SESSION
Navigating conflicts of interest in African science reporting
African science journalists face a range of complex ethic issues in their reporting. This session offers concrete advice and tips that will support journalists—seasoned and up-and-coming journalists alike—across a range of issues. It will examine how structural factors within African science communication ecosystems complicate ethical reporting, including payment practices, donor-funded reporting, and dual roles as journalists and institutional communicators.
Using case studies from the panelists, the session will discuss practical approaches to maintaining editorial integrity whilst operating within these constraints. The session will foster honest dialogue about realistic strategies for maintaining journalistic standards in situations where traditional boundaries between journalist, communicator, and advocate are frequently blurred.
Linda NordlingSession proposer, producer and moderator | Research Professional News | South Africa
Linda Nordling is a science journalist based in Cape Town, South Africa. She has reported on science policy, research ethics, careers, and medical research for over 20 years. Her work has appeared in numerous international publications including Nature, Science, The Guardian, Sapiens, and the British Medical Journal. As founding editor of Research Professional News’ Africa desk, she has spent a significant part of her career covering African science policy and has managed and mentored numerous African science journalist.
Esther NakkaziSpeaker | Freelance | Uganda
Esther Nakkazi is a seasoned health and science journalist, media trainer and founder of the Health Journalists Network in Uganda. As a freelance journalist, she contributes science articles to various media outlets worldwide and is a strong advocate for science journalism. She is a MIT 2008 Knight Science Journalism fellow.
Sibusiso BiyelaSpeaker | Freelance | South Africa
Sibusiso Biyela is a freelance science journalist and science communicator. He specialises in South African science stories where he uses graphics, data journalism and African languages to make science more accessible for audiences. He is a Mail & Guardian 200 Young South Africans awardee for 2024.
Maina WaruruSpeaker | Freelance | Kenya
Maina Waruru is a Kenyan journalist with more than two decades of experience writing for African and international news outlets about science, technology, and higher education.
Abdullahi TsanniSpeaker | Freelance | Nigeria
Abdullahi Tsanni is an award-winning Nigerian science journalist and biochemist whose work highlights African scientific research and innovations. He is an associate editor of Nature Africa and regularly writes for Science magazine. Tsanni focuses on communicating complex scientific topics to diverse audiences while advocating for increased visibility of African scientists.