Are you a media maker, innovator or enthusiast? Then Jamfest is the essential destination for you. This inaugural festival will be hosted virtually from 13 – 17 September 2021 and will feature speakers from across Africa, who will share their knowledge and experiences on current topics which are shaping the African media landscape.
Join us for exciting conversations, workshops, music performances, and virtual exhibitions which will help sharpen your media skills by learning tools and strategies which can improve your newsroom, publication and/or help you jumpstart your career in media.
All Jamfest will be in English, but we have seven sessions which will have French interpretation. Head on over here and reserve your virtual seat.
Below is a full list of all the sessions you can expect at Jamfest.
#DIYAfrica Opening Plenary and Exhibition Opening
Monday 13 Sep 2021, 10:00am – 12:00pm CAT
This is an exciting session inviting critical and practical reflection on innovating into the many challenges that surround us and our communities. A rallying of the people in the session and beyond to use the space (the week’s conference) and our voices, not only to share ideas but also to fuel our hands and feet to Do It Ourselves!
With opening performance by S’phiwe Moya
An energising welcome and invitation to gather, to join heads, and share/learn together
Learnings from Audiences During the Pandemic
Monday, 13 September 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm CAT
What have we learnt from audiences during the Covid-19 pandemic? Lessons for journalists.
Using Newsroom Analytics to Grow your Audience
Monday, 13 September 2021, 2:30pm – 4:00pm CAT
There are various platforms or tools newsrooms can use to measure analytics, and to grow your audiences. There is a range of analytic tools or platforms that are easy to use that have been adopted by newsrooms. If you are new to this field join this workshop to help you get started.
Fireside Chat on Zikoko and Reaching Young Audiences
Monday, 13 September 2021, 4:00pm – 5:00pm, CAT
What strategies can you implement within your newsroom to reach younger audiences? During this fireside chat with Zikoko’s Edwin Madu, the Editor-in Chief of this leading Nigerian online publication, we learn the ways in which the publication amplifies African youth culture for the continent and diaspora. During this conversation, you will hear strategies the publication uses to reach a younger audience, which you can implement in your newsroom.
Subscriptions and Membership Models in African Newsrooms
Tuesday 14 September 2021, 10:00am – 11:30am CAT
On subscriptions and membership models in African newsrooms: What is working and what is not working? How do we adopt successful methods from other parts of the world to newsrooms, especially independent newsrooms in Africa? Learn from innovators who have done it.
Media Viability from an East African Perspective
Tuesday, 14 September 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm CAT
During this session, we want to engage with media practitioners and innovators in journalism, discuss the experiences from an East African perspective and provide pathways that would lead to practical and innovative solutions to the increasing challenge of providing high-quality journalism in a financially sustainable way.
Growing Reader Revenue Models in African Newsrooms
Tuesday, 14 September 2021, 3:00pm – 4:00pm CAT
Are you considering paywalling your content? What are the key considerations you need to make when starting your journey? TinaShe Makwande will answer your questions on how to approach a paywall for your news site.
Podmeet with Pod Save Africa
Tuesday 14 September 2021, 4:00pm – 5:00pm CAT
Podmeet is a networking project for people interested in the South African and African podcasting industry, founded by Elna Schütz. In this session during Jamfest, she will be speaking to Oyinkansola Aderele from Pod Save Africa. The podcast focuses on telling the African story through the lens of African people and creating a history that they can build a great future upon. The show has been running since 2018 and speaks to people across the continent about social and political issues.
Introducing AI in Newsrooms in Africa
Wednesday, 15 September 2021, 10:00am – 11:30am CAT
Artifical Intelligence and new technologies are increasingly becoming part of the fabric of many newsrooms. How can we make sure these technologies are used in the most efficient and effective way.
How to Monetise your Content on Facebook
Wednesday, 15 September 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm CAT
A number of publishers are already using Facebook to grow their audiences and generate revenue. Join this session on monetising your content on Facebook through Instant Articles as well as in-stream advertising in video. This is your chance to learn first hand how to take advantage of these products.
Innovation in Distribution of News on Messaging Platforms
Wednesday, 15 September 2021, 2:30pm – 4:00pm CAT
Messaging platforms are increasingly becoming more important for news consumption across many countries in the global South. In Africa, the story is no different. During this discussion, we learn from innovators from across the continent, who will share how they’re successfully using various messaging platforms to distribute news.
Fireside Chat with on News24, paywalls and subscriptions
Wednesday, 15 September 2021, 4:00pm – 5:00pm CAT
Learn key digital subscription strategies implemented by South Africa’s biggest digital news platform, News24. It’s been a year since the digital media platform put a paywall to some of its content. What lesson’s have they learnt in deploying a paywall?
Newsletter Best Practices
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 10:00am – 11:30am CAT
Over the past year, newsletters have become one of the biggest revenue drivers for media. Join this workshop to discover what the top newsletter best practises are for digital media newsrooms in Africa. During this session you will learn key factors behind building and implementing a successful newsletters, as well as ways of building rapport with your subscribers.
Building Products and Workflows in African Newsrooms
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 12:00pm – 1:00pm CAT
To ensure the future survival of news organisations, product thinking is the only way, if not, one of the ways of not only surviving but remaining relevant in the current journalism and media landscape. During this session, we learn from DIY’ers who are slowly making product development and thinking, a crucial part of their newsroom’s strategy.
Product Thinking and Development for Newsrooms
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 2:30pm – 4:00pm CAT
In this session, you’ll learn how product thinkers are helping their news organisations develop sustainable journalism by balancing audience needs, editorial mission, technology and resources and business objectives. We’ll introduce product management tools and frameworks that you can use to understand audience needs, set goals and facilitate strategic decision-making in your news organisation.
Fireside Chat on None on Record, podcasting in Africa and more
Thursday, 16 September 2021, 4:00pm – 5:00pm CAT
During this fireside chat we discuss podcasting in Africa and on commercialising a non-profit.
#DIYAfrica Closing Plenary – The Future of Civic Tech and Journalism Innovation
Friday, 17 September 2021, 10:00am – 12:00pm CAT
A fun synthesis of the week including key messages followed by a social and interactive programme with inspiring speakers.
