Google reaffirms commitment to journalism, media sustainability through MTN Media Innovation Programme
Google has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting journalism and helping build a more sustainable future for news organisations in Nigeria and across Africa through its continued partnership with the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP).
For nearly two decades, Google has worked with journalists, publishers and industry partners to support the future of news through its products, partnerships and programmes. In Nigeria alone, the company has trained more than 1,500 journalists and editors since 2024 equipping them with skills in advanced Search, online safety, verification and audience engagement to help newsrooms thrive in an evolving digital landscape.
Google reinforced this commitment during the fifth edition of the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP), where it led two sessions focused on building sustainable revenue models, strengthening newsrooms’ digital technology stacks and optimising advertising revenue through audience insights and digital innovation. The sessions also explored how artificial intelligence can help news organisations improve productivity, deepen audience engagement and unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth.
Strategic Partner Manager at Google, Onyinyechi “Nini” Eze, said the company has continued to play an active role in supporting journalism globally by promoting access to credible information, building trust in news, and helping media organisations adapt to changing audience behaviours.
“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.
“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 noted that Google’s involvement in the programme reflects its broader commitment to empowering journalists and media practitioners with the knowledge and tools required to navigate the evolving media ecosystem.
“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,” she added.
Her remarks come at a time when newsrooms across the world are grappling with declining advertising revenues, shifting audience consumption patterns and the growing impact of artificial intelligence on content creation and distribution. As media organisations seek sustainable business models, technology companies like Google and MTN have increasingly positioned themselves as partners in newsroom transformation, providing training, digital infrastructure and monetisation tools where applicable.
Beyond newsroom productivity, Google continues to support efforts to strengthen information quality and combat misinformation through the Google News Initiative (GNI), working alongside journalism and fact-checking organisations to help build a healthier and more resilient news ecosystem.
For many of the MIP fellows, the session expanded their understanding of Google’s capabilities beyond the tools they already use daily.
While many participants were already familiar with products such as Google Docs, Gemini, Google Maps and Google Lens, they said the session introduced them to a broader suite of solutions designed to support publishers and journalists, including News Consumer Insights, audience analytics, website optimisation and monetisation tools.
The fellows also agreed that one of the biggest lessons from the session was the need for journalists to embrace artificial intelligence as a productivity partner rather than view it as a threat.
Collins Christopher said the session reinforced that AI and Google’s growing suite of tools are designed to enhance journalism, adding that he intends to further explore Gemini and its capabilities to improve his work.
Similarly, Chiamaka Dike said she discovered several tools she had not previously used, including News Consumer Insights and Canvas, describing the session as “brilliant.”
“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 session introduced her to products that provide deeper customer research, audience insights and workflow management.
She added that the experience has encouraged her to explore Gemini’s premium capabilities to further improve productivity and content development.
The engagement reinforced Google’s belief that technology and journalism work best together. By combining digital innovation with trusted reporting, journalists can better serve audiences, strengthen newsroom resilience and support a healthier, more sustainable news ecosystem. As they return to their respective newsrooms, the fellows are encouraged to apply these insights to produce more data-informed, trusted and high-quality journalism, deepen audience engagement and build more resilient news organisations in an increasingly digital media landscape
