A little over four years ago, we at Jamlab, collated a list of similar initiatives focused on media innovation across the world we could find through the internet.

At the time and as far as we knew, Jamlab was the first accelerator or incubator programme in Africa that focused on journalism and media. But over the year’s we’ve come to learn that there are a lot more initiatives that are alike which support innovation in media.

In celebration of Africa month, we decide to do a things a little different and celebrate some of these initiatives on the continent. In this article we list existing accelerators, incubators and innovation labs focused on journalism and media that we’ve found to date.

Baraza Media Lab

• Country: Kenya
• Description: The Baraza Media Lab is a fairly new initiative that provides the space and resources needed to enable media and entrepreneurs to collaborate, innovate and drive the growth and capacity of independent media.

Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development

• Country: Nigeria
• Description: The Centre for Journalism Innovation & Development [CJID] (previously known as the Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism) is a non-governmental organisation, to promote a truly independent media landscape that advances fundamental human rights, good governance and accountability in West Africa through investigative journalism, open data and civic technology.

Media Innovation Network

• Country: Kenya
• Description: The Media Innovation Network at the Aga Khan University supports the next generation of media entrepreneurs who are working on unique start-ups within the media industry and tinkering with exciting forms of storytelling. The organisation runs #InnovatorsInResidence programme for start-ups in East Africa.

Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP)

• Country: Nigeria
• Description: A newly launched initiative by the Media Development Innovation Fund, NAMIP, is a three-year initiative working to increase capacity, generate sustainable and diverse revenue streams, and build audiences of independent media in Nigeria. Applications are currently open first NAMIP Innovation Challenge for Nigerian media. Winners will be awarded up to $50,000 for their project and join NAMIP’s three-year innovation and capacity building program.

South African Media Innovation Program (SAMIP)

• Country : South Africa
• Description : The South Africa Media Innovation Program (SAMIP) is run by Media Development Innovation Fund and supported by Omidyar Network and Open Society Foundations. It offers grants and investments in independent digital journalism and media ventures and mentorship and training to the enterprises they support.

Digital Lab Africa

• Country: All Africa
• Description: Digital Lab Africa supports media start ups with virtual mentorship from French and African digital content business leaders. It supports ventures in web creation/transmedia, virtual reality, video game, animation and digital music. Selected teams receive mentorship and project development support by French and local partners and time in France within digital companies.

Find the previous list and the original list here.

If you know of any other journalism and media programmes that we have not listed here, please comment or write to us at info@jamlab.africa and we will update the article.

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