Cable Foundation gets new MacArthur grant ‘to advance investigative journalism’

Cable Newspaper Journalism Foundation (CNJF) has been named as one of the beneficiaries of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation’s $6.3 million in journalism and media grants for Nigeria.

MacArthur Foundation announced the nine Nigerian beneficiaries in a statement on Tuesday.

CNJF, a not-for-profit and partner organisation of TheCable, Nigeria’s independent online newspaper, uses journalism to advance transparency and accountability in government.

With its Policy Radar Initiative (PRIN), CNJF has reported on issues around education, power, security anti-corruption. 

MacArthur Foundation said the grants are part of the foundation’s On Nigeria grantmaking, which seeks to reduce corruption by supporting Nigerian-led efforts that strengthen accountability, transparency, and civic participation.

The foundation said the grant will support CNJF’s PRIN and the investigative reports it produces; mobilise community action around its findings, and use social media and videoes to reach a broad audience.

“The nine grants announced today are a continuation of the Foundation’s efforts to strengthen investigative and data-driven journalism in Nigeria and to reinforce the role played by independent media and citizens in revealing and documenting corruption,” it said.

“The grants will support a range of projects, including training for journalists on investigative fieldwork and data-driven reporting, assistance for independent media organizations working to develop sustainable business models, and new broadcast platforms to increase the reach and effectiveness of investigative reports.”

Kole Shettima, MacArthur Foundation Nigeria office director, also said the listed organisations have proven that media, citizens, and advocates can play an important watchdog role to guard against corruption in Nigeria. 

“With this continued support of key journalism and media organisations, we hope to strengthen transparency, empower independent voices, and hold authorities to account,” he said. 

Other beneficiaries are:

• Bayero University Kano, Bayero University, Kano (to enhance training, curriculum, teaching, and learning opportunities for the next generation of investigative journalists; and to establish a TV-station)
• Daily Trust Foundation (To strengthen the capacity of journalists, media professionals, and students to conduct high quality investigative and data-driven journalism) 
• International Centre for Investigative Reporting (To support in-depth field investigations and convene town hall meetings with government officials and anti-corruption agency representatives to answer questions from the public)
• OYA Media (To conduct high-quality investigative reports and present them in a talk show format that will bring policymakers and citizens together to discuss issues and possible solutions)
• Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism (To conduct investigations on budget, procurement, and government service delivery; to expand fact-checking operations for journalists, and continue building civic technology for citizens and journalists to collaboratively learn and produce multimedia reports related to corruption)
• Sahara Reporters (To train journalists on investigative and data-based journalism; support investigations into the education sector, and continue a civic media laboratory to engage citizens in public dialogue on corruption and other social issues)
• Tiger Eye Social Foundation (To strengthen the investigative capacity of Nigerian media by training journalists in investigative techniques and supporting field investigations on corruption), and
• Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative (To continue its investigative reporting on corruption in the education and electricity sectors; design sustainable reporting models for that reporting, and develop a radio show to improve reach and impact of stories).

The strategic priorities, the foundation said, include reducing corruption in the electricity and education sectors; strengthening the criminal justice system through nationwide implementation and enforcement of the administration of criminal justice act and complementary laws and policies; and supporting media and journalism to expose corruption and share information about anti-corruption efforts.

MacArthur has been giving grants in Nigeria since 1989.

In 2017, CNJF was among the grant winners on the On Nigeria project.