Google Reaffirms Commitment to Journalism, Media Sustainability Through MTN Media Innovation Programme

Google has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening journalism and promoting sustainable media organisations in Nigeria and across Africa through its continued partnership with the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP).

The technology giant restated its commitment during the fifth edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, where it led sessions focused on sustainable revenue models, digital newsroom transformation, audience insights and the use of artificial intelligence to improve productivity and audience engagement.

Speaking during the programme, Strategic Partner Manager at Google, Onyinyechi “Nini” Eze, said the company remained committed to supporting journalists and media organisations as the industry adapts to changing audience behaviour and technological developments.

“Quality journalism is essential to informed societies, and supporting the long-term sustainability of news organisations remains an important part of Google’s mission,” she said.

Eze said Google was helping journalists develop digital skills, understand their audiences and explore new approaches to building sustainable media businesses.

“Through our products, partnerships and programmes, we’re helping journalists build digital skills, better understand their audiences and explore new ways to grow sustainably. Our partnership with the MTN Media Innovation Programme reflects that ongoing commitment to equipping media professionals with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital environment,” she added.

According to her, Google’s participation in the programme is part of its broader effort to equip media professionals with the knowledge and technology required to navigate the changing media landscape.

“This is my third year meeting the fellows. We talked about revenue models and how we are using Google AI solutions to support productivity, help news organisations improve workflows, create more relevant content and better understand their audiences,” Eze said.

She disclosed that Google had trained more than 1,500 journalists and editors in Nigeria since 2024, with the training covering areas including advanced Search, online safety, verification and audience engagement.

The development comes as news organisations globally contend with declining advertising revenues, changing audience consumption patterns and the growing influence of artificial intelligence on content creation and distribution.

At the MIP sessions, Google also introduced participants to a range of tools and solutions aimed at helping publishers and journalists improve newsroom efficiency, audience understanding and revenue generation.

While many of the fellows were already familiar with products such as Google Docs, Gemini, Google Maps and Google Lens, the session exposed them to other solutions, including News Consumer Insights, audience analytics, website optimisation and monetisation tools.

The participants also discussed the growing role of artificial intelligence in journalism, with several fellows saying journalists should view AI as a productivity tool rather than a threat to their profession.

One of the fellows, Collins Christopher, said the session had strengthened his understanding of how Google’s AI tools could support journalism and improve his workflow.

He said he planned to further explore Gemini and its capabilities to enhance his work.

Another fellow, Chiamaka Dike, said she discovered tools she had previously been unaware of, including News Consumer Insights and Canvas.

“We are living in the world of AI, and if there’s a way to make your work faster and more seamless, then we should embrace it. These tools can help media practitioners generate story ideas, understand what audiences are talking about and produce more relevant stories,” she said.

Jayne Augoye, who already uses several Google productivity tools, said the programme exposed her to additional products that could support customer research, audience insights and workflow management.

She said the experience had also encouraged her to explore Gemini’s premium capabilities to improve productivity and content development.

Beyond newsroom productivity, Google continues to support initiatives aimed at improving information quality and combating misinformation through the Google News Initiative, which works with journalism and fact-checking organisations.

The company said its collaboration with media organisations was aimed at building a healthier and more resilient news ecosystem by combining technological innovation with trusted journalism.

For the MIP fellows, the sessions provided practical insights into how digital tools, audience data and artificial intelligence could be applied to improve journalism and strengthen the business side of news.

As the fellows return to their respective newsrooms, the programme is expected to encourage them to apply the knowledge gained to produce more data-informed and audience-focused journalism while exploring new approaches to newsroom sustainability in an increasingly digital media environment.