PIJ FOUNDER EMBARKS ON FELLOWSHIP AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY

Platform for Investigative Journalism (PIJ) founding executive director Gregory Gondwe has departed for the United States, where he will embark on a nine-month fellowship at the esteemed Stanford University under the John S. Knight (JSK) Fellowship next month.

In an interview upon his departure on August 1, 2024, Gondwe, a seasoned investigative journalist, expressed his humility at being the first Malawian journalist to secure this prestigious fellowship. The fellowship allows him to research a topic of his interest and attend various classes, seminars, and talks on the Stanford University campus in California, USA.

“This unique opportunity will enhance my journalistic abilities and expose me to some of the best media lectures. I will be based in the United States during this period. The program also allows me to travel with my family. Notably, part of the fellowship – under an affiliate arrangement – has been extended to my wife, Edith, a journalist and columnist with Nation Publications Limited,” said Gondwe.

Gondwe, who was named Best Investigative Journalist of the Year 2024 by MISA Malawi, has temporarily handed over the mantle of PIJ leadership to journalist Golden Matonga, PIJ’s Director of Investigations and MISA Malawi chairperson, so that he can focus on the fellowship.

“As the investigations director at PIJ, Golden holds a senior position that sees him direct all our investigations. I am confident he will excel in my absence and that PIJ will continue to thrive,” Gondwe added.

Matonga recently completed a prestigious nine-month Hubert Humphrey Fellowship for Leadership and Journalism in the United States.

The John S. Knight Journalism Fellowship class of 2024-25 will pursue a range of innovative ideas to improve journalism in a world where journalists and independent media face increasing challenges from authoritarian regimes, polarization, misinformation, and financial pressures.

JSK fellowship director Dawn Garcia highlighted the growing urgency of issues confronting journalists globally. “We believe that with the support and attention of the JSK Fellowships and Stanford, this group of talented international journalists can be further empowered as leaders to work towards solutions for their countries and serve as inspiration and models for others,” he said.

This intake of the JSK Fellowship includes journalists from Colombia, Germany, India, Malaysia, and Russia. The program has hosted journalists from more than 80 countries over more than five decades at Stanford University. Notably, this will be the first JSK Fellowship to include fellows from Malawi and Malaysia.

In addition to the six international fellows announced for the class of 2024-25, seven U.S. fellows have been named. These U.S. fellows are veteran and emerging journalism leaders from various newsrooms across the country; they include entrepreneurs, nonprofit innovators, visual journalists, and executives of news organizations. They will come to Stanford University for nine months to explore and test practical solutions to urgent and systemic problems facing journalism.

“We live in an era where many factors – from AI to misinformation, broken business models, and broken trust with communities – are transforming the journalism industry, some of them threatening democracy,” said JSK Director Dawn Garcia. “We’re eagerly announcing this group of journalism change agents who want to use their experience and enterprising spirit to do something about it.”