How to send an editorial enquiry
The editorial team handles questions about published essays, podcast episodes, archive items and general feedback on our coverage of politics across Africa. Editorial questions come through our contact form, where you can outline what you need and give the title, date or topic where possible.
We keep the process simple so your message reaches the right person first time. If you are writing about a correction, please state the exact sentence or time stamp in the episode. If your note is about a new publication or a broader editorial issue, give a short summary and say which country or theme it relates to.
When to contact the editorial team
Use this channel for matters linked to our editorial work, not general admin queries. That includes corrections, clarification requests, publication questions and feedback on essays or podcast episodes. If your message is about programme scheduling, series planning or archive access, mention that clearly so the right member of the team can review it.
- Correction to an essay, note or transcript
- Question about a published argument or source line
- Feedback on episode structure, research or audio clarity
- Publication enquiry for a current or future series
- Request linked to archive management or show notes
What to put in a tip or pitch
A precise note with sources gives the desk something it can assess. Please include the publication title, episode name if relevant, the date it appeared and the part you want us to review. If the issue concerns a factual point, it helps to specify the country, institution or historical reference so we can check it against our records.
- Your name and organisation, if relevant
- The essay or episode title
- The exact wording, quote or time stamp in question
- A short explanation of the correction or comment
- Any deadline if the matter is time-sensitive
Clear detail helps us avoid back-and-forth, especially when a request relates to political history, public institutions or policy terminology across South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana or Zambia.
How corrections are handled
We review editorial corrections carefully and make changes where they are warranted. For published text, we check the relevant source line, context and wording before deciding on the best update. For podcast episodes, we assess whether the issue is best handled in the notes, in a revised transcript or in a follow-up item.
If a correction is needed, we aim to make the record as clear as possible. Where the meaning of a sentence could be improved, we may also tidy related wording so the published piece reads correctly and remains consistent with the original argument. In some cases, a correction is straightforward, in others it takes a bit longer because we need to trace the source material properly.
Who will see your enquiry
Your message is reviewed by the editorial team in Rosebank, Johannesburg, where our publication and podcast work is coordinated. Depending on the subject, your note may be handled by the Managing Director, Editor, Podcast Producer, Research Lead, Publishing Coordinator or Audience and Partnerships Lead. This helps us direct each request to the person best placed to respond.
We work across Johannesburg, Pretoria, Soweto and wider Gauteng, and we also publish material for audiences in Nairobi, Lagos, Accra and Lusaka. So if your enquiry relates to a regional topic, political institution or a country-specific reference, mention that in the form. It helps us route the request correctly and keeps the reply focused.
What happens after you submit the form
Once you send the enquiry form, we read the message and decide whether it needs an editorial reply, a factual check or a publication review. If we need more detail, we may ask a follow-up question before giving a response. For general feedback, we note it for the editorial meeting and consider it when planning future episodes and essays.
For time-sensitive matters, keep the request concise and specific. That is especially useful when a published item refers to constitutional processes, parliamentary practice, election administration or party systems and you need the wording checked quickly. We do our best to keep editorial correspondence manageable, even when the week gets busy.
