Recorded live at the African Women in Media 2025 Conference in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, this special episode explores the critical theme of investing in local media and journalism, with a particular focus on the MacArthur Foundation's On Nigeria Programme.

Dr. Yemisi Akinbobola is joined by three remarkable women whose work spans policy, community accountability, and local journalism: Fatima Mohammed Ahmed, Chairperson of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists in Gombe State; Dr. Adaobi Obiabumuo, Programme Manager and founding member of the Progressive Impact Organisation for Community Development (PRIMORG); and Oluwadara Ajala, Programme Manager of Media Development Investment Fund (MDIF) for West and East Africa.

The conversation delves into why local journalism matters, particularly in conflict-affected regions where women journalists work with extraordinary courage despite facing cultural barriers, safety risks, and limited resources. Fatima speaks powerfully about the need for trust-building between journalists and communities recovering from trauma, while Adaobi emphasizes how local journalism holds duty bearers accountable and gives voice to marginalized communities.

One of the key discussions revolves around sustainability beyond donor funding. The panel explores alternative revenue models for media organizations, with Dara challenging the notion that audiences won't pay for quality journalism. She argues that media organizations need to move beyond advertising dependency and embrace audience revenue, citing examples like Daily Maverick's successful membership model.

The episode also addresses the role of philanthropy in strengthening local journalism without compromising editorial independence, the importance of community engagement strategies, and how investigative journalism has led to tangible policy changes and government accountability in Nigeria.

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If you'd like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]). Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

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• 00:00:00 Introduction: Live from African Women in Media 2025
• 00:00:43 Meet the Panel: Three Voices from Nigeria's Media Ecosystem
• 00:02:00 Why Local Journalism Matters: Personal Perspectives
• 00:06:07 The Role of Philanthropy in Strengthening Local Media
• 00:07:39 Real Change on the Ground: Impact Stories
• 00:10:29 Journalism in Conflict Zones: The Borno State Experience
• 00:13:42 Critical Skills and Resources for Local Journalists
• 00:19:58 The Kigali Declaration: Addressing Gender Violence in Media
• 00:21:11 Tools and Training That Make a Difference
• 00:23:08 Measuring Impact: Does Media Support Actually Work?
• 00:25:07 MacArthur Foundation's Impact in Northern Nigeria
• 00:28:42 Challenges Despite Support: Sustainability and Government Restrictions
• 00:30:30 Media Revenue Models: Beyond Advertising
• 00:41:27 Collaboration Without Compromising Independence
• 00:45:04 Radio vs Social Media for Accountability Campaigns
• 00:46:50 Advice for Young Journalists Driving Accountability
• 00:48:20 What Donors Underestimate in Northern Nigeria
• 00:49:30 Future Opportunities: Community-Centered Journalism
• 00:50:41 What Gives Us Hope: Closing Reflections
• 00:52:27 Closing Remarks: Investing in Nation-Building

Her Media Diary is a product of African Women in Media (AWiM), and this episode is sponsored by the MacArthur Foundation.

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Neema Iyer is the founder of Pollicy, an innovative feminist civic technology collective in Kampala that combines data, design, and digital rights. Under her leadership, Pollicy has led 100+ projects, trained 5,000+ individuals in data skills, and created playful civic tools like “Digital Safe‑tea” and “Choose Your Own Fake News”. In 2021, she was appointed to Facebook/Meta’s Global Women’s Safety Advisory Board.

One of the key discussions in this episode with Neema revolves around the necessity of centering African women's voices in technology. She emphasizes that digital tools should be designed with the needs of African women in mind, rather than being an afterthought. This perspective is crucial in a world where technology often perpetuates existing inequalities.

The conversation also touches on the importance of play and creativity in learning. Neema argues that traditional educational methods can be restrictive, especially for girls. She believes that incorporating play into learning not only makes it more engaging but also fosters a deeper understanding of complex issues like digital safety and gender-based violence.

This innovative approach is reflected in her work with Policy, where they utilize games and interactive tools to educate communities about digital safety in a way that feels accessible and relatable.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary.

Farah Fortune is the founder & Managing Director of African Star Communications, a full-service PR agency, focusing on customized strategic public relations campaigns.

Farah, dubbed ‘The Pitbull in Heels’, established her PR agency in 2008 with just R1,000, a laptop, and a phone, and is the brain behind some of the continent’s most iconic brand and celebrity campaigns.

In this episode, Farah talks about starting from scratch, managing public crises, mentoring young women in PR, and vital tips every communications professional should have. She also talks about the benefits of building and maintaining a strong relationship with the media as a PR manager, being authentic and giving genuine, relevant information at all times.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary.

Fatima Jones is the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at the Dance Theatre of Harlem. With a career spanning over 20 years in public relations, marketing, and communications, predominantly in the nonprofit and arts sectors, her specialty lies in positioning cultural institutions in ways that not only increase visibility but also ensure they are culturally relevant, inclusive, and reflective of diverse audiences.

