The Centre for Collaborative Investigative Journalism (CCIJ) and Media Trust Group, publishers of Daily Trust newspaper and owners of Trust TV and radio, have agreed to strengthen their collaboration on investigative journalism projects.
The agreement was reached during a visit by Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, founder and Executive Director of CCIJ, who led a delegation to the corporate headquarters of Media Trust Group in Abuja on Wednesday.
Lowenstein praised the media organisation and its staff for their bravery in holding public officials accountable despite the challenging environment for investigative journalists.
He said, “I feel that we are already collaborating, but we are open to exploring ways to deepen that collaboration.”
Ajibola Amzat, CCIJ’s Africa Editor, expressed high regard for Daily Trust and noted that the newspaper had previously co-published major investigative projects during his tenure at the International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR).
He further said, “We recognise the challenges the country is facing at the socio-political level, and we know that journalism intervention is crucial.”
Mallam Mikailu, Media Trust Group’s Executive Director (Digital), accompanied by Daily Trust’s General Editor, Hamza Idris, and other editors, explained that Media Trust Group had evolved from a newspaper into a multi-platform media organisation.
He said, “We now encourage our reporters to work across print, digital, radio and television platforms.”
Mikailu also highlighted Media Trust’s partnerships with various media organisations at the national and local levels and expressed readiness to deepen collaboration with CCIJ.
The CCIJ delegation included Project Manager, Nelly Kalu, Data Analyst, Yuxi Wang, and Data Editor, Sotiris Sideris.