The CNJ will serve as a platform for engaging journalists for purposes of promoting solution-based journalism that will foster formulation of positive policies and behavioural changes among the Nigerian populace aimed at bringing about solutions to different social and developmental issues in the country.

Specific focus of the Association will include:

• Inspiring journalists to become champions of development and agents of social change in the task of nation-building.
• The pursuit of development and human interest stories to their logical ends.
• Encouraging journalists’ participation in the provision of solutions to social, economic, environmental and health issues confronting Nigerians.
• Developing strategic initiatives and campaigns that will drive attitudinal and behavioural changes among Nigerian citizens.
• Acting as agents for opinion molding and aggregation and building conversations and consensus around burning social and developmental issues in the country.
• Encouraging multi-stakeholder collaborations in a bid to nationally promote policies, campaigns and actions that are change-driven.
• Undertaking focused researches in the areas of community and development journalism.
• Promotion of factual, ethical, insightful and concise journalistic practices and reportage supported by accurate data.

Core Mandates of CNJ

CNJ is committed to promoting justice, development, project monitoring and accountability, and social change in the economic and socio-cultural spheres of the Nigerian society. Through precise, data-based reporting and policy analysis, CNJ hopes to contribute to public discourse on social issues, and promote development journalism so as to drive political will toward positive policy solutions to the social issues confronting average Nigerians and the country as a whole at any time.

The activities of CNJ will be under the guidance and supervision of a Board of Trustees which shall compose of three permanent members of the School of Media and Communication (SMC), Pan-Atlantic University and three elected members from the membership of the Association as well as an Executive Secretary who shall be appointed by the BoT.

The organizational structure of CNJ is depicted in the Organogram below:

The BoT shall be composed of Seven (7) members; three (3) permanent members from SMC and three (3) non-permanent members duly elected among the journalists and one (1) executive secretary. The BoT shall be headed by a Chairman elected by the members and who shall exercise office for a term of three (3) years and maybe re-elected for a second term.

The permanent members shall come from the following Departments/Section of SMC:

1. Director of the Professional Education Division
2. Head of Department, Mass Media and Writing
3. A Core Journalism Faculty

Duties and Responsibilities of BoT

1. The BoT shall provide the organization with sound governance, fiduciary and strategic oversight, and direction.
2. The board oversees the operations of the CNJ, ensuring that the public’s trust, vision and mission of the Association are upheld within stipulated ethical and professional norms.
3. The board is responsible for assuring the financial integrity of the Association in relation to activities with funders, donors and partner organizations.
4. The BoT is responsible for identifying the leadership needs of the CNJ
5. The BoT is responsible for periodic assessment of the performance of the Executive Secretary and Team of Executives and offer direction for developing or enhancing their skills, increasing productivity, and obtaining resources for meeting their professional goals
6. The BoT ensures that the organization has sufficient resources to implement the programs outlined in the strategy to achieve its mission.
7. The BoT takes responsibility for determining a development plan to raise the funds needed to run in order to implement CNJ programmes and initiatives.

The Executive Secretary will be duly appointed for a term of two (2) years and entitled to two (2) tenures of office. The responsibilities of the Executive Secretary shall be as follows:

1. S/He acts as the General Manager of the Association
2. S/He shall report to the BoT through the Chairman
3. S/He is assisted by members of the Executive
4. Shall design and develop initiatives, training needs, strategies and direction for the association in conjunction with the BoT
5. S/He oversees the day-to-day administration of the Association
6. S/He coordinates and drives conduct of laudable researches/investigations and disseminates reports in appropriate media platforms
7. S/He plans and coordinates Quarterly and Annual General Meetings (AGM) of the Association.
8. S/He processes applications received for membership of the Association and passes over to the BoT for approval.
9. S/He shall coordinate the release of communiqué at the end of every AGM
10. Shall organize and facilitate press releases on behalf of the Association
11. Shall submit periodic reports (at least once every quarter) of the Association to the BoT.
12. Shall be adequately remunerated for the functions S/he performs.

Membership of CNJ is open to all journalists that have undergone professional and competence reskilling programmes at the SMC. Admission process will follow a formal application which will be subject to consideration by the BoT. Successful applicants may undergo oral interviews before formal admission. Formal Admission will also involve acceptance by the applicant to comply with the rules and regulations of the Association.

Members Benefits

The following benefits are accruable to members of CNJ:

1. Discounted fee to participate in trainings, workshops, seminars and conferences organized by the SMC.
2. Access to mentors who offer valuable support on individual and collaborative projects
3. Awareness of grant opportunities and scholarships for journalists
4. Enhanced knowledge sharing and multidisciplinary collaborations among journalists

Opportunity to expand network base and interact with thought leaders in both professional and academic settings.

• Quarterly meetings
• Annual conventions
• Collaborations among members on data journalism
• Researches on burning social and developmental issues
• Reports monitoring
• Periodic publications and newsletters
• Website and data bank management

Activities of CNJ will be funded through sponsorship and members’ contributions in cash or kind. The Association will solicit funding from corporate bodies, embassies and consulates and other international organizations and donors, with passion for strengthening media capacity in order to support research and promote developmental objectives and systems in the sub-Saharan African countries

The Association shall strive at all times to foster high sense of discipline in the members.  Members are expected to exhibit strong ethical standards and operate strictly in accordance with the codes of ethics of journalism as well as the codes of conduct set by the Nigerian Institute of Journalism and the Nigerian Press Council.  Members shall be assessed based on compliance with the above codes of conducts.  Cases of infringement and violation will be referred to the Disciplinary Committee for adjudication and necessary sanctions.

Research and Publications

The activities of the committee may include;

• Identifying priorities/opportunities for research on CNJ priorities
• Coordinating proposals for grants
• Ensuring that the website of the Association is up and running at all times
• Developing targeted research support proposals
• Supporting partnership opportunities for research

Sponsorship and Grants

The committee is responsible for sourcing for sponsorship and maintaining relationships with the existing sponsors. Other responsibilities include;

• Identifying and aggregating sources of grant funding for individual researches
• Developing plans for securing sponsorship for CNJ programmes

• In conjunction with research and publication committee, develop application or sponsorship proposals
• Ensure the funds raised are used for the designated purposes

Training and workshop

The goal of the Committee is to assess the information and training needs of the CNJ members and to encourage, develop, coordinate and/or deliver responses to those needs. Specifically, the committee is saddled with the responsibility of:

• Identify information and training needs of the membership.
• Design training workshops.
• Coordinate training activities with SMC other CNJ committees, and sponsors

The Disciplinary Committee’s role is to monitor the professional practice of the members in order to fulfill the overