In a bid to fortify the democratic process through robust and reliable election coverage, AfriMass Network in partnership with Newsroom Business Initiative is thrilled to announce the launch of the National Election Conference 2024. The conference, themed “Newsroom vs Strongroom: The Vital Role of Newsrooms in National Election Coverage,” is scheduled for July 2024.

The democratic process relies on informed citizens making knowledgeable decisions. Newsrooms play a critical role in this process by providing accurate, timely, and comprehensive coverage of national elections.

This thought leadership conference aims to highlight and explore the vital contributions of newsrooms to election coverage, discuss challenges, and propose strategies to enhance the quality and impact of electoral journalism.

The primary objective of this conference is to bring together journalists, media practitioners, policymakers, academics, and stakeholders to discuss and strategize on the role of newsrooms in national election coverage.

Specific goals include analyzing the current state of election coverage, identifying challenges faced by newsrooms, ensuring the safety and well-being of journalists during and after election coverage, sharing best practices and innovative approaches, and strengthening the collaboration between media and electoral bodies.

The event will commence with an opening session featuring a keynote address on the importance of reliable election coverage, followed by industry thought leadership discussions on the media’s role in democratic elections.

The various Sessions will focus on the landscape of election coverage, with presentations on current trends in election reporting and panel discussions on the challenges and opportunities in modern election coverage.

Participants will delve into ensuring accuracy and objectivity in reporting through workshops on fact-checking and verification techniques, alongside case studies of successful election reporting and addresses on ethical reporting in elections, emphasizing the upholding of journalistic integrity.

We will explore the leveraging of technology and social media, with presentations on the impact of social media on election coverage and panel discussions on combating misinformation and disinformation.

There will be a high focus on collaboration and networking, featuring panel discussions on building strong relationships between media and electoral bodies, and a networking session aimed at creating a supportive network for election coverage.

The closing session will summarize key findings and recommendations, with closing remarks and directions for future initiatives.