NatureNews receives JTI recognition for media integrity

NatureNews, an environment-focused newspaper, has become the first Nigerian news platform to receive a certification for media integrity from the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI).

The JTI by Reporters Without Borders is a transparency and accountability tool mechanism for curbing misinformation and providing tangible rewards for ethical and professional journalism.

It is built on a set of criteria for trustworthiness, that allow for media outlets of all sizes and stripes to self-evaluate their compliance and to get independently audited and certified if they choose to.

In a statement on Sunday, Pius Alabi, the chief operating officer of NatureNews, said the outfit was certified on Saturday, based on its media production, business management, production quality, and information reliability.

Alabi said the recognition comes a few weeks after NatureNews was rated top 10 in a survey of over 2,500 nature publications in the world.

“The JTI certification is a culmination of the rigorous online evaluation and scrupulous onsite verification of our journalism processes based on performance indicators administered by the International Risks and Quality, IRISQ,” the statement reads.

“Coming barely two months to the fourth-year anniversary of NatureNews, the certification is a testament to our unwavering commitment to journalism ethics, managerial excellence, professional integrity, accountability, and corporate governance.

“We are delighted to share the joy of this enviable certification with our loyal fans and audiences across Africa and around the world.

“We cherish them for keeping faith with our authoritative journalism on the thematic issues of environment, climate change, biodiversity, and sustainable earth.

“Even as we celebrate this achievement, we are not under any illusion that our work is done. We will continue to innovate and deepen our professional excellence to meet the needs of our audiences for credible journalism and stay on top of the dynamic environmental challenges facing our continent and humanity.”

He quoted Aliu Akoshile, the publisher and editor-in-chief (CEO) of NatureNews, as expressing appreciation to the board, staff and audience of the media house for their support.