The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), in partnership with Uganda-based Unwanted Witness and Ghana’s Data Protection Commission invites applications from journalists, editors, technology reporters and other digital media actors for the PSA Insight Lab, a one-day newsroom laboratory on investigating Africa’s data economy.
The Lab is part of the eighth edition of the Privacy Symposium Africa (PSA), themed “Money. Data. Control.”, and is scheduled to take place on Wednesday, 25 November 2026 at the Alisa Hotel, Accra, Ghana.
About the Lab
The eighth Privacy Symposium Africa will convene about 500 participants, including policymakers, data protection authorities, regulators, technology companies, financial institutions, civil society organisations, academia, journalists and development partners from across Africa and beyond, over two days (25-26 November 2026) to examine the intersection of economic value, data governance and digital power.
As part of the symposium, MFWA will organise and facilitate the PSA Insight Lab, a master class for 50 journalists, technology reporters, editors and other digital media actors on the data economy and digital systems.
The Lab will move participants beyond reporting on technology and equip them with practical skills to investigate how data is collected, monetized, shared and used to exercise economic and political influence, tracing the underlying money, incentives, actors and power structures of Africa’s data economy.
What the Lab will cover
By the end of the session, participants will be able to:
- Trace how personal and public data becomes a monetizable asset
- Identify the platforms, intermediaries and actors profiting from data flows
- Investigate the commercial and political incentives behind data policy and practice
- Apply investigative techniques to uncover the money and power structures underpinning Africa’s data economy
Who can apply?
Applications are invited from:
- Journalists and investigative journalists
- Editors
- Technology and digital media reporters
Priority will be given to applicants who:
- Have an established interest or track record in technology, data, business or accountability reporting
- Can produce investigative or data-driven stories following the training
- Are available to participate in the Insight Lab and the Symposium
Note: This opportunity is open for journalists, editors, technology and digital media reporters in Accra.
Application process
Interested applicants should fill the form linked here. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Deadline for applications: Tuesday, October 06, 2026
For enquiries, kindly send an email to Rhoda Bondzie (Rhoda@mfwa.org) or Paul Gozo (paul@mfwa.org).
