Paarl recently played host to one of the continent’s growing platforms for media innovation, as Africa Media Perspectives (AMP) 2026 brought together journalists, entrepreneurs and industry leaders from across Africa and beyond.
Held over two days from 25 to 26 March, the event served as a collaborative forum for independent publishers and media professionals seeking to shape the future of journalism on the continent. It is an initiative driven by the Food For Mzansi Group, and was launched in 2023 as a response to the need for a stronger, more sustainable and innovative African media ecosystem.
The conference is designed to connect a diverse network of media practitioners to encouraging collaboration, idea-sharing and innovation. Delegates engage with keynote speakers, panel discussions and practical workshops focused on the challenges and opportunities.
AMP has grown steadily in scale and influence. The inaugural event in Stellenbosch gathered just 40 participants, while subsequent editions expanded to include delegates from multiple countries, reflecting increasing interest in collaborative, independent media across Africa.
One of the panel discussions, chaired by Dr Harlan Cloete, chairperson of Radio KC in Paarl, explored the theme “What’s next for community journalism?”
The session brought together a range of industry voices, including Khutso Tsikane (programme manager at the Media Development and Diversity Agency), Ben Burger (Executive Director of the Forum of Community Journalists in South Africa), Anetta Mangxaba (publisher of Dizindaba Media), Ananias Ndlovu (Journalist, entrepreneur and author of “The Real Death of Community Media), and Shirley Govender (founder, publisher and editor-in-chief of the Solutions Journalism Institute South Africa). The discussion centred on the urgent need for adaptability within the community sector to ensure its sustainability. Panellists were unanimous in their view that, amid shrinking newsrooms and declining resources, community media must evolve or risk becoming obsolete.
Among the key strategies highlighted were the effective use of digital technology and social media platforms to expand reach and engagement, as well as the development of sustainable revenue models. These include proactively attracting advertisers and, in some cases, transitioning to free-distribution publications to remain viable in an increasingly competitive media landscape.
