Banouto Media, an online platform in Benin, has adopted tools and resources towards improving its online presence and online revenue generation. This includes the design of a new business/ marketing strategy and the adoption of a new workflow that will help them continue to publish news, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
This follows a capacity building support extended to the media organisation by the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). Under the capacity support, the MFWA engaged the services of a digital media consultant who assessed Banouto’s online platforms – such as the website and social media platforms, as well as providing the tools for online revenue generation.
Subsequent to this was an in-situ training where the Consultant worked with Banouto Media for two weeks on improving brand identity; creating digital videos; setting up a digital savvy newsroom and using social media to effectively engage its audience.
“The capacity support from the MFWA allowed us to reflect on our work with an external eye. That was the greatest achievement. We now have tools and resources to develop our company. The workflow we have adopted will also be of great help to us. As a company, our greatest need has been finance and the session with the Consultant has shown us how to raise funds,” said Leonce Gamai, General Manager, Banouto Media.
The MFWA’s Capacity Building Support to media organisations in West Africa forms part of activities under its project “Promoting Free, Quality and Independent Media in West Africa Through Capacity Building and Knowledge Sharing” which is being implemented in Ghana, Benin, Senegal, Liberia and Cote d’Ivoire and with funding support from the Open Society Initiative for West Africa (OSIWA).
A few more media organisations have been identified for the support. The MFWA has in the past extended the support to Ghana-based Omni Media Limited, operators of Citi FM and Citi TV; and Sierra-Leone-based AYV Media.