CJID funds 7 Nigerian media orgs to build sustainable local journalism
The Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) announced seven Nigerian media organisations as inaugural beneficiaries of its Local Media Sustainability Fund (LMSF), announced following an April 2026 workshop in Lagos. The fund provides both catalytic funding and a three-month institutional development programme covering newsroom coaching, technical assistance, mentorship, peer learning, and expert support in financial management, editorial leadership, and governance to strengthen newsroom resilience beyond just funding journalism projects.
The beneficiary organisations—Development Reporting, FactsMatterNG, Development News Network (DNN News), Confiance News, Inside the Niger Delta, EduGist, and Sapientia International Media Centre—represent Nigeria’s diverse independent media ecosystem covering governance, democracy, development, education, and accountability. This addresses a critical gap: while media support often focuses on content, CJID recognises that independent journalism requires sustainable institutions with sound governance, business models, and leadership to withstand economic and political pressures, especially as local media face declining ad revenue, tech platform dominance, and reduced international funding.
Beyond funding, participants will develop newsroom sustainability plans with ongoing CJID support. The programme is funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy in Nigeria and forms the first phase of a West Africa-focused initiative, with a Northern Nigeria cohort announced for November 2026. CJID aims to support at least 100 local and community media organisations across the region over five years, helping them diversify revenue, improve operational resilience, and maintain editorial independence while producing public-interest journalism that advances democracy and civic participation.
With these media organisations getting support to strengthen their institutions and stay independent, which local issues affecting your community do you now feel more confident getting reliable, accountable coverage on?