Applications are now open for the 2026 EJN Virtual Media Workshop on Mining, Environment and Human Rights Reporting in Africa, a capacity-building programme organised by Internews’ Earth Journalism Network (EJN).

The three-day virtual workshop is scheduled to take place from November 3 to November 5, 2026, and is designed to strengthen the reporting skills of journalists in Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa.

Applications will remain open until September 6, 2026, at 11:59 PM (Africa/Accra).

The initiative is part of EJN’s broader effort to improve reporting on mining, environmental sustainability and human rights across Africa.

According to the organisers, governments, policymakers and communities require reliable, evidence-based information to support sustainable development and ensure the responsible management of natural resources.

The network noted that journalists play a critical role in monitoring government commitments, reporting on the environmental and health impacts of mining activities, raising awareness of the legal rights of affected communities, highlighting advocacy and redress mechanisms, and translating complex scientific information into accessible reports for the public.

The workshop forms part of EJN’s recently launched project, Strengthening African Journalists’ Capacity to Report on Mining, Environment and Human Rights.

Workshop objectives

The virtual training will be delivered in English and French, with simultaneous interpretation provided throughout the programme.

By the end of the workshop, participants are expected to 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 and illegal mining.
• Increased their knowledge of water, soil and air contamination, including the science behind mining-related pollution and methods for locating and analysing data for investigative stories.
• Learned about land rights, community displacement and free, prior and informed consent (FPIC).
• Reviewed potential threats and risk mitigation strategies to enhance physical safety and digital security while reporting from mining sites and conflict-affected areas.
• Developed practical knowledge of investigative tools and reporting techniques for covering extractive industries.

Eligibility

Applications are open to journalists from Ghana, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and South Africa.

For this training opportunity, applications will only be accepted in English and French. Applicants must have a working knowledge of either language to fully participate in the workshop.

Eligible applicants include journalists working across online, print, television and radio platforms, as well as social media content creators with experience reporting on mining, environmental and/or human rights issues.

EJN welcomes applications from freelance journalists and media professionals working with community, local, national and international media organisations.

The organisation also encourages applications from women, rural, Indigenous and early-career journalists.

Logistics

EJN plans to admit up to 40 participants for the training programme.

Successful applicants will be notified no later than October 2, 2026.

The workshop will be delivered virtually through Zoom over three days—Tuesday, November 3; Wednesday, November 4; and Thursday, November 5, 2026—with up to three hours of training each day.

To improve accessibility, EJN will provide a limited number of communications stipends for participants living in remote areas with unstable internet connectivity.

How to apply

Interested applicants can review the eligibility requirements and submit their applications before the September 6, 2026 deadline through the official webpage for the 2026 EJN Virtual Media Workshop on Mining, Environment and Human Rights Reporting in Africa.

Application Deadline: September 6, 2026, 11:59 PM (Africa/Accra)

Source: CSR Reporters.