Accra: The MTN Group, University of Johannesburg (UJ), and The African Editors' Forum (TAEF) have officially welcomed the first cohort of the MTN Pan-African Media Innovation Programme. This initiative aims to bolster journalism and build resilient media institutions that can adeptly navigate the swiftly evolving digital landscape across Africa.
According to Ghana News Agency, the inaugural cohort consists of 42 journalists, editors, and media practitioners from 10 African countries. These participants, representing print, broadcast, digital, and independent newsrooms, hail from South Africa, Nigeria, Rwanda, Eswatini, Ghana, C´te d'Ivoire, Cameroon, South Sudan, Zambia, and Benin.
The programme emerges at a critical time when newsrooms face rapid technological shifts, evolving audience behaviors, declining traditional revenue models, and the increasing influence of artificial intelligence and global digital platforms. Ms. Nompilo Morafo, MTN Group Chief Sustainability and Corporate Affairs Officer, emphasized the importance of strong and independent media institutions for informed societies and Africa's development. She highlighted that the selected media professionals are well aware of the challenges facing African newsrooms and possess the potential to address them.
The curriculum and participant selection are managed by UJ, which independently chose fellows based on professional and academic criteria, including their track record, commitment to ethical journalism, ability to influence their organizations, and interest in media innovation. Professor Sifiso Mnisi, Director of the Centre for Data and Digital Communications at UJ, mentioned that the programme blends academic rigor with the practical realities confronting media professionals. Fellows will explore the impact of technology, shifting audience expectations, and commercial pressures on journalism, applying these insights to their own newsrooms.
The MTN Pan-African Media Innovation Programme builds on the MTN Nigeria Media Innovation Programme, which began in 2022. It combines academic study with practical exposure to institutions and issues shaping Africa's media landscape. Concurrently, the fifth cohort of the Nigeria programme is participating in a week-long study visit to South Africa, engaging with leaders from academia, business, government, and the media.
Mr. Emmanuel K. Dogbevi, Vice President of TAEF, encouraged the fellows to maintain professional standards and leverage emerging opportunities despite the challenges journalism faces. He noted that shrinking democratic spaces, attacks on press freedom, and rapid technological advancement present both challenges and opportunities for dedicated journalists.
The programme's curriculum covers six areas: Pan-African media futures and storytelling; media innovation and entrepreneurship; digital transformation and platform economies; digital journalism, content strategy and analytics; media business strategy and sustainability; and media ethics, law, and governance in the digital age. Each fellow is also tasked with developing a practical innovation project addressing a challenge or opportunity in their newsroom or the broader media sector.