17 Jan Journalism for accountability
Oxpeckers and its partners in the Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project (SA | AJP) aim to support and strengthen investigative journalism in the region
Be like them: Journalists working on an Oxpeckers #PowerTracker investigation out in the field in November 2024. Photo: #PowerTracker
In 2025 Oxpeckers has joined forces with the Southern Africa Accountability Journalism Project (SA | AJP), a new project to support and strengthen investigative journalism in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
This pioneering project is a partnership of leading investigative journalism units in the region: the Henry Nxumalo Foundation, Oxpeckers, Viewfinder Centre for Accountability Journalism, IJHub, INK Centre for Investigative Journalism and the Center for Collaborative Investigative Journalism.
SA | AJP will provide journalists with reporting grants and editorial support to produce investigative stories that seek to advance the public interest. The project is co-funded by the United States government and the European Union, and will run for three years.
Journalists are invited to submit pitches for the first round of the project by January 24 2025. Pitches will be adjudicated as they are received and can be submitted at any time – however, journalists who pitch early and successfully will be contracted to start straight away.
This opportunity is open to freelancers and to permanently employed journalists who seek to take a sabbatical from daily newsroom responsibilities to pursue an in-depth project.
Perfect pitch
Each participating journalist will be assigned an editor who will provide guidance and assist the journalist to deliver the best possible exposé arising from their pitch. SA | AJP will offer training and contract external experts, photographers and graphic designers to ensure the delivery of a complete story package.
SA | AJP will assist journalists to secure publishing partners for their stories, if needed, and to maximise the impact of the story through marketing, publicity and partnerships.
FAQs about the opportunity are answered here. Use this pitching questionnaire on Google Forms to submit your pitch.
The first training session of the project, held on January 15 2025, shared tips on how to create the perfect pitch. Attended by around 60 journalists and editors from the region, the training was provided by Daneel Knoetze, the project’s editorial coordinator. Journalists are encouraged to watch a recording of the session here.
• You can reach out to henrynxumalofund@gmail.com if you have additional queries.