Her Media Diary

Zain Verjee is the founder and CEO of the Zain Verjee Group, a communications advisory firm transforming how organizations tell stories in Africa and beyond. As a former CNN anchor and correspondent, she covered major global events and interviewed world leaders. Today, she is also co-founder of The Rundownb Studio, where she helps storytellers and newsroom leaders leverage AI responsibly in modern communications. As an executive fellow at Harvard University's Tech for All Lab, her work centers inclusivity, innovation, and equitable narratives particularly for Africa.

In this episode, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola sits down with Zain to explore how artificial intelligence is reshaping newsroom workflows, the ethical guardrails African media must establish now, and whether AI will democratize storytelling or deepen inequalities. Zain speaks passionately about the critical difference between misinformation and disinformation, emphasizing that every individual must become more responsible in what they share online.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the data sovereignty crisis facing the continent. Zain warns against digital colonization, where African data is extracted, repackaged, and sold back at premium prices, much like minerals were in the past. She argues that African women have a competitive advantage in this AI driven era because they possess cultural intelligence that no existing AI model has. She challenges women in media to build their own tools, learn prompt engineering and context engineering, and stop waiting for permission from institutions or developers.

Zain closes with a powerful vision of 2036 Africa, where the continent has leveraged AI to solve agricultural and health challenges, where the first billion dollar company built by one person comes from Africa, and where African storytellers control their own narratives through data ownership and technological self sufficiency.

• 00:00:00 Introduction: AI, Misinformation, and the Future of African Journalism
• 00:00:40 Meet Zain Verjee: From CNN Anchor to AI-Powered Storytelling Pioneer
• 00:02:11 Early Memories and Growing Up in Kenya
• 00:03:54 What's Changed and What Remains: Journalism Then and Now
• 00:06:29 Understanding Misinformation vs Disinformation: Your Phone is Lying to You
• 00:09:07 The First AI War: Content Creation in the Middle East Conflict
• 00:12:23 Why Africa Needs Its Own Storytelling Infrastructure
• 00:14:32 The Data Set War: Who Controls Africa's Story in AI?
• 00:16:40 Forget Wikipedia: Build Your Own
• 00:17:55 The Opportunity for African Women in AI: Barriers Have Collapsed
• 00:19:37 Cultural Intelligence: Africa's Competitive Advantage
• 00:20:15 International Women's Day Message: Don't Wait for Permission
• 00:22:43 What African DNA Means in Communication and AI Strategy
• 00:26:12 The Rundown Studio: Training Storytellers for the AI Era
• 00:29:58 Data Sovereignty and Digital Colonization: Who Owns African Data?
• 00:34:19 Essential Skills for Young African Journalists: From Prompt Engineering to Vibe Coding
• 00:38:45 From Vibe Coding to Agentic Engineering: The Future of AI Newsrooms
• 00:40:19 2036 Vision: Africa's AI-Powered Future
• 00:42:30 Closing Reflections: AI as a Power Shift for African Narratives

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Check out the free tool (Signal HQ) built by Zain and The Rundown Studio to aid public awareness and smart information sharing here: https://signal.therundown.studio/)

Her Media Diary is produced by African Women in Media (AWiM), and this episode is sponsored by Luminate

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Binaifer Nowrojee is the president of the Open Society Foundations, the world's largest private funder dedicated to advancing human rights, equity, and justice. She is an international human rights lawyer whose career spans strategic litigation, advocacy, research, and philanthropy across Africa and Asia Pacific. Earlier in her career, she investigated sexual violence during the Rwandan genocide with Human Rights Watch, contributing to the first convictions recognizing rape as a weapon of war. Today, she continues to influence global conversations on rights, accountability, and the redistribution of power.

In this special International Women's Day 2025 episode, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola sits down with Binaifer to explore the global theme Gift to Gain and what it truly means for African women, institutions, and the future of gender justice on the continent.

A key focus of the episode is intergenerational collaboration. Binaifer speaks passionately about the moral imagination of Gen Z African women and how older feminists must remain humble enough to learn from new organizing strategies while also offering the institutional support and legal infrastructure built over decades. She closes with a vision of African women putting their heads and hands together across sectors, lifting the continent through passion, commitment, and a shared humanity that rejects single stories and celebrates multiplicity.

