Pitching Akatunka News

What We’re Looking For

Akatunka News is a digital media platform dedicated to amplifying the voices and experiences of minority communities across Africa. Through innovative, data-driven multimedia journalism, we highlight underrepresented narratives, providing a nuanced perspective on the continent’s diverse cultural, social, and political landscapes. Our stories often emphasize solution-driven approaches, showcasing how communities are addressing challenges and driving positive change. Discover more about our mission and the impactful stories we share here.

At Akatunka News, we’re seeking writers, journalists, filmmakers, and creative storytellers passionate about highlighting diverse cultures, celebrating unsung heroes, and uncovering emerging talents across Africa in fields like music, film, literature, and the arts. Our mission is to explore the often-overlooked stories that contribute to Africa’s rich cultural fabric, offering a platform for narratives that might otherwise go unheard.

While we’re open to a range of perspectives, we’re particularly drawn to stories that emphasize creative solutions, resilience, and cultural pride within these communities. We believe that conventional media often overlooks or misrepresents these narratives, choosing instead to focus on challenges. Akatunka News takes a different approach by celebrating the individuals and communities who, through creativity and determination, are shaping the future of Africa’s arts and cultural landscape.

Our stories are frequently multimedia features, ranging from in-depth text pieces to video profiles, vibrant photography, and more. To truly showcase the impact of these stories, we rely on data and on-the-ground reporting, weaving character-driven narratives that are not only informative but deeply engaging. We’re flexible with word count and encourage long-form storytelling that invites readers to experience the full depth of each story.

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We’re excited about following specific people and events that embody the heart of Africa’s creative scene. We want to know how small initiatives are making a big difference for local artists, artisans, and cultural custodians. Equally, we love discovering small steps that address smaller but still impactful needs, focusing on authentic grassroots solutions over formal organizations whenever possible. We cherish everyday, informal interventions and creative expressions that often go unnoticed yet have profound significance.

Our features are designed to be timeless rather than time-sensitive. We take the time to fully develop each story, giving voice to vibrant quotes, striking visuals, and compelling videos that enhance each narrative. Although our website is published in English, we welcome contributions in indigenous African languages, and any video features created in local languages should include English subtitles to reach a wider audience.

The scope of our stories is niche and place-specific, emphasizing diverse cultures, individual talents, and creative achievements from less-spotlighted regions and countries in Africa. We especially encourage submissions from areas with smaller populations or emerging creative hubs. Proposals for series or multi-part features are welcome. Whenever relevant, stories should also incorporate perspectives from experts or industry insiders to add depth and accountability to each piece.

Our “Voices” section invites contributors to share first-person reflections, discussions, and interactive pieces on significant cultural themes, emerging artistic movements, or reflections on African creative expression in real-time.

If you’re passionate about shining a light on Africa’s artistic heritage and contemporary creativity, we’d love to hear your ideas and proposals.

How to pitch us

To pitch us, tell us who you are, what you have done and what your story is. Do include links to your work if available on the internet at the bottom of your email. It’s important to share a personal connection to the story if it does exist as we are particular about commissioning reporters who are minorities themselves. 
We do not care so much about the previous experience of the reporter as we do about how strong an idea is, and about the willingness of the reporter to tell that particular story. We are open to commissioning reporters who have no prior reporting experience but writing or corresponding filming knowledge is a must. 
What this means is that if you have been writing personal blogs but never actually reported pieces for mainstream media houses, we are open to working with you. We want to work with new voices, with voices who have prior not had the safe space that we believe we provide, and so your chances of a commission are stronger if you tell us what your idea is and why it relates to you on a personal level. 
It is not to say that we will not commission journalists who are not a part of the minority for the story they are pitching, it is, however, to say that we want to work with more journalists who are part of the minority they want to report on. When pitching, it is important as well that you have a clear idea of what medium works best for your story. After your idea has been accepted, the team equally decides which of our various multimedia forms is best for your story but it’s vital that you suggest one or more forms to us as well. 
If your pitch is accepted, you will usually work with at least two editors and a sub to move your story to completion. Our editors are experienced with working with new writers and contributors.

Please pitch us. Direct your inquiries about pitching to akatunkanews@gmail.com