MTN Group has opened applications for its 2026 Pan-African Media Innovation Programme, expanding a continent-wide effort to strengthen journalism capacity as newsrooms confront technological and financial challenges.
The programme, launched in September 2025 in partnership with the University of Johannesburg and the African Editors Forum, is designed as a six-month learning journey combining online coursework with an in-person residency in Johannesburg. Applications close April 30.
The initiative builds on a pilot in Nigeria and aims to address structural shifts in the media industry, including digital transformation, revenue pressures and the growing influence of global platforms on news distribution.
Participants will undertake academic modules covering media sustainability, ethics and law, and innovation in newsroom practice, alongside industry masterclasses and study visits. The programme also includes newsroom immersion and peer collaboration designed to link theory with practical experience.
MTN said the programme seeks to foster a cross-border network of journalists and editors, encouraging collaboration across African markets and strengthening professional standards.
Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, said a stronger media ecosystem is central to the continent’s development. “Through the MTN Pan-African Media Innovation Programme, working with UJ and TAEF, we are investing in the future of journalism by equipping media professionals with the skills, networks and tools they need to navigate a rapidly changing information landscape. This initiative reinforces MTN’s commitment to supporting strong, ethical and sustainable media across our markets, and to fostering the voices that shape our continent’s stories”.
Professor Sifiso Mnisi, Director for Centre for Data and Digital Communications at UJ, said the programme responds to evolving newsroom demands. “Our partnership with MTN and TAEF allows us to equip media professionals with the academic grounding and practical exposure needed to thrive in a rapidly evolving information environment. We are proud to contribute to a programme that strengthens media excellence across the continent.”
Churchill Otieno, President of TAEF, said the initiative could help reinforce democratic institutions. “For Africa to deepen democracy and social cohesion, we need newsrooms that are strong, independent and capable of adapting to fast-changing media dynamics. The Pan-African Media Innovation Programme provides a vital platform for journalists and editors to sharpen their skills, collaborate across borders, and innovate in the interests of the public”.
Applicants will be shortlisted by the University of Johannesburg and the African Editors Forum based on professional merit and potential impact, with the programme targeting mid- to senior-level media practitioners across MTN’s markets.
