Pulitzer Center at AIJC 2025: Amplifying Investigative Journalism

Pulitzer Center staff, Fellows, and grantees are actively participating in the African Investigative Journalism Conference (AIJC 2025) in Johannesburg! From November 2-4, our team is engaged in the Master Class sessions, followed by the main conference from November 5-7.

Catch our representatives in these sessions: 

Pulitzer Center-hosted sessions: 

Networking Session: Strengthening Climate and Environmental Journalism in Africa

Tuesday, November 5 | 3:20–4:00pm | More information

Join us for the Pulitzer Center networking session at AIJC! We’ll share tips and opportunities for funding impactful reporting, including grants on climate, labor, and other global issues. Don’t miss the chance to connect and learn how to pitch your story ideas!

Speakers: 

• Rozina Breen: Director of Editorial Programs, Pulitzer Center
• Afy Malungu: Program Manager, Africa Outreach, Pulitzer Center
• Augustine Kasambule: Program Coordinator, Congo Basin, Pulitzer Center

Exposing Africa’s Carbon Credit Deal Profiteers: OSINT and Money Tracking

Thursday, November 7 | 9:00–9:50am | More information

Join us for a deep dive into open-source intelligence (OSINT) tools and financial tracking techniques to uncover the flow of money behind Africa’s carbon credit markets. This session will equip journalists with practical methods to investigate complex financial networks and report on accountability in the carbon credit industry.

Moderator/speakers:

• Augustine Kasambule: Program Coordinator, Congo Basin, Pulitzer Center
• Elodie Toto: staff writer, Mongabay and Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Fellow
• Linda Ngari: freelance investigative journalist and Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Fellow 

Featuring Pulitzer Center Fellows:

Climate Solutions and Visual Investigative Stories 

Tuesday, November 5 | 12:35 -1:25pm | More information

Speakers:

• Élodie Toto: staff writer, Mongabay and Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Fellow
• Berdy Pambou: correspondent, TV5 Monde and Pulitzer Center Rainforest Investigations Fellow

AI WORKSHOP 2: The Humans, the Hype, and the Consequences: Investigating AI’s Impacts on African Communities and Beyond

Thursday, November 6 | 12:20–1:10pm | More information

AI touches every aspect of life and every reporter’s beat—they also have the potential to harm the most vulnerable members of society. In this workshop, you will work together to evaluate the impacts of a fictional AI system. How would you evaluate this system? What data would you need? What barriers do you anticipate? You will learn from the reporting of AI Fellows at the Pulitzer Center to ground your ideas: Kathryn Cleary on the human labor powering AI development and Naipanoi Lepapa on how implementing new algorithmic systems without adequate consent, testing, and safeguards can harm the most vulnerable. Reporters and editors will leave with blueprints they can use to investigate algorithms in their own communities.

Speakers:

• Naipanoi Lepapa: Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Fellow, Freelance Investigative Journalist
• Kathryn Cleary: Pulitzer Center AI Accountability Fellow, Investigative journalist

The AIJC offers a great opportunity to connect, learn, and amplify powerful journalism. If you’re attending AIJC, feel free to connect with us for insights and ideas to empower reporting that drives real change.