The Media Freedom Project

The Media Freedom Project is keen on press freedom and freedom of expression among journalists/ media workers promoting and protecting them in the face of danger and advocating for policy changes in Nigeria and the sub-region. The project covers a cocktail of programs aimed at advancing human rights and promoting the freedom of the press as supported by the 1992 constitution and other regional and international treaties to Nigeria is a signatory. This project continues to advocate for the welfare of journalists, giving prominence to the psychosocial welfare of journalists and providing free psychosocial care to 145 journalists across the sub region.

The Press Attack Tracker is an innovative tool created with the support of Free Press Unlimited to serve as a data hub which can be used for advocacy or research for Press Freedom in Nigeria and recently for other African countries such as Gambia, Ghana, Liberia and Sierra Leone. The platform provides a heat map of threats and outright attacks on the press, thus providing data for periodic review and acting as an advocacy tool for press freedom in the wider Nigerian society. It aims to promote a truly independent media landscape that advances fundamental human rights, good governance and accountability throughout Nigeria and across Africa. The Press Attack Tracker also features a ChatBot (AsariTheBot) designed for immediate response and connection to legal help, where needed, for Nigerian journalists. The bot also safely gathers data on the frequency and types of right infringements that journalists encounter, and this enhances data-driven advocacy. Since its inception, the Press Attack Tracker has recorded over 450 verified independent cases of attacks on Nigerian journalists since 1985, which was on the rise but worsened in the last twelve years.