Applications for the Nigeria Media Innovation Program (NAMIP) are currently being accepted in order to promote media organizations’ editorial independence by enhancing their financial sustainability.
NAMIP, which is funded by the MacArthur Foundation, aims to assist these media companies in increasing revenues, testing new business models, and instilling financial discipline in order to reduce the challenges of unsustainable business models, grant dependency, and a lack of diverse reliable news and information sources.
Benefits
The NAMIP Sustainable Challenge winners will get rewards of up to $50,000 for their ideas. The program will give these media outlets with coaching and targeted technical assistance.
NAMIP will also give these early-stage outlets and established organizations the tools they need to grow and constantly adjust their models on the path to sustainability.
Workshops and training, expert/consultant help, community sharing and learning, and other customised assistance will be provided, as well as the tools needed to experiment, so that these media enterprises may increase revenues and reach new audiences.
The three-year program will provide assistance to 25 independent media outlets, ranging from early-stage, small-scale outlets to larger, more established ones, reaching both urban and rural audiences from mainstream and underserved demographics.
Eligibility
- Existing independent media companies, a non-profit or a new venture can apply
- Mission-driven companies and organizations passionate about trying new approaches to local news and information
- Applicants who don’t have traditional journalism and media backgrounds, particularly from the areas of technology, design and business can apply
- Applicants with independent radio (both community and commercial radio) and TV platforms who are developing unique strategies to reach their audiences can also apply
Note: participants who applied in the first call but were not successful are still eligible to apply again.
Existing independent media companies, non-profit media and new ventures should have projects or news products that address one or more of the following focus areas:
Digital native products: Do you employ new and innovative approaches to collecting news and information, and to reporting, storytelling and distribution, that embrace the possibilities of technology?
Reaching rural communities: Are you developing or have developed innovative approaches to reach and empower people outside of major urban areas, and those generally under-served by existing news media?
Technology innovation for distribution: Are you developing or have developed new media technology that distributes local news in a cost-effective and sustainable way?
New Revenue opportunities: Do you explore innovative solutions to revenue challenges that media companies face – how can we open up new revenue streams to make media organizations more sustainable and independent?
Transition to digital: Are you finding and implementing solutions, products or processes that assist legacy media to transform their businesses?
How to apply
Do you meet the above criteria? Then apply before the deadline on Tuesday, February 28, 2023.
