The Conversation

Who we are

The Conversation Africa is an independent source of news and views from the academic and research community, delivered direct to the public.

Our team of professional editors work with university and research institute experts to unlock their knowledge for use by the wider public.

Access to independent, high quality, authenticated, explanatory journalism underpins a functioning democracy. Our aim is to promote better understanding of current affairs and complex issues. And hopefully allow for a better quality of public discourse and conversation.

We aim to help rebuild trust in journalism. All authors and editors sign up to our Editorial Charter. All contributors must abide by our Community Standards policy. We only allow authors to write on a subject on which they have proven expertise, which they must disclose alongside their article. Authors’ funding and potential conflicts of interest must also be disclosed. Failure to do so carries a risk of being banned from contributing to the site.

The Conversation began in Melbourne, Australia, in March 2011, created and founded by Andrew Jaspan with the support of business strategist Jack Rejtman and the University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis. The UK edition launched in May 2013, followed by editions in the US (2014), South Africa and France (2015), Canada, Indonesia and New Zealand (2017), Spain (2018), and Brasil (2023).

The Conversation Africa was launched in May 2015 and now has offices in Johannesburg, Lagos, Nairobi and Accra. In collaboration with our sister edition in France we also have an office in Dakar.

Articles published by The Conversation Africa are also featured on sister sites in Australia, the UK, the US, France, Indonesia, Canada and Spain and Brasil.

The Conversation believes in open access and the free-flow of information. The Conversation is a free resource: free to read (we’ll never go behind a paywall), and free to share or republish under Creative Commons. All you need to do is follow our simple guidelines. We provide valuable media resources: free content, ideas and talent to follow up for press, web, radio or TV.

The Conversation Africa is a non-profit, public benefit organisation. It is supported by a number of donors as well as academic institutions.