In this episode, Fatima speaks on age-old strategies and principles for effective corporate communication that are still relevant today despite technological advancements.

She cited times when she was asked to be seen and not heard; to just be the ‘black face’ in the room whose opinion is not needed. She also talks about some of the things that keep her going as a black female in the corporate communications sector, regardless of the many barriers that come with it.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary.

Stephanie Busari is the founder and CEO of SBB Media, an organisation dedicated to ensuring that Africa's stories are authored, owned, and told by those who understand its soul. She is also an Emmy Award-winning journalist and Former Head of Africa digital team at CNN. 

In April 2016, she exclusively obtained the “proof of life” video showing that the kidnapped Chibok schoolgirls. This footage was crucial in facilitating negotiations that led to the release of over 100 girls.

In this episode, she talks about the ethics of storytelling, the responsibility of media in times of crisis, and what it takes to lead in international journalism as an African woman. Stephanie, among other things, advises African women to learn the act of putting their hands out to do challenging but impactful work.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms, Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag, #hermediadiary.

Deborah is a PhD Candidate at Universität des Saarlandes (Germany), researching fair machine learning to reduce bias against marginalized groups. Prior to her PhD, she was a Lecturer in Data Science & AI at the Academic City University College, Accra, Ghana. She is also the co‑founder of Women Promoting Science to the Younger Generation (WPSYG), an organisation supporting more girls into STEM and AI.

In this episode, Deborah unpacks how generative AI can deepen gender-based harm, especially for African women. She discusses how machine learning models are shaped by historical human bias, which is then transferred to machine learning models, leading to continued discrimination.

According to her, investing in research that focuses on auditing the systems should not be an afterthought of big tech companies but something they should embed into the system from the start.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms, Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag, #hermediadiary.

Mwende is the Co-convener of the AI Salon by Webworks, with expertise in AI ethics, data journalism, ethnographic research, and dataset building. She also specialises in critiquing models and systems for bias, and teaching media and institutions how to adapt to AI in a meaningful and responsible manner.

In this episode, she joins us to talk about tech-facilitated GBV, the risks of AI-generated harm, and what it means to reclaim data with care and creativity.

Mwende reminds us that data isn’t neutral; it’s shaped by who gets counted and who gets erased. And as generative AI becomes more powerful, we need storytellers like her, brave enough to collect what’s missing, and wise enough to tell it with care

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms, Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary.

Dr. Grace Githaiga is the CEO at KICTANET and a visionary leader with over 20 years of expertise in ICT policy advocacy. She spearheads progressive advocacy for inclusive ICT policies on data protection, cybersecurity, gender, accessibility, and civic digital rights.

In this episode, she joins us to unpack what feminist digital justice really means in the age of AI, and why we must act now to make our digital futures safe and inclusive for all. She encourages women to learn to report cases of Tech-facilitated GBV both to law enforcement agencies and tech platforms. According to her, these platforms would most likely be moved to action when they have so many people reporting cases of abuse as against when it is just a few persons.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms, Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag, #hermediadiary.

Sandra Aceng is a human rights defender and digital rights advocate from Uganda. She is also the Executive Director of Women of Ugandan Network (WOUGNET), an organization that engages in research, policy advocacy, and capacity-building programs to ensure gender inclusivity in Uganda’s digital landscape.

In this episode, Sandra discusses her personal journey into activism, the digital realities faced by women in Uganda, how AI may be perpetuating gendered harm, and what the path forward looks like for creating safer digital spaces.

As AI advances and our lives become increasingly digitised, we cannot afford to overlook gender in tech conversations. Sandra’s work is a powerful call to action for governments, developers, media platforms, and all of us to centre women’s experiences and safety in every aspect of the digital world.

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If you’d like to join an episode of this podcast, send an email to [email protected]. Or visit our website at www.hermediadiary.com

Subscribe and follow Her Media Diary on all your favourite podcast platforms. Also, tune in to our partner radio stations from anywhere across Africa. And don’t forget to join the conversation using the hashtag #hermediadiary.

In this special episode recorded live at the AWiM24 Conference in Dakar, Senegal,  Dr Yemisi had the honour of speaking with four phenomenal women who have spent decades shaping African journalism: Dr. Lilian Okonkwo-Ogabu, Angela Agoawike, Ekong Uduak, and Ireti Bakare-Yusuf.

These are women who have walked through fire, navigating tough newsrooms, evolving technologies, political pressures, and shifting audience expectations. And still, they remain passionate, purposeful, and powerful.

You’ll hear them reflect on the lessons they wish they’d learned earlier, how they stay relevant in a constantly changing media landscape, and what advice they have for young journalists trying to make their mark, especially in challenging environments.

Whether you’re just starting out or a few years in, this is the wisdom you didn’t know you needed. 

Share your reflections with us on social media using the hashtag #HerMediaDiary.

If you haven’t already, subscribe to the show wherever you get your podcasts, and don’t forget to leave a review..  To find out more about this podcast, visit www.hermediadiary.com.