Media Sustainability in the Digital Age: Experts Weigh in at MTN Media Innovation Summit

The MTN Media Innovation Summit organised by the University of Johannesburg as part of the MTN Media Innovation Programme, held in collaboration with the School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University brought together media experts and professionals to discuss the sustainability of the media business in the digital age. The summit was held at the Chinua Achebe Auditorium of the University of Johannesburg.

Keynote speaker, Honorable Deputy Minister in the Presidency, HE Keneth Morolong, emphasized the importance of embracing digital technologies to ensure the survival of the media industry. “The health of society depends upon the quality of the information it receives,” he quoted from Walter Lipman’s book, Liberty and the News. “It is instructive to ensure a balance between profit-making and sharing quality information that ensures our society is in good health.”

Morolong highlighted South Africa’s efforts to digitize, including the establishment of the Fourth Industrial Revolution (4IR) commission, which has driven innovation and built human capacity in the area. “We need a strong open data policy to drive innovation and competitiveness,” he said.

Prof. Letlhokwa Mpedi, Vice-Chancellor and Principal of the University of Johannesburg emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in driving the media industry forward. “We are tasked with understanding innovation and the sustainability of the media business in the digital age. Every facet of society is fundamentally undergoing a shift characterized by the injection of technology – innovation is key to our response to these shifts.”

Funso Aina, Senior Manager, External Relations at MTN Nigeria, noted that the media plays a crucial role in society and must adapt to the changing landscape. “The media must speak truth to power while setting the agenda for all. That’s why we established the MTN Media Innovation Programme (MIP) to build capacity for media professionals.”

MIP Fellow, Chioma Chinyere, emphasized the importance of unbiased truth-telling in ensuring the sustainability of journalism. “The ability of the media to tell the truth without bias is the biggest defender of journalism and will ensure its sustainability. Again, it’s imperative to teach young journalists the business of media.”

The Media Innovation Programme, currently in its third cohort, was launched to enable media practitioners gain deeper insight into the ever-evolving media landscape.