BY Femi Owolabi
Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF) has been named as one of the beneficiaries of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s $6.3 million in journalism and media grants for Nigeria.
MacArthur Foundation announced the nine Nigerian beneficiaries in a statement on Tuesday.
CNJF, a not-for-profit and partner organisation of TheCable, Nigeria’s independent online newspaper, uses journalism to advance transparency and accountability in government.
With its Policy Radar Initiative (PRIN), CNJF has reported on issues around education, power, security anti-corruption.
MacArthur Foundation said the grants are part of the foundation’s On Nigeria grantmaking, which seeks to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led efforts that strengthen accountability, transparency, and civic participation.
The foundation said the grant will support CNJF’s PRIN and the investigative reports it produces; mobilise community action around its findings, and use social media and videoes to reach a broad audience.
“The nine grants announced today are a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen investigative and data-driven journalism in Nigeria and to reinforce the role played by independent media and citizens in revealing and documenting corruption,” it said.
“The grants will support a range of projects, including training for journalists on investigative fieldwork and data-driven reporting, assistance for independent media organizations working to develop sustainable business models, and new broadcast platforms to increase the reach and effectiveness of investigative reports.”
Kole Shettima, MacArthur Foundation Nigeria office director, also said the listed organisations have proven that media, citizens, and advocates can play an important watchdog role to guard against corruption in Nigeria.
“With this continued support of key journalism and media organisations, we hope to strengthen transparency, empower independent voices, and hold authorities to account,” he said.
Other beneficiaries are:
The strategic priorities, the foundation said, include reducing corruption in the electricity and education sectors; strengthening the criminal justice system through nationwide implementation and enforcement of the administration of criminal justice act and complementary laws and policies; and supporting media and journalism to expose corruption and share information about anti-corruption efforts.
MacArthur has been giving grants in Nigeria since 1989.
In 2017, CNJF was among the grant winners on the On Nigeria project.
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