To counter the rapid spread of mis- and disinformation and the worrying decrease of public trust in traditional media, more than 150 media organisations followed the lead of Reporters Without Borders in adopting the Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI) in late 2019. This mechanism provides a normative framework and certifies media that practise professional and ethical journalism. It enables a response to the media sector demand to increase responsibility and accountability towards the public, stakeholders and commercial partners. The JTI rewards media organisations that practise journalism that builds trust with audiences while respecting professional norms and journalistic ethics.
Fondation Hirondelle, working in crisis situations, fully adheres to the values of transparency and professional editorial processes espoused by the JTI. It was only natural for us to take an active role in this initiative from the outset, including in the development of the JTI standard. Indeed, Studio Kalangou, Fondation Hirondelle’s Niger media outlet, was the first African media outlet to achieve certification in 2022.
Fondation Hirondelle also participated in developing the « JTI Campus », a 100% online training platform that aims to provide media with the resources they require to complete the self-evaluation and certification process.
Learn more about the Journalism Trust Initiative on its website: https://www.journalismtrustinitiative.org
JTI Campus funding:
- National Endowment for Democracy (NED) via Thomson Foundation