Recognising that the media plays a pivotal role in driving social change and shaping the national conversation around governance, transparency, and effective public service delivery, we recently concluded a dynamic media training programme for journalists from a range of media organisations across Nigeria.  The training emphasised solution journalism, ethical storytelling, and the vital role of the media in promoting transparency and effective governance.

Journalists from various media outlets recently participated in a specialised training programme organised by the Foundation focused on telling impactful stories.

The event, themed “Amplifying Impact: Strengthening Public Sector Narratives Through Journalism,” was held in Abuja and brought together over fifty journalists, all eager to deepen their skills and understanding of impact reporting.

Our Director of Programmes, Chioma Njoku, addressed participants, highlighting our belief that effective storytelling is a powerful catalyst for reform. She explained that our training was specifically designed to strengthen journalists’ abilities to tell impactful stories about public sector reforms, ensuring that their reporting not only draws attention to challenges but also celebrates successes and best practices.

Dr Nicholas Igwenagu, Deputy Director at the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ), Abuja, emphasised the critical role of solution journalism. He described it as a rigorous but essential approach that fosters public awareness and drives societal action. Dr Igwenagu urged journalists to delve deeply into complex issues such as economic and tax reforms, explaining that impact stories must go beyond standard reporting to offer tangible solutions.

Lady Ejiro Umukoro, Director of Training and Development at LightRay Media, also contributed significantly with her session on “The Role of Media in Shaping Public Perception.” She highlighted the importance of maintaining a clear distinction between public relations and core journalism. Lady Umukoro stressed that while PR stories have their place, they must be crafted professionally to avoid sounding patronising. She further challenged journalists to reflect thoughtfully on their language and uphold ethical storytelling practices.