Media leaders converge in Nairobi as Africa Editors Congress 2026 opens

Africa’s top editors and newsroom leaders are in Nairobi as the Africa Editors Congress (AEC) 2026 opens Monday (today) at the Graduate School for Media and Communications of Aga Khan University.

The high-level gathering brings together media decision-makers from across the continent at a critical moment for journalism, amid deepening concerns over public trust, shrinking revenues and the long-term sustainability of newsrooms.

Hosted by the Africa Editors Forum (TAEF) and supported by the Eastern Africa Editors Society (EAES), with local backing from the Kenya Editors Guild, the two-day congress is expected to draw about 250 participants.

Delegates include editors-in-chief, media owners, chief executives, representatives of national editors’ societies, regulators, technology firms, civic-tech groups, academics and development partners from across Africa.

Under the theme, “Reclaiming Value, Rebuilding Trust and Redefining Sustainability of the African Media Landscape,” organisers say the focus is on practical, implementable solutions rather than abstract debate.

Sessions will interrogate the economic pressures facing both legacy and digital newsrooms, explore diversified revenue strategies, and address how to rebuild public confidence in journalism in an era marked by misinformation and platform dominance.

The programme also includes discussions on fair compensation from global technology platforms, trust-building through effective media regulation, and institutional support for small and community newsrooms that often operate with limited resources.

Closed-door workshops are set to bring together funders, media executives and policy experts to craft collective commitments. They include a proposed Communiqué on media policy and practice, an Editors’ Playbook on Collective Bargaining, and the outline of a potential Africa Journalism Fund.

A notable element of the congress is its focus on public-interest media regulation--examining how legal and policy frameworks can safeguard press freedom while strengthening accountability and ethical standards.

Outcomes from the Nairobi meeting are expected to feed into wider continental discussions, including deliberations at the African Media Convention.

The Media Council of Kenya (MCK), the statutory body mandated to protect media standards and press freedom, has expressed support for the congress’s objectives.

It is emphasizing the importance of amplifying regional media voices and reinforcing professional journalism across Africa.

The Kenya Editors Guild said it considers the congress a key platform to advance “bold ideas and collaborative solutions” to systemic challenges affecting journalists, media houses and public trust in news reporting.

With proceedings now under way, Nairobi becomes the centre of Africa’s media reform conversation this week.

Industry leaders will chart a path toward credibility, resilience and sustainable journalism.