SANEF congratulates The African Editors Forum (TAEF) for the successful hosting of the African Editors Congress 2026 and its AGM

03 March 2026

Last week The African Editors Forum (TAEF) hosted a successful inaugural African Editors Congress (AEC) in Nairobi, Kenya.

The two-day gathering was made up of editors, media trainers, academics, media owners, and civil society from 15 African countries, some parts of Europe, and the U.S.

In line with the recommendations of the Media20 Johannesburg declaration, AEC delegates recognised that challenges such as platform dominance, rapid technological disruption, shifting audience behaviour, and fragile business models continue to confront journalism across the continent.

Deliberations also focused on how AI impacts journalism, and why it’s important to entrench ethical AI utilisation across newsrooms, while equally establishing fair and transparent compensation frameworks.

Delegates identified coalition-building and coordinated continental advocacy as essential for addressing structural imbalances. These efforts ensure that African perspectives shape global debates on media sustainability, technology governance, and information integrity. This includes advancing normative frameworks such as the M20 Johannesburg Declaration and Resolutions 620, 630, and 631 of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), which carry direct implications for African media within evolving technology ecosystems.

SANEF appreciates the focus on the economics and practice of journalism. These discussions are vital for fostering credible, public-interest media built on a foundation of financial sustainability and editorial integrity.

On the sidelines of Congress, TAEF held its annual general meeting, which saw Churchill Otieno re-elected as President.

SANEF further congratulates its Treasurer-General S’bu Ngalwa, who was elected as the Secretary-General of TAEF.

SANEF congratulates TAEF on the successful hosting of both events.

Ends

Note to Editors:

The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) is a non-profit organisation whose members are editors, senior journalists, and journalism trainers from all areas of South African media. We are committed to championing South Africa’s hard-won freedom of expression and promoting quality, ethics, and diversity in the South African media. We promote excellence in journalism by fighting for media freedom, writing policy submissions, conducting research, and providing education and training programmes. SANEF is not a union.

For more information, please contact:

Makhudu Sefara – Chairperson (079) 177-2134

Tshamano Makhadi – Deputy Chairperson (082) 223-0621

Glenda Daniels – Secretary-General (083) 229-9708

Sbu Ngalwa – Treasurer-General (073) 404-1415

Slindile Khanyile – Media Freedom Chair (083) 471-0367

Katy Katopodis – Wellness and Safety Chair (082) 805-7022

Dianne Hawker – Gauteng Convenor (072) 016-5984

Judy Sandison – KZN Convenor (082) 571-3334

Jude Mathurine – Eastern Cape Convenor (083) 799-1701

Sisanda Nkoala – Western Cape Convenor (073) 138-5564

Reggy Moalusi – Executive Director (071) 682-3695

Twitter: @SAEditorsForum

Email: [email protected]

Website: www.SANEF.org.za