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Give to Gain and Gender Justice in Africa
• 00:00:56 Meet Binaifer Nowrojee: First African Woman President of Open Society
• 00:02:24 Growing Up as a Minority: Identity and Early Awareness of Injustice
• 00:03:32 From Dictatorship to Democracy: The Pro-Democracy Movement in Kenya
• 00:05:17 Books, Writers and Awakening: Shaping a Feminist Consciousness
• 00:06:24 College in America: Finding Her Voice Through Anti-Apartheid Activism
• 00:07:35 Audre Lorde and Feminist Identity: When I Dare to Be Powerful
• 00:08:35 Human Rights Watch and Rwanda: Documenting Sexual Violence as a War Crime
• 00:10:54 What Give to Gain Means: Standing With Women on the Front Lines
• 00:12:42 Leadership at Open Society: A Different Kind of Philanthropy
• 00:14:35 Charlotte Maxeke's Legacy: If You Rise, Bring Someone With You
• 00:15:42 Glass Cliffs and Backlash: The Reality for Women in Power
• 00:18:31 Beyond Funding: What Meaningful Giving to African Women Really Requires
• 00:20:30 Gen Z Leadership and Moral Imagination for a New World
• 00:21:49 The Kigali Declaration: Addressing Gender Violence in Media
• 00:23:01 From Recipients to Shapers: African Women and Philanthropic Power
• 00:24:30 What Governments Must Give: Access, Opportunity and Getting Out of the Way
• 00:26:21 The Danger of a Single Story: Why Who Tells the Story Matters
• 00:27:37 Intergenerational Collaboration: What Each Generation Brings
• 00:30:05 A Vision for African Women: Passion, Commitment and Shared Humanity
• 00:31:28 What Philanthropy Must Give Up: Humility and the Power of Listening
• 00:32:25 Closing Reflections: Demanding Structural Change, Not Just Celebration

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps amplify conversations that strengthen media ecosystems across Africa.

Interested in joining a future episode of Her Media Diary? Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

You can also listen via our partner radio stations across Africa, and join the ongoing conversation using #HerMediaDiary.

Her Media Diary is produced by African Women in Media (AWiM).

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Charity Nafula is a queer feminist, certified accountant, podcaster, and passionate advocate for digital dignity. As the Executive Director of Queer Prism 256, Charity uses podcasting and art to amplify the everyday lives of marginalized women in Uganda, creating intentional safe spaces for queer women to share their stories without fear of judgment or exposure.

In this episode, Dr Yemisi Akinbobola sits down with Charity to explore her journey from growing up in a religious home in Uganda to discovering her sexuality in secondary school, and eventually joining the LGBTQ community in 2015. Charity opens up about the moment she first saw pride coverage in the news and her deep desire to be part of it, even when she couldn't physically attend. She reflects on how she never saw her identity as something negative, which gave her the courage to step fully into advocacy work that now spans accounting, activism, and storytelling.

A significant portion of the conversation focuses on the intersection of technology, AI, and gender-based violence within queer communities. Charity shares harrowing examples of tech-facilitated GBV—from being outed on TikTok alongside other queer activists, to the fear of being blackmailed, doxxed, or having her home vandalized. She describes the anxiety of relocating for safety, and the devastating impact on friends who risked losing their marriages and children due to online exposure. Charity calls out how social media platforms and AI tools are weaponized against marginalized communities, and challenges tech companies to prioritize ethical design, survivor-centered surveys, and proactive safety measures before launching new platforms.

Charity also envisions what a queer feminist AI tool could look like—one rooted in storytelling support, mental health resources, counter-misinformation capabilities, and radical inclusivity. Charity's message is clear: queer people are not defined by their sexuality; they are parents, taxpayers, contributors to the economy, and deserving of dignity, safety, and representation.

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Amplifying Marginalized Voices Through Media
• 00:01:14 Growing Up and Discovering Identity in a Religious Home
• 00:03:58 Wearing Many Hats: Activism Meets Accounting
• 00:05:18 Being Visible as a Queer Woman in Uganda
• 00:06:19 Creating Queer Prism 256: A Safe Space for Women
• 00:07:44 What a Safe Space Really Means: Trust and Accountability
• 00:09:29 Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence: The Daily Reality
• 00:13:19 The TikTok Outing: A Personal Story of Fear and Survival
• 00:16:57 Source Her: Connecting Journalists with African Female Experts
• 00:18:13 AI, Deepfakes, and Digital Surveillance: Weaponizing Technology
• 00:18:48 What Tech Companies Must Do: Centering Survivors and Safety
• 00:26:37 Algorithmic Erasure and Hate Speech Amplification
• 00:27:10 Media's Role: Reporting for Change, Not Just Clicks
• 00:31:23 Designing a Queer Feminist AI Tool: Healing and Storytelling
• 00:35:12 Final Message: Be Kind, Be Human, Report with Empathy
• 00:38:27 Closing Reflections: Designing Differently for Joy and Care

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps amplify conversations that strengthen media ecosystems across Africa.

Interested in joining a future episode of Her Media Diary? Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

You can also listen via our partner radio stations across Africa, and join the ongoing conversation using #HerMediaDiary.

Her Media Diary is produced by African Women in Media (AWiM).

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Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favorite podcast platforms. Tune in via our partner radio stations across Africa, and join the ongoing conversation using #HerMediaDiary.

