodes University, South Africa, has announced a groundbreaking initiative that aims to improve development journalism, supported by a US$750,000 grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.  The Reporting Development Network Africa (RDNA) programme seeks to increase in-depth and analytical coverage of African development issues, such as agriculture and financial services, to help foster public debate and inform related policy decisions.

 “The new Reporting Development Network Africa programme will consist of three elements – an annual forum that discusses reporting development, several training workshops and an online portal for development journalism resources,” said Chris Kabwato, the Highway Africa Director. “I am most grateful for the support of the Gates Foundation as this project will go a long way in standardising and institutionalising development journalism,” he added. The RDNA programme will provide opportunities for journalists, editors and media industry leaders, to explore innovative news platforms and build related technology skills aimed at increasing attention to critical issues impacting the continent. Journalists will also gain access to resources to create more accurate and compelling story content, and expand their readership through new business models.

To accomplish this, the RDNA will focus on three core elements:
• an annual forum  for media leaders to discuss critical issues related to the business of public interest reporting in a changing media landscape;
• training workshops for journalists and editors to build skills in new media and expertise in development-related subject matter;
• and an online portal connecting media to development journalism resources

“This programme will provide the first-ever cross-continental African forum to address challenges and enhance opportunities for improving coverage of African development issues,” said Vanessa Mazal, programme officer for the Global Development Programme for the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. “Through these efforts, media professionals across radio, television, online and print platforms can more effectively report on topics that are critical to combating poverty, disease and hunger.”

 This programme was formally launched at the Highway Africa Conference, Africa’s largest journalist gathering, on September 7th in Grahamstown, South Africa. The programme will also run during the upcoming pan-African Media Conference slated for Nairobi later this month, with Highway Africa being a Platinum sponsor.

About Highway Africa: Highway Africa is a programme of the School of Journalism and Media Studies, Rhodes University, Grahamstown, South Africa. Highway Africa convenes Africa’s largest annual gathering of African journalists. Via research, education and training, and conference, the Programme seeks demystify new media and assist journalists in using technology effectively in doing journalism. The climax of the conference is the annual Highway Africa New Media Awards held in conjunction with the South African broadcasting Corporation (SABC). The 14th Highway Africa Conference will be held from 5th-7th July under the theme, ‘African voices in the global media space’.