Call for Applications: Develop Africa’s First Road Safety Reporting Standards

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is inviting African journalists, editors, and media influencers to participate in a three-day in-person Road Safety Reporting Forum in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2026. The programme aims to strengthen road safety and public health reporting, with participants expected to publish a road safety story after the forum and contribute to developing reporting guidelines through an online working group.

CJID Road Safety Reporting Forum for African Journalists 2026

What is the CJID Road Safety Reporting Forum?

The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) is organizing a three-day in-person forum under its Health Reporting Project to strengthen the quality of road safety reporting across Africa.

The forum brings together journalists, editors, and media influencers to improve reporting practices, enhance public awareness of road safety issues, and encourage evidence-based journalism that contributes to public health and safer roads.

Following the forum, participants will publish a road safety story and contribute to the development of future reporting standards.

Programme Overview

The forum will:

• Bring together media professionals from across Africa.
• Strengthen road safety journalism.
• Promote accurate public health reporting.
• Encourage collaboration among journalists and editors.
• Support the development of road safety reporting guidelines.
• Build a network of journalists committed to improving road safety coverage.

The programme will be held in person in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2026.

Programme Objectives

The initiative aims to:

• Improve the quality of road safety reporting.
• Strengthen public health journalism.
• Build the capacity of African media professionals.
• Promote evidence-based reporting.
• Encourage responsible media coverage of road safety issues.
• Develop practical road safety reporting guidelines.
• Foster collaboration among journalists across Africa.

Priority Areas

The forum focuses on:

Road Safety Reporting

• Reporting on road crashes.
• Road safety awareness.
• Traffic safety issues.
• Injury prevention.
• Public policy related to road safety.

Public Health Reporting

Participants will strengthen their ability to report on public health topics linked to road safety and injury prevention.

Journalism Capacity Building

The programme supports:

• Professional skills development.
• Media collaboration.
• Knowledge exchange.
• Best practices in reporting.

Development of Reporting Guidelines

Participants will contribute to creating practical guidelines that improve the quality and consistency of road safety reporting across Africa.

Who is Eligible?

Eligible applicants include:

• Journalists.
• Editors.
• Media influencers.

Applicants should demonstrate:

• Professional experience in media.
• Interest in road safety reporting.
• Experience in public health journalism or related storytelling.
• Commitment to improving journalism standards.

Eligible Countries

Priority will be given to applicants from:

• Kenya.
• Nigeria.
• Uganda.
• Ethiopia.
• South Africa.

Strong applications from other African countries will also be considered.

Programme Commitments

Selected participants are expected to:

• Attend the three-day in-person forum in Abuja.
• Actively participate in discussions and learning sessions.
• Develop and publish a road safety story after the forum.
• Join the online working group.
• Contribute to the development of road safety reporting guidelines.

Benefits of Participation

Participants will have the opportunity to:

• Improve their reporting skills.
• Learn from experts and peers.
• Build professional networks across Africa.
• Strengthen public health journalism.
• Publish impactful road safety stories.
• Contribute to continent-wide reporting standards.
• Participate in collaborative journalism initiatives.

Why This Programme Matters

Road traffic injuries remain a major public health challenge across Africa.

This programme helps:

• Improve the quality of road safety journalism.
• Increase public awareness.
• Support evidence-based reporting.
• Encourage responsible media coverage.
• Strengthen public health communication.
• Promote collaboration among African journalists.
• Develop sustainable reporting standards.

How to Apply

Step 1: Confirm Eligibility

Ensure you:

• Are a journalist, editor, or media influencer.
• Have relevant professional experience.
• Demonstrate an interest in road safety or public health reporting.

Step 2: Prepare Your Application

Highlight:

• Professional background.
• Relevant reporting experience.
• Interest in road safety journalism.
• Motivation for participating.

Step 3: Submit Your Application

Complete the application according to the programme requirements before the deadline.

Step 4: Attend the Forum

Successful applicants will participate in the three-day in-person forum in Abuja in September 2026.

Step 5: Complete the Post-Forum Activities

Participants will:

• Publish a road safety story.
• Join the online working group.
• Help finalize road safety reporting guidelines.

Tips for a Strong Application

Applicants should:

• Demonstrate experience in journalism or media.
• Highlight previous public health or road safety reporting.
• Explain how participation will improve their work.
• Show commitment to producing impactful journalism.
• Emphasize interest in collaborative learning.
• Provide clear examples of relevant professional experience.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Avoid:

• Submitting incomplete applications.
• Providing little evidence of journalism experience.
• Failing to explain your interest in road safety reporting.
• Ignoring the programme commitments.
• Applying without the ability to attend the in-person forum.
• Omitting relevant professional achievements.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. What is the CJID Road Safety Reporting Forum?

It is a three-day, in-person capacity-building programme that equips African journalists, editors, and media influencers with the knowledge and skills to improve road safety and public health reporting.

2. Who can apply?

Eligible applicants include journalists, editors, and media influencers with relevant professional experience and an interest in road safety or public health reporting.

3. Where and when will the forum take place?

The forum will be held in Abuja, Nigeria, in September 2026.

4. Which countries are eligible?

Priority consideration will be given to applicants from Kenya, Nigeria, Uganda, Ethiopia, and South Africa, while strong applicants from other African countries are also encouraged to apply.

5. What are participants expected to do after the forum?

Participants must publish a road safety story based on their learning and participate in an online working group that will help finalize road safety reporting guidelines.

6. What are the benefits of participating?

Participants gain professional training, networking opportunities, improved reporting skills, collaboration with media professionals, and the opportunity to contribute to improving journalism standards across Africa.

7. Why is this programme important?

The forum strengthens road safety journalism by improving reporting quality, promoting public awareness, supporting evidence-based public health communication, and developing practical reporting guidelines that can improve media coverage of road safety issues across the continent.

Conclusion

The CJID Road Safety Reporting Forum 2026 offers African journalists, editors, and media influencers a valuable opportunity to strengthen their expertise in road safety and public health reporting. Through a three-day forum in Abuja, collaborative learning, and post-forum storytelling and guideline development, participants will contribute to improving journalism standards and increasing public awareness of road safety challenges across Africa. Media professionals committed to impactful reporting are encouraged to apply and become part of a growing network advancing responsible and evidence-based journalism.