Daily Trust Foundation Unveils Academy to Promote Ethical Journalism

The Daily Trust Foundation (DTF) has launched a journalism academy to strengthen ethical reporting, improve digital skills and equip journalists with the knowledge to combat misinformation and promote accountability in Nigeria

Chairman of the Foundation, Malam Bilya Bala, disclosed this on Tuesday at the launch of the DTF Journalism Academy, saying the initiative was designed to address critical gaps in the media industry through accessible and structured professional training.

Bala said the academy was established following lessons from the Foundation’s implementation of multi-year grants supported by the MacArthur Foundation, which revealed gaps in investigative journalism, specialised reporting, newsroom collaboration and digital skills.

He noted that misinformation and declining public trust in the media had made continuous professional development imperative.

According to him, the Foundation’s previous capacity-building programmes had benefited more than 2,000 participants from media organisations and civil society groups.

He said the programmes covered investigative journalism, education, energy, banking, agriculture, natural resources, crime and security, oil and gas, national budgeting and media management.

Bala explained that the academy would consolidate these experiences while expanding access to professional training through physical and online learning.

A major component is the DTF Digital Academy, an online platform available at dtfacademy.com.ng, where participants can study at their own pace, complete assessments and earn certificates upon successful completion.

He added that the Foundation would also organise specialised workshops, webinars, conferences and public forums, while strengthening partnerships with academic institutions, media organisations and development partners.

Publisher of Premium Times, Mr Dapo Olorunyomi, commended the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention in an industry undergoing rapid digital transformation.

He said formal education alone could not adequately prepare journalists for the demands of modern newsrooms, stressing the need for continuous training and practical experience.

Olorunyomi pledged Premium Times’ continued partnership with the Foundation, expressing optimism that the academy would strengthen professional standards and expand learning opportunities for journalists.

In his keynote address, Editor-in-Chief of Premium Times, Musikiliu Mojeed, urged journalists to continually update their knowledge, verify information and uphold ethical standards in their reporting.

He warned that the desire to expose wrongdoing must not lead journalists to publish unverified allegations or compromise their standards of proof.

Mojeed also called on media organisations to institutionalise learning through mentorship, knowledge-sharing sessions and constructive feedback, while providing reporters with the resources and time needed for quality journalism.

Representing the MacArthur Foundation, Janet Gbam congratulated the Daily Trust Foundation on the initiative, describing it as an opportunity to sustain professional journalism development beyond grant-funded programmes.

She emphasised the relationship between credible information, public trust and good governance.

The NUJ FCT Chairman, Comrade Grace Ike, represented by Comrade Rosemary, also commended the Foundation, describing the academy as timely and necessary amid the spread of fake news and growing concerns about professional standards.

She praised the Foundation for developing a well-tailored and accessible training programme, urging journalists to take advantage of the opportunity to improve their skills.

The NUJ representative pledged the union’s partnership with the Foundation in promoting ethical and professional journalism.

Similarly, the Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Comrade Bassey Ita-Ikpang, represented by Princess Joy Idam, pledged the association’s support for the initiative.

Idam said NAWOJ would publicise the programme and encourage members to participate while the training remained free.

The Programme Director of the Daily Trust Foundation, Dr Theophilus Abbah, urged media owners and platform managers to encourage their reporters to enrol in the academy.

He said the training would improve journalists’ ability to produce accurate, credible and valuable reports, thereby strengthening public confidence in the media.