Community Media Strengthening

Overview

For millions of Nigerians — especially in rural and conflict-affected areas — local radio is the difference between knowing and guessing. Community stations broadcast in local languages, to audiences no national outlet reaches, and often on shoestring budgets and ageing equipment.

The Community Media Strengthening programme pairs modest equipment grants with what matters more: training and mentorship. Broadcasters learn editorial standards, verification before broadcast, and programming that serves public interest — health, agriculture, education, elections.

We also work with station managers on the unglamorous stuff that keeps media alive: audience research, revenue diversification and succession planning.

What participants gain

• Stronger editorial standards: accuracy, fairness and corrections policies written for small newsrooms.
• Verification before broadcast: basic fact-checking routines adapted to radio production cycles.
• Local-language public-interest programming: health, agriculture, education and elections coverage.
• Sustainability: audience research, revenue diversification and management training.

What we've achieved

• 15 partner stations supported since 2024.
• 80+ broadcasters trained and mentored.
• 4 stations now run their own fact-check desks.
• 20+ community stories produced with our editorial support.

From the field