KAS Media Africa’s Local Journalism Conference in Addis Ababa

Group photo with each of our participants at the Local Journalism Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

KAS Media Africa Director, Hendrik Sittig, opening the conference

Participants during a presentation at the Local Journalism Conference

Simon Allison presenting a case study on "The impact of the US elections on local journalism in Africa"

Prof. Nancy Booker's presentation "When Africa goes to the polls, where do the journalists go?"

Christina Chan-Meetoo during her presentation on "The challenge of access to information during elections", sharing perspectives from Mauritius

Tina Mehnpaine, reporter from The Liberian Observer and one of the three winners of the KAS Media Africa Local Journalism Award, sharing her winning story

Amanyehun SiSay presenting his perspectives on the challenges for local journalism in Ethiopia

Director of Programmes for Africa, Deutsche Welle (DW), Claus Stäcker

Editor, Science Programmes and Multimedia specialist at the Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg (RBB), Sandra Niemann

Experts from 12 countries – including Ethiopia, South Africa, Germany, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Mauritius, Botswana, Kenya, Zambia, Ghana, Liberia and Togo – participated in this three-day conference aimed to strengthen local journalism as a pillar of democracy. From analysing access to information during elections to recognizing outstanding local journalism, the conversations that resulted have been thought-provoking, solution-driven, and a call to action for stronger, independent media in Africa.

Among the participants were also the winners of this year's KAS Media Award for Local Journalists. The three exceptional winners - Philip Teye Agbove from Ghana, Tina Mehnpaine from Liberia, and Edouard Samboe from Togo - selected by our esteemed jury, had the chance to present their stories and engage with experts from across Africa and Europe in our International Roundtable conference.

We are really grateful for our incredible participants for making this roundtable a success with their insights and dedication to media freedom.