Applications are now open for the Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN) 2026 Virtual Media Workshop on Mining, Environment and Human Rights Reporting in Africa. The three-day online training is designed to strengthen the reporting skills of journalists and content creators from Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), and South Africa who cover mining, environmental, and human rights issues.

As Africa’s extractive industries continue to expand, governments, policymakers, civil society organizations, and local communities increasingly rely on accurate, evidence-based journalism to promote sustainable development, environmental protection, and responsible resource management. Through this initiative, EJN aims to equip journalists with the knowledge and investigative tools needed to report on the environmental, social, and human rights impacts of mining activities while holding institutions accountable.

The workshop is part of EJN’s Strengthening African Journalists’ Capacity to Report on Mining, Environment and Human Rights project. It will be held virtually from November 3 to November 5, 2026, with sessions delivered in both English and French, supported by simultaneous interpretation to ensure wider accessibility.

Participants will explore key issues surrounding artisanal, small-scale, and industrial mining, including the differences between legal and illegal mining operations. The training will also cover environmental contamination affecting water, soil, and air, helping participants understand the science behind pollution while learning how to locate, interpret, and analyze data for compelling stories. Additional sessions will focus on land rights, community displacement, Free, Prior and Informed Consent (FPIC), physical safety and digital security for journalists working in sensitive or conflict-affected areas, as well as investigative reporting techniques for covering extractive industries.

Benefits

Participants will receive expert-led virtual training from experienced professionals in environmental and investigative journalism while gaining practical knowledge on mining, environmental protection, and human rights reporting. They will strengthen their investigative and data journalism skills, improve their understanding of environmental contamination and community rights, learn strategies for protecting their physical and digital security during field reporting, and connect with fellow journalists and media professionals from across Africa. Selected participants from remote areas with unstable internet access may also receive communications stipends to support their participation throughout the workshop.

Eligibility Criteria

Applicants must be citizens or residents of Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), or South Africa. Applications are accepted in English and French, and applicants should have a working knowledge of either language to fully participate in the sessions. The opportunity is open to journalists working across online, print, television, and radio platforms, as well as social media content creators with experience reporting on mining, environmental, or human rights issues. Both freelance journalists and staff from community, local, national, and international media organizations are encouraged to apply. EJN particularly welcomes applications from women, Indigenous journalists, rural journalists, and early-career media professionals.

Eligible Countries

Ghana, Uganda, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), South Africa.

Application Deadline

Not specified.

Workshop Dates

November 3–5, 2026

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