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Her Media DiaryAuthor: African Women in Media (AWiM)
Dr Yemisi Akinbobola dives into the lived experiences of successful African women in media. Her personal interview style takes you on the life journey of these leading women. You will be inspired, laugh, but most of all you will be empowered knowing that you too can make it in the media industry. Language: en Genres: Education, Personal Journals, Self-Improvement, Society & Culture Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it Trailer: |
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How Investing in Local Newsrooms Can Help Fight Corruption
Episode 52
Tuesday, 3 February, 2026
Recorded live at the African Women in Media 2025 Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this special episode explores the critical theme of investing in local media and journalism, with a particular focus on the MacArthur Foundation's On Nigeria Programme. Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola is joined by three remarkable women whose work spans policy, community accountability, and local journalism: Fatima Mohammed Ahmed, Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists in Gombe State; Dr. Adaobi Obiabumuo, Programme Manager and founding member of the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG); and Oluwadara Ajala, Programme Manager of Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) for West and East Africa. The conversation delves into why local journalism matters, particularly in conflict-affected regions where women journalists work with extraordinary courage despite facing cultural barriers, safety risks, and limited resources. Fatima speaks powerfully about the need for trust-building between journalists and communities recovering from trauma, while Adaobi emphasizes how local journalism holds duty bearers accountable and gives voice to marginalized communities. One of the key discussions revolves around sustainability beyond donor funding. The panel explores alternative revenue models for media organizations, with Dara challenging the notion that audiences won't pay for quality journalism. She argues that media organizations need to move beyond advertising dependency and embrace audience revenue, citing examples like Daily Maverick's successful membership model. The episode also addresses the role of philanthropy in strengthening local journalism without compromising editorial independence, the importance of community engagement strategies, and how investigative journalism has led to tangible policy changes and government accountability in Nigeria. Subscribe, leave a review and share this episode with someone who needs to hear it. If you'd like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to yemisi@africanwomeninmedia.com (mailto:yemisi@africanwomeninmedia.com). Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don't forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary. Chapters 00:00:00 Introduction: Live from African Women in Media 2025 00:00:43 Meet the Panel: Three Voices from Nigeria's Media Ecosystem 00:02:00 Why Local Journalism Matters: Personal Perspectives 00:06:07 The Role of Philanthropy in Strengthening Local Media 00:07:39 Real Change on the Ground: Impact Stories 00:10:29 Journalism in Conflict Zones: The Borno State Experience 00:13:42 Critical Skills and Resources for Local Journalists 00:19:58 The Kigali Declaration: Addressing Gender Violence in Media 00:21:11 Tools and Training That Make a Difference 00:23:08 Measuring Impact: Does Media Support Actually Work? 00:25:07 MacArthur Foundation's Impact in Northern Nigeria 00:28:42 Challenges Despite Support: Sustainability and Government Restrictions 00:30:30 Media Revenue Models: Beyond Advertising 00:41:27 Collaboration Without Compromising Independence 00:45:04 Radio vs Social Media for Accountability Campaigns 00:46:50 Advice for Young Journalists Driving Accountability 00:48:20 What Donors Underestimate in Northern Nigeria 00:49:30 Future Opportunities: Community-Centered Journalism 00:50:41 What Gives Us Hope: Closing Reflections 00:52:27 Closing Remarks: Investing in Nation-Building Her Media Diary is a product of African Women in Media (AWiM), and this episode is sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation. Follow AWiM: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ARgsBptVC/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/african-women-in-media/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@realawim?_r=1&_t=ZS-93QVDxwCcv1 X (Twitter): https://x.com/RealAWiM Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/africanwomeninmedia?igsh=MXA4NTc4NjF1NTFnbQ==
