NUJ, NAWOJ, Premium Times, MacArthur Foundation Back Daily Trust Journalism Academy, pledge support for ethical reporting, digital competence, professional development

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Premium Times and MacArthur Foundation have pledged support for the newly launched Daily Trust Foundation (DTF) Journalism Academy, describing the initiative as a strategic intervention to strengthen professional standards, combat misinformation and restore public confidence in journalism.

The stakeholders made their positions known at the launch of the academy on Tuesday, where they underscored the need for continuous professional training, rigorous fact-checking, ethical reporting and improved digital competence to prepare journalists for the demands of an increasingly complex media environment.

They commended the Daily Trust Foundation for establishing an accessible training platform designed to bridge professional knowledge gaps, strengthen newsroom practices and promote accountability across the Nigerian media industry.

Representing the NUJ FCT Council Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, Comrade Rosemary described the academy as a timely intervention against the proliferation of fake news and growing concerns over declining professional standards.

She praised the Foundation for developing a structured and accessible programme that would enable journalists to update their knowledge, sharpen their reporting skills and strengthen their professional capacity.

Rosemary pledged the council’s partnership with the Foundation in promoting ethical journalism and professional excellence, urging journalists to take advantage of the learning opportunities provided by the academy.

Similarly, the Chairperson of NAWOJ FCT, Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, represented by Princess Joy Idam, pledged the association’s support and promised to mobilise women journalists to participate in the programme.

Idam said NAWOJ would publicise the academy and encourage its members to enrol, particularly while the courses remained free.

She described the initiative as an opportunity for journalists to improve their reporting skills, adapt to emerging digital technologies and reinforce their commitment to responsible journalism.

The backing from the two professional associations highlights the importance of collaboration between media institutions and professional bodies in strengthening journalistic standards and expanding access to capacity-building opportunities.

Publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, described the academy as a timely response to the changing realities of journalism, arguing that formal education alone could no longer adequately prepare practitioners for the complexities of modern newsrooms.

He emphasised the importance of continuous professional development and practical experience, pledging Premium Times’ continued partnership with the Daily Trust Foundation.

Olorunyomi expressed optimism that the academy would broaden access to professional learning and equip journalists with the skills required to thrive in an increasingly digital-first media environment.

In his keynote address, Premium Times Editor-in-Chief, Musikiliu Mojeed, challenged journalists to continually update their knowledge, verify information thoroughly and uphold strict ethical standards in their pursuit of accountability.

He cautioned that the determination to expose wrongdoing must not become an excuse for publishing unverified allegations or disregarding the standards of evidence required for credible reporting.

According to him, journalism that seeks to hold public officials and institutions accountable must be anchored in accuracy, fairness, verification and responsible professional conduct.

Mojeed also called on media organisations to make continuous learning an integral part of newsroom culture through mentorship, knowledge-sharing sessions and constructive editorial feedback.

He urged media owners to provide reporters with the time, resources and institutional support required to conduct thorough investigations, stressing that quality journalism depends not only on individual competence but also on the working conditions within which journalists operate.

His position reinforced a central message of the academy’s launch: professional excellence requires both a commitment to learning and an institutional environment that enables journalists to practise their craft responsibly.

MacArthur Foundation Sees Opportunity for Sustainable Media Development

Representing the MacArthur Foundation, Janet Gbam congratulated the Daily Trust Foundation on the launch, describing the academy as an opportunity to sustain investment in professional journalism beyond individual grant-funded programmes.

She highlighted the relationship between credible information, public trust and good governance, noting the importance of strengthening the media’s capacity to inform citizens accurately and hold institutions accountable.

The academy draws on lessons from the Daily Trust Foundation’s implementation of multi-year grants supported by the MacArthur Foundation, which helped expose critical gaps in investigative journalism, specialised reporting, newsroom collaboration and digital skills.

DTF Chairman, Malam Bilya Bala, said the new initiative was designed to consolidate previous capacity-building efforts while expanding access to structured professional training.

He disclosed that the Foundation’s earlier programmes had benefited more than 2,000 participants drawn from media organisations and civil society groups.

The training covered several specialised areas, including investigative journalism, education, energy, banking, agriculture, natural resources, crime and security, oil and gas, national budgeting and media management.

The experience, he explained, informed the decision to establish a more comprehensive learning platform that would enable journalists to acquire relevant skills, deepen their professional knowledge and respond more effectively to the evolving needs of the industry.

The transition towards a structured academy also offers an opportunity to preserve institutional knowledge and make professional training more accessible beyond specific projects and funding cycles.

A major component of the initiative is the DTF Digital Academy, an online learning platform available at dtfacademy.com.ng, which allows participants to undertake courses at their own pace, complete assessments and earn certificates after successfully meeting course requirements.

Beyond online learning, the Foundation plans to organise specialised workshops, webinars, conferences and public forums, while strengthening partnerships with academic institutions, media organisations and development partners.

The approach combines digital accessibility with opportunities for practical engagement, knowledge exchange and professional networking.

The Programme Director of the Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah, urged media owners and platform managers to encourage their reporters to enrol in the academy, noting that the training would strengthen their capacity to produce accurate, credible and valuable reports.

He expressed confidence that the initiative would contribute to rebuilding public confidence in journalism by equipping practitioners with the knowledge and professional skills required to deliver quality reporting.

The digital platform is particularly significant at a time when journalists are increasingly required to navigate online misinformation, rapidly circulating unverified claims and emerging technologies that have transformed the production and distribution of news.

For newsrooms, access to structured training could help improve verification practices, strengthen editorial judgement and encourage more responsible use of digital tools.

The convergence of support from the NUJ, NAWOJ, Premium Times and MacArthur Foundation gives the Daily Trust Foundation Journalism Academy a broader institutional foundation for advancing professional development in Nigeria’s media industry.

For the NUJ and NAWOJ, the initiative presents an opportunity to strengthen professional standards and expand training opportunities for their members. For Premium Times, it reinforces the importance of continuous learning, rigorous verification and institutional investment in newsroom excellence. For the MacArthur Foundation, it provides a pathway towards sustaining the gains of journalism development beyond individual grant-funded interventions.

However, the long-term impact of the academy will depend on sustained participation, the quality and relevance of its courses, effective partnerships with media organisations and the willingness of journalists to translate newly acquired knowledge into daily professional practice.

The challenge extends beyond equipping reporters with digital skills. It also involves strengthening the ethical foundations of journalism, protecting the credibility of published information and ensuring that the pursuit of public accountability does not come at the expense of accuracy and fairness.

As misinformation continues to challenge public discourse and confidence in the media, the academy offers a platform for promoting a more knowledgeable, digitally competent and professionally responsible journalism community.

The collective message from the stakeholders was unequivocal: credible journalism requires continuous learning, uncompromising ethical standards, adequate institutional support and a shared commitment to serving the public interest.