• 00:00:00 Introduction: The Uncomfortable Questions We Need to Ask
• 00:00:14 Who Protects Women in Media? Safety and Consequences
• 00:00:20 Representation and Solutions: Who Decides Our Stories?
• 00:00:34 Meet Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola: Experience Across Media Systems
• 00:00:48 The Visibility Paradox: Labour, Power and Safety
• 00:00:55 Centering the Conversation: Voices of Successful African Women
• 00:01:08 Inside and Outside: Interrogating Media from Critical Distance
• 00:01:21 Why This Matters: Uncomfortable but Necessary Questions
• 00:01:29 What You'll Gain: Tools, Orientation and Understanding
• 00:01:42 Join the Conversation: Where to Listen and Learn More

If you'd like to join a future episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Her Media Diary is produced by African Women in Media (AWiM).

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Moky Makura is the Executive Director of Africa No Filter, a donor collaborative working to shift stereotypical narratives about Africa through storytelling, research, and advocacy. With a rich career spanning media, philanthropy, and narrative change, Moky has dedicated decades to challenging the single story told about the continent.

In this episode, Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola sits down with Moky to explore her personal journey from growing up in Lagos to becoming a leading voice in the fight against African stereotypes. Moky traces her awakening back to the 1985 Live Aid concert, a moment that crystallized how Africa was being depicted to the world—not as a diverse continent of 54 countries, but as a monolithic place defined solely by poverty and crisis.

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on artificial intelligence and its implications for African journalism. Moky introduces the Africa Bias Buster, an AI tool developed by Africa No Filter that doesn't write stories for journalists, but instead identifies biases in their reporting—flagging missing voices, problematic framing, and stereotypical language. She explains the journey of building this tool, the challenges of training AI with better narratives about Africa, and why existing AI platforms still perpetuate limited, stereotypical views of the continent.

Moky also addresses the changing philanthropic landscape and how Africa No Filter is adapting by seeking African funding and launching Opportunity Africa—a brand campaign positioning the continent through the lens of opportunity, progress, and innovation rather than dependency and crisis. She argues passionately that narrative change is not PR, but a platform on which all development work must stand, because unless Africans believe in their own continent, no intervention will truly succeed. Moky challenges journalists to look back at their body of work and ask: what single story have I been telling about my country?

• 00:00:00 Introduction: AI, African Newsrooms & Narrative Change
• 00:01:25 Meet Moky Makura: From Lagos to Global Narrative Change
• 00:03:03 The Live Aid Moment: When Stereotypes Took Hold
• 00:06:06 The Power of Narrative: How Stories Shape Beliefs and Actions
• 00:10:11 Moky's Personal Mission: From Living It to Africa No Filter
• 00:12:48 African Newsrooms as Part of the Problem
• 00:16:02 AI Readiness in African Newsrooms: Challenges and Opportunities
• 00:17:56 The Africa Bias Buster: Building an AI Tool for Better Journalism
• 00:19:18 Training Journalists: The Story Telling Skills Gap
• 00:23:41 Building the Bias Buster: The Technical Journey
• 00:29:57 Whose Perspective? Defining Bias from an African Lens
• 00:33:35 The Funding Landscape: Philanthropy, Politics & African Media
• 00:35:49 Opportunity Africa: Branding the Continent for Young People
• 00:38:11 Closing Reflections: The Journey Continues

If this episode resonated with you, subscribe, leave a review, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. Your support helps amplify conversations that strengthen media ecosystems across Africa.

Interested in joining a future episode of Her Media Diary? Email: [email protected] (mailto:[email protected])

You can also listen via our partner radio stations across Africa, and join the ongoing conversation using #HerMediaDiary.

Her Media Diary is produced by African Women in Media (AWiM), and this episode is sponsored by Luminate

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Recorded live at the African Women in Media 2025 Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this special episode explores the critical theme of investing in local media and journalism, with a particular focus on the MacArthur Foundation's On Nigeria Programme.

Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola is joined by three remarkable women whose work spans policy, community accountability, and local journalism: Fatima Mohammed Ahmed, Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists in Gombe State; Dr. Adaobi Obiabumuo, Programme Manager and founding member of the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG); and Oluwadara Ajala, Programme Manager of Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) for West and East Africa.

The conversation delves into why local journalism matters, particularly in conflict-affected regions where women journalists work with extraordinary courage despite facing cultural barriers, safety risks, and limited resources. Fatima speaks powerfully about the need for trust-building between journalists and communities recovering from trauma, while Adaobi emphasizes how local journalism holds duty bearers accountable and gives voice to marginalized communities.

One of the key discussions revolves around sustainability beyond donor funding. The panel explores alternative revenue models for media organizations, with Dara challenging the notion that audiences won't pay for quality journalism. She argues that media organizations need to move beyond advertising dependency and embrace audience revenue, citing examples like Daily Maverick's successful membership model.

