Application Deadline: September 6, 2026, 11:59 PM (Africa/Accra)
Applications are now open for the 2026 EJN Virtual Media Workshop on Mining, Environment and Human Rights Reporting in Africa. Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) is hosting a three-day virtual media workshop on November 3-5, 2026, to strengthen the capacities of journalists in four African countries—Ghana, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa—to report on issues related to mining, the environment and human rights.
Governments, policymakers and communities need reliable, evidence-based information if they are to support sustainable development and promote responsible management of these valuable resources. This is where local media and journalists play a crucial role—by tracking government commitments, reporting on the health and environmental impacts of different mining operations, increasing awareness about the legal rights of affected communities, highlighting effective strategies for advocacy and redress, and translating complex scientific data into accessible information for the public.
To support local media to carry out this important work, EJN has recently launched a new project, Strengthening African Journalists’ Capacity to Report on Mining, Environment and Human Rights.
As part of this project, EJN is pleased to announce a three-day virtual workshop for journalists and content creators in Ghana, Uganda, DRC and South Africa.
The workshop will take place from November 3-5, 2026, and sessions will be conducted in English and French, with simultaneous interpretation.
It is expected that by the end of the workshop, participants will have:
- Gained a better understanding of the environmental impacts and potential implications of different types of mining (including artisanal, small-scale, and large-scale industrial mining, as well as legal mining versus illegal mining);
- Increased knowledge regarding water, soil and air contamination – including an improved understanding of the science behind mining-related contamination, and how to go about finding and analyzing data for stories;
- Learned about land rights, community displacement and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC);
- Reviewed potential threats and risk mitigation strategies for ensuring physical safety and digital security while reporting on potentially sensitive issues, from mining sites and within conflict-affected areas;
- Learned about investigative tools and techniques for covering extractive industries.
Eligibility
- Applicants can be from Ghana, Uganda, DRC or South Africa.
- For the purposes of this training opportunity, we will only be accepting applications in English and French. Unfortunately, we do not have the capacity to consider applications in any other languages at this time. Applicants must have a working understanding of English or French to participate in and fully benefit from the workshop.
- Applications are open to journalists working in any medium (online, print, television, radio) as well as social media content creators with experience covering mining, environmental and/or human rights issues.
- EJN welcome applications from freelance reporters and staff from all types of media organizations – community-based, local, national and international. EJN especially encourage women, rural, Indigenous and early-career journalists to apply.
Logistics
- EJN plan to accept up to 40 participants for the workshop. Successful applicants will be notified by no later than October 2, 2026.
- The workshops will take place virtually on Zoom over three days – Tuesday November 3, Wednesday November 4, and Thursday November 5, 2026 – with up to three hours of training sessions each day. All sessions will be conducted in English and French, with simultaneous interpretation.
- To ensure these workshops are accessible, EJN will offer a limited number of communications stipends to those with an unstable internet connection in remote areas.
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