Background
The media, anywhere in the world, is a very critical stakeholder group in the socio-political and economic development of a society. It is a public trust, holding those in authority accountable, and serving as societal watchdog. In developing countries like Nigeria, the media’s role is even more critical because of weak civic organs, which often makes the line between reporting and advocacy blurry for journalists. The changing media landscape world over has widened the capacity gaps amongst professionals in the industry, which calls for interventions tailored to equip media practitioners with contemporary skills to deliver optimally on the job.
Innovation drives change and builds new approaches to problem-solving and solution-oriented media practice for the benefit of humanity; thus, justifying the certificate course in Media Innovation Programme.
The MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) is a certificate course run by the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University, with a focus on the convergence between ICT and the media. MIP is going to be a fellowship for journalists (media practitioners across the entire spectrum, including social media), and it is designed to help them build capacity at both professional and business levels, and will be delivered over a 6-month period as a certificate course. It has a transforming potential of empowering media practitioners to do their job better and drive innovation that will lead to building the needed sustainability in the industry.
The programme is designed to empower media practitioners with the essential innovative, entrepreneurial, and technical skills to enable them to do their jobs better. The focus on exploring the convergence between ICT and the media could not have come at a better time than now for Nigerian media practitioners, given the existing skill gap in this area.
Fully funded by MTN Nigeria, the MIP will build the capacity of Nigerian media practitioners through training and exposure to real-life case studies that can birth innovative ideas that will enable them to lead outstanding media careers. The MIP fellows will be equipped with the necessary knowledge and skills to thrive in a rapidly changing media environment, and guarantee career and financial success.