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 commitment was highlighted during the fifth edition of the MTN MIP, where Google facilitated sessions focused on helping media organisations develop sustainable revenue models, improve digital newsroom operations and maximise advertising opportunities through audience insights and technology.
Google has supported journalists, publishers and media industry partners globally for almost two decades through various products, partnerships and initiatives aimed at strengthening the future of news.
In Nigeria, the technology company said it has trained more than 1,500 journalists and editors since 2024, providing them with skills in advanced Search, online safety, verification and audience engagement.
Speaking during the MIP session held at Pan-Atlantic University, Lagos, Strategic Partner Manager at Google, Onyinyechi “Nini” Eze, said the company remained committed to helping journalism thrive in an increasingly digital environment.
She said quality journalism plays an important role in keeping societies informed, stressing that the sustainability of news organisations remains a key priority for Google.
“Through our products, partnerships and programmes, we’re helping journalists build digital skills, better understand their audiences and explore new ways to grow sustainably,” Eze said.
According to her, Google’s partnership with the MTN Media Innovation Programme is part of its broader effort to equip media professionals with the knowledge and tools required to adapt to changing audience behaviour and technological developments.
Eze, who said it was her third year engaging with MIP fellows, disclosed that the latest session focused on revenue generation and the use of Google’s artificial intelligence solutions to improve productivity, streamline newsroom workflows, develop relevant content and gain deeper audience insights.
The engagement comes amid growing challenges confronting media organisations, including declining advertising revenue, changing patterns of news consumption and the rapid influence of artificial intelligence on content production and distribution.
Google also highlighted its efforts through the Google News Initiative to promote information quality and tackle misinformation by working with journalism and fact-checking organisations.
For the MIP fellows, the session offered an opportunity to discover Google tools beyond commonly used products such as Google Docs, Gemini, Google Maps and Google Lens.
Participants were introduced to solutions including News Consumer Insights, audience analytics, website optimisation and monetisation tools designed to help publishers better understand their audiences and improve their digital operations.
Several fellows said the session also changed their perception of artificial intelligence, describing it as a tool that can complement rather than replace journalists.
One of the participants, Collins Christopher, said the session reinforced his belief that AI tools could enhance journalistic work and disclosed plans to explore Gemini further.
Chiamaka Dike said she discovered several Google products she had not previously used, including News Consumer Insights and Canvas.
She described the session as highly beneficial, noting that journalists should embrace technologies that can make their work faster and more effective.
“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,” she said.
Another fellow, Jayne Augoye, said the programme exposed her to tools capable of providing deeper audience research, customer insights and improved workflow management.
She added that the experience had encouraged her to explore more advanced Gemini features to enhance productivity and content development.
The engagement ultimately underscored the growing relationship between technology and modern journalism, with Google encouraging media professionals to combine digital innovation with credible reporting.
The company said journalists could use the knowledge gained from the programme to produce more data-driven and trusted content, strengthen audience engagement and contribute to building more resilient and sustainable news organisations.
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