The episode also addresses the role of philanthropy in strengthening local journalism without compromising editorial independence, the importance of community engagement strategies, and how investigative journalism has led to tangible policy changes and government accountability in Nigeria.

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

If you'd like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don't forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary.

• 00:00:00 Introduction: Live from African Women in Media 2025
• 00:00:43 Meet the Panel: Three Voices from Nigeria's Media Ecosystem
• 00:02:00 Why Local Journalism Matters: Personal Perspectives
• 00:06:07 The Role of Philanthropy in Strengthening Local Media
• 00:07:39 Real Change on the Ground: Impact Stories
• 00:10:29 Journalism in Conflict Zones: The Borno State Experience
• 00:13:42 Critical Skills and Resources for Local Journalists
• 00:19:58 The Kigali Declaration: Addressing Gender Violence in Media
• 00:21:11 Tools and Training That Make a Difference
• 00:23:08 Measuring Impact: Does Media Support Actually Work?
• 00:25:07 MacArthur Foundation's Impact in Northern Nigeria
• 00:28:42 Challenges Despite Support: Sustainability and Government Restrictions
• 00:30:30 Media Revenue Models: Beyond Advertising
• 00:41:27 Collaboration Without Compromising Independence
• 00:45:04 Radio vs Social Media for Accountability Campaigns
• 00:46:50 Advice for Young Journalists Driving Accountability
• 00:48:20 What Donors Underestimate in Northern Nigeria
• 00:49:30 Future Opportunities: Community-Centered Journalism
• 00:50:41 What Gives Us Hope: Closing Reflections
• 00:52:27 Closing Remarks: Investing in Nation-Building

Her Media Diary is a product of African Women in Media (AWiM), and this episode is sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation.

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Neema Iyer is the founder of Pollicy, an innovative feminist civic technology collective in Kampala that combines data, design, and digital rights. Under her leadership, Pollicy has led 100+ projects, trained 5,000+ individuals in data skills, and created playful civic tools like “Digital Safe‑tea” and “Choose Your Own Fake News”. In 2021, she was appointed to Facebook/Meta’s Global Women’s Safety Advisory Board.

One of the key discussions in this episode with Neema revolves around the necessity of centering African women's voices in technology. She emphasizes that digital tools should be designed with the needs of African women in mind, rather than being an afterthought. This perspective is crucial in a world where technology often perpetuates existing inequalities.

The conversation also touches on the importance of play and creativity in learning. Neema argues that traditional educational methods can be restrictive, especially for girls. She believes that incorporating play into learning not only makes it more engaging but also fosters a deeper understanding of complex issues like digital safety and gender-based violence.

This innovative approach is reflected in her work with Policy, where they utilize games and interactive tools to educate communities about digital safety in a way that feels accessible and relatable.

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

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Farah Fortune is the founder & Managing Director of African Star Communications, a full-service PR agency, focusing on customized strategic public relations campaigns.

Farah, dubbed ‘The Pitbull in Heels’, established her PR agency in 2008 with just R1,000, a laptop, and a phone, and is the brain behind some of the continent’s most iconic brand and celebrity campaigns.

In this episode, Farah talks about starting from scratch, managing public crises, mentoring young women in PR, and vital tips every communications professional should have. She also talks about the benefits of building and maintaining a strong relationship with the media as a PR manager, being authentic and giving genuine, relevant information at all times.

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

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Fatima Jones is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. With a career spanning over 20 years in public relations, marketing, and communications, predominantly in the nonprofit and arts sectors, her specialty lies in positioning cultural institutions in ways that not only increase visibility but also ensure they are culturally relevant, inclusive, and reflective of diverse audiences.

In this episode, Fatima speaks on age-old strategies and principles for effective corporate communication that are still relevant today despite technological advancements.

She cited times when she was asked to be seen and not heard; to just be the ‘black face’ in the room whose opinion is not needed. She also talks about some of the things that keep her going as a black female in the corporate communications sector, regardless of the many barriers that come with it.

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

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Stephanie Busari is the founder and CEO of SBB Media, an organisation dedicated to ensuring that Africa's stories are authored, owned, and told by those who understand its soul. She is also an Emmy Award-winning journalist and Former Head of Africa digital team at CNN. 

In April 2016, she exclusively obtained the “proof of life” video showing that the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. This footage was crucial in facilitating negotiations that led to the release of over 100 girls.

In this episode, she talks about the ethics of storytelling, the responsibility of media in times of crisis, and what it takes to lead in international journalism as an African woman. Stephanie, among other things, advises African women to learn the act of putting their hands out to do challenging but impactful work.

Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it.

If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms, Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag, #hermediadiary.