MTN backs Highway Africa 2015 ‘to empower African journalists’

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MTN Group has partnered with South Africa’s Rhodes University to sponsor the Highway Africa 2015 Conference, a key event that seeks to empower African journalists.

Highway Africa 2015 Conference is the largest annual gathering of African journalists in the world and takes place on August 30-31 in Grahamstown, South Africa.

Themed “Journalism in the City,” this year’s event will explore the relationship between the media narratives and the city, in particular, looking at aspects such as how a city’s geography, economic activity, politics and social life influence journalistic narratives, according to organisers.

[blockquote right=”pull-right”]“Highway Africa 2015 will also explore how language and identity are implicated in the narratives of the city; and how ICT innovation enables city dwellers to tell their own stories and to challenge dominant narrative.” [/blockquote]

Highway Africa 2015 will also explore how language and identity are implicated in the narratives of the city; and how ICT innovation enables city dwellers to tell their own stories and to challenge dominant narrative.

Highway Africa 2015 also aims to develop a vibrant and growing network of African journalists empowered to advance democracy and development through their understanding and use of appropriate technologies.

“African journalists hold the responsibility of driving our continent’s narrative. As a proudly African company, we recognise the significance of Highway Africa in bringing together these journalists, to engage about issues facing our continent and shaping that narrative,” Chris Maroleng, Executive for Corporate Affairs, MTN Group says.

The relationship between MTN Group and Rhodes University is now in its eighth year. As part of its support of the conference, MTN also sponsors media organisations in some of its markets to send journalists to the two-day event.