What We Do
We build investigative journalism in the SADC region of Southern Africa in the service of a free, capable media and open, accountable democracy.
We raise and de-risk philanthropic funding for member investigative journalism centres; we build organisational capacity at member centres; and we build investigative capacity among journalists at member centres and beyond.
We currently have member centres in Zambia, Malawi, Namibia, Botswana, Lesotho, eSwatini and South Africa.
They are the leading independent, non-profit investigative newsrooms in each of their countries. Some may be small, but collectively they punch well above their weight.
Why We Do It
Though investigative journalists in the SADC region may face substantial challenges individually, collectively they hold huge potential to change their societies for the better. Investigative journalists and journalism centres are a prospect worth networking and nurturing, to increase their impact, to multiply their force.
Investigative journalists and journalism centres are a prospect worth networking and nurturing, to increase their impact, to multiply their force. Investigative journalism is key to democratic accountability. It exposes wrongdoing, enabling people to hold power to account. The media has been debilitated by the digital transition. As much as the transition has brought new and exciting means to serve the public, the new economy it birthed has been monopolised by the platform giants, leaving those who produce content scrambling for the crumbs. Because discovering the truth takes more time and money than reporting the obvious, investigative journalism often stands at the back of the queue when resources are allocated, and first in line when retrenchments loom.
As a result, investigative journalism is under-resourced and underdeveloped, fighting an uphill battle to match the sophistication of the powerful whom it would hold to account. At the exact time when more capacity is needed to discover and disseminate the truth, investigative media is extra hamstrung by the media’s malaise. In the developing world, the SADC region included, there are aggravating factors. There may be even fewer resources to go around, and physical repression. The concentration of political and economic power may make it exceedingly hard to survive without elite patronage and protection. Independence is the only solution, but it comes at a price.
How We Do It
The IJ Hub was founded in 2019 to meet the challenge head-on of supporting and building independent investigative journalism in the SADC region.
Our solution is holistic and encompasses the following:
Raising and de-risking philanthropic funding for investigative journalism
We present a de-risked opportunity for philanthropic funders to support independent investigative journalism in the SADC region. Those who prefer not to support centres directly donate to our funding pool, which we disburse to member centres based on their relative needs and accountability profiles.
In this way, funders contribute to an established network impactfully covering much of the region; a collective growing in capacity and reach.
Building the organisational and administrative capacity of organisations practicing investigative journalism
Making resources available to member centres is not enough. A centre’s editorial performance is optimal when its organisational base is solid. And increased resource flows demand heightened accountability.
We advise and assist member centres with matters as diverse as corporate registration, compliance with non-profit requirements, accounting, auditing, funding applications, digital security and websites.
Building the editorial capacity of organisations and journalists practising investigative journalism
We network and advise member centres on editorial matters. Where they feel they need it, we help them get their stories ready for publication.
We sponsor qualifying journalists for three-month fellowships at investigative newsrooms.
And we arrange workshops; anything from investigations 101 to following the money, the latest tools and techniques, and digital security.
