The Nigerian news site NatureNews, the Ivorian radio station Gbêkê FM and the Senegalese news sites PressAfrik and Financial Afrik have followed Niger's Studio Kalangou in getting certified with the Journalism Trust initiative (JTI), which Reporters Without Borders (RSF) launched to provide advantages to news sources that adhere to journalistic practices and ethics.
"These new JTI certifications are a crucial step in promoting quality journalism in Africa. They reinforce the credibility of media that undertake to comply with high ethical and professional standards. Validated by independent audits, JTI certification is a clear sign that media outlets are committed to providing their public with reliable and transparently reported information. We are determined to support as many media as possible in the JTI process in Africa, as a concrete response to the crisis of trust between media and public."
Sadibou Marong
Director of RSF's Sub-Saharan Africa bureau
PressAfrik, Financial Afrik, NatureNews and Gbêkê FM are the first JTI-certified media outlets in their respective countries. In Senegal, PressAfrik has been covering general news since 2008, while Financial Afrik mainly covers business news. They are based in Dakar. Launched in 2020 in Abuja, NatureNews is the first Nigerian independent newspaper to specialise in the environment and climate issues. In Côte d'Ivoire, Gbêkê FM radio covers health, education, culture and agriculture from Bouaké, in the northeastern Gbêkê region.
"In an international context marked by increasing manipulation and fake news, obtaining this certification reaffirms the PressAfrik Group's status and major role in providing its public with free, independent, verified and balanced information."
Ibrahima Lissa Faye
PressAfrik founder
"Obtaining JTI certification is an important recognition for Gbêkê FM. It reflects our commitment to providing our listeners with verified, balanced and quality reporting. We are proud to be the first in Côte d'Ivoire to take this step, and we hope that it will inspire other media outlets to follow the same path to build trust in journalism."
Oumar Kobena
Gbêkê FM director general
Authenticated by local independent audit firms, the certifications are the result of a process of evaluating practices at each media outlet. PressAfrik, Financial Afrik, NatureNews and Gbêkê FM join the 35 media outlets throughout the world that have so far been certified.
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By means of special "Fast-Track" programmes, RSF and its partners have already supported more than 150 African media outlets in the first step towards JTI certification, namely their publication of a transparency report on their practices. This self-assessment is then verified by an independent audit firm, which issues a certification valid for two years if the required level of compliance is achieved. To obtain this JTI label, media outlets can now conduct the audit with six accredited certifiers in Africa, which are based in Côte d'Ivoire, Senegal, Benin and Togo.
RSF launched the JTI standard with the goal of restoring trust in the media by means of an international mechanism that rewards ethical and professional journalistic practices. The JTI aims to restore a competitive advantage to media of all sizes and types all over the world that comply with its standard, which enjoys international recognition. It is recommended by the European Commission and is used by Microsoft's Bing search engine.
