US Consulate Supports Year-Long Training Program for Emerging Journalists

With support from the US Consulate General in Lagos, the Media Career Development Network (MCDN) has launched a Bi-Monthly Journalism Clinic initiative aimed at nurturing the next generation of impactful Nigerian reporters.

Designed for early-career journalists with less than five years of reporting experience, the year-long initiative will offer hands-on capacity building workshops to strengthen professional skills and promote fact-based ethical reporting.

Through intensive workshops to be held in Lagos, the program will equip young journalists with the requisite skills to produce data-driven investigative reporting, introduce them to open-source digital tools to assist them in their work, and facilitate connections with senior journalists and subject matter experts for mentorship opportunities.

The clinics will cover a broad range of topics, including reporting on local governance institutions, transparency and accountability, financial journalism, public health coverage, and best practices for covering sensitive stories. Additional sessions will focus on accessing public data, working with anonymous sources, ethical and professional journalism practices, prioritizing truth, and best practices for leveraging social media for impactful storytelling.

U.S. Consulate Public Affairs Officer Julie McKay highlighted the initiative as part of the U.S. government’s ongoing commitment to strengthening media capacity in Nigeria. “Press freedom and a professional, responsive, and independent media are critical parts of any democracy,” McKay said. “By providing timely and accurate information, journalists give citizens a voice allowing them to engage in important dialogue and hold leaders accountable.”

Executive Director of the Media Career Development Network, Lekan Otufodunrin, noted that approximately 150 reporters will benefit from the capacity building program. He emphasized the program’s goal of empowering young journalists to fulfill their role to keep the public informed. “Participants will gain advanced reporting skills that enhance their ability to inform, educate, and hold leaders accountable,” Otufodunrin added.

Interested journalists can apply @ https://bit.ly/4lB6Tpx
Selected participants will be notified ahead of each bi-monthly session.

ENQUIRIES: info @ mediacareerng.org

Contact
Dayo Emmanuel
Programme Manager
Media Career Development Network
08033374017

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