Covering news topics through a sensitive—and prepared—lens with Taiwo Aina

In this course you’ll learn how to approach difficult topics with care, as well as how to prepare logistically, emotionally, and ethically before, during, and after an assignment. Whether for personal work or a commission from a client, this class will take you step-by-step from start to finish on how to be prepared for approaching tough topics with compassion.

Taiwo Aina is a Nigerian freelance photojournalist and visual storyteller based in Lagos, Nigeria. She specializes in documenting real-life experiences, often highlighting societal issues with a focus on women’s empowerment, sports, agriculture, climate change, and entrepreneurship. She has collaborated with international media and nonprofits including The New York Times, Le Monde, Les Echos, CNN, UNICEF, Global Witness, Red Cross, Sightsavers, Oxfam, Guardian UK, the Africa Report, and Reuters. In 2022, she had her first solo exhibition documenting female boxers in Lagos and in 2024 received the Women Photograph Grant for her project Game of Confidence. Taiwo is a member of Black Women Photographers, the African Photojournalism Database, Diversify Photo, Women Photograph, Indigenous Photograph, and the Authority Collective. Follow Taiwo on Instagram at @taiwoaina_