Media business coach, Anita Eboigbe.
The (NAMIP), a multi-year media initiative through the Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) recently held a two-day workshop aimed at guiding newsroom startups in defining their product and business identities as well as discovering sustainable business models. The workshop, held at the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) resort in Ibadan, Nigeria, brought together key players from various organisations, including ASHENEWS, Ikeja Record, Edugist, Omalicha Radio 91.1FM, Lavun Community Radio 95.5FM, SolaceBase News and FarmingFarmersFarms, among others.
Some participants at the workshop.
Since the inception of the NAMIP about two years ago, several organisations have received a series of support from the programme in achieving their editorial objectives and financial independence.
At an interactive session during the workshop.
The workshop was anchored by media expert, Anita Eboigbe, which featured understanding the newsroom startup workbook for business objectives, completion of workbooks and designing of workplans tailored towards each organisation’s unique needs. Some key recommendations at the workshop include those calling on newsroom owners to strive for personal excellence, ensuring that fundamentals of their business and product identities are well-defined and the need for the implementation of a robust value-based content strategy that is audience-centric.
Women newsroom leaders at the workshop.
Some of the participants disclosed that the workshop would have lasting impact on their newsroom startups by addressing foundational challenges and providing practical tools for content creation and business planning. Funded by the MacArthur Foundation, NAMIP aims to tackle the challenges faced by media organisations head-on, offering support to enhance revenue streams, experiment with innovative business models, and instill financial discipline. The programme is keen about empowering independent media entities, whether they are in the early stages or well-established organisations, enabling them to not only develop, but continuously adapt their models on the path to sustainability.
