Call for Abstract: 10th Africa Conference On Development Journalism
The Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF) has announced the 10th edition of the Africa Conference on Development Journalism (ACDJ), scheduled to hold from December 2 to 4, 2026, in Kaduna, Nigeria.
The conference, with the theme “Advancing Development Journalism in Africa in an Era of AI and Uncertainty,” will bring together journalists, media practitioners, academics, development experts, civil society organisations, government representatives and development partners to examine the changing media environment and the role of journalism in advancing development across Africa.
The three-day conference will take place at The Pyramid Hotel (Formerly Asaa Pyramid), Kaduna, with participants expected to engage on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence and other major changes affecting African journalism.
The 10th ACDJ comes at a critical period for the continent’s media industry, as news organisations confront technological disruption, misinformation and disinformation, declining audience trust, financial pressures, changing patterns of news consumption and growing demands for more relevant and accountable journalism.
According conference will provide a platform for journalists and other stakeholders to examine how development journalism can respond to these challenges while remaining focused on issues that directly affect African communities.
The conference will also strengthen the relationship between journalism, academia and development practice.
The need for deeper engagement between media practitioners and researchers has become increasingly important as African newsrooms navigate complex issues requiring specialised knowledge, credible data and evidence-based reporting.
The conference is organised by AMDF in collaboration with the Department of Development and Strategic Communication, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, Yakubu Gowon University (Formerly University of Abuja) and other partners.
The programme will feature a keynote address by Prof. Uba Abdalla Uba Adamu of Bayero University, Kano, while Prof. Bashir Abdullahi Saleh, Dean, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, University of Abuja, will present the lead paper.
Mal. Ahmed Maiyaki, Hon. Commissioner for Information, Kaduna State, will chair the conference.
TOPICS FOR CONSIDERATION
Discussions will cover a broad range of issues affecting the future of journalism and development communication in Africa.
Topics for consideration include Artificial Intelligence and the Future of Newsrooms in Africa; Ethics, Accountability and Misinformation in the AI Age; Capacity Building and Digital Skills for African Journalists; Data-Driven Development Journalism; Media Sustainability and Innovation; Local Content, Indigenous Knowledge and Inclusive Storytelling; AI, Governance and Policy Reporting; Climate Change, Conflict and Crisis Reporting; Collaborative and Cross-Border Reporting; Audience Engagement and Trust; Gender, Diversity and Representation; and the Resilience and Safety of Journalists.
Other areas include AI for Public Interest Journalism and Social Impact, African Language Technologies, Infrastructure and the Digital Divide, Verification Technologies and OSINT, the Political Economy of AI and Media, Journalism in Authoritarian and Fragile Contexts, Youth and Innovation, Multimedia Storytelling, Health Journalism, Development Outcome Monitoring, Community-Centred Journalism, Press Freedom, Platform Responsibility, and Partnerships and Development Communication.
CALL FOR ABSTRACTS
AMDF is inviting journalists, media scholars, researchers, academics and other relevant practitioners to submit abstracts of not more than 250 words for consideration.
The deadline for submission is October 1, 2026.
Submissions with payment will be made exclusively through the conference portal: https://conference.amdf-centre.org
Further information about the conference is available at: https://conference.amdf-centre.org
The 10th edition is intended to provide a stronger platform for critical conversations about the future of journalism in Africa and how the media can contribute more effectively to addressing the continent’s development challenges.
AMDF urges media houses, universities, development organisations and journalists across Africa to participate in the conference and contribute to the conversations shaping the future of development journalism.
CONFERENCE DETAILS
Event: 10th Africa Conference on Development Journalism (ACDJ)
Theme: Advancing Development Journalism in Africa in an Era of AI and Uncertainty
Date: December 2–4, 2026
Venue: The Pyramid Hotel (Formerly Asaa Pyramid), Kaduna, Nigeria
Abstract Deadline: October 1, 2026
Abstract Limit: 250 words
Submission: https://conference.amdf-centre.org
Sekyen Dadik
Executive Director
Africa Media Development Foundation (AMDF)
Phone/WhatsApp: +234 809 089 9927
Conference Website: conference.amdf-centre.org;
Conference Facebook Page: https://facebook.com/ACDJPage/
Conference Email: conference@amdf-centre.org;
AMDF Website: https://amdf-centre.org
AMDF Social Media: @amdfupdate
AMDF Email: coordinator@amdf-centre.org