By Ono Yima
In a move aimed at strengthening newsroom competitiveness and enhancing digital storytelling capacity, the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), FCT Council, in partnership with Lifestyle Hues and the Adobe Express Team, has trained 100 journalists in Abuja on digital media and content creation skills.
The one-day capacity-building programme, held on Monday, brought together journalists drawn from public and private media organisations across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), exposing participants to emerging tools for multimedia storytelling, visual design, digital content production and online audience engagement.
Declaring the training open, Chairman of the NUJ FCT Council, Ms. Grace Ike, said the initiative forms part of the council’s broader commitment to ensuring journalists remain relevant and competitive amid rapid technological shifts reshaping the media industry.
“The media landscape has evolved and the way we present information must also adapt. This is why trainings like these are not just necessary but essential,” she said.
According to Ike, journalism has expanded beyond traditional reporting to include visual storytelling, multimedia editing and digital presentation techniques.
“The ability to design compelling visuals, edit multimedia content and present stories in engaging formats has become a core part of modern journalism,” she said, noting that platforms such as Adobe Express have become critical communication tools in the digital era.
She added: “The NUJ FCT remains committed to building the capacity of our members through continuous learning, innovation and exposure to global best practices.”
The training comes amid growing emphasis by media organisations and professional bodies on digital transformation, artificial intelligence integration and audience-first journalism models. Across the country, journalism institutions have increasingly embraced retraining programmes to help practitioners adapt to changing newsroom realities and emerging technologies.
Speaking during the session, training facilitator and Lifestyle Hues representative, Mrs. Ayodotun Akinfenwa, said the initiative was designed to empower media professionals with practical tools that enhance productivity and improve digital visibility.
“Journalists, like everybody else, need to understand how to create designs, announcements, presentations and content in the course of their work,” she said.
“Tools like these help them to be independent and enhance their productivity as journalists and media professionals.”
Akinfenwa, an Adobe Partner Ambassador, explained that Adobe Express tools could support journalists, content creators and business professionals by enabling faster and more engaging content production.
She stressed the increasing importance of digital visibility for journalists.
“Journalists need these tools because if you are not online or showing up online, it is almost as if you are not doing anything,” she said.
“People who are not putting out their content or showing up online often miss opportunities, even when they have more experience and knowledge.”
She further linked effective communication to broader societal and economic development, arguing that digital tools could significantly improve information dissemination.
“There is so much information that needs to be passed out so that people can become better citizens and society can function effectively. These tools make communication easier and faster,” she stated.
Participants described the exercise as timely and relevant, especially as journalists grapple with the demands of digital-first publishing and the fast-changing online information ecosystem.
One of the participants, Emiene Odaudu, said the training would strengthen journalists’ ability to produce quality digital content and remain competitive in the evolving media space.
The programme adds to recent capacity-building efforts by the NUJ FCT Council under the leadership of Grace Ike, which has focused on journalists’ welfare, media literacy and professional development, including initiatives around digital journalism, mental health and disinformation management ahead of the 2027 elections.
For many participants, however, the significance of the training extended beyond learning software tools. It reflected a larger transition underway in journalism itself — from print-centric reporting to multimedia storytelling where text, visuals, design and digital engagement increasingly define audience reach and newsroom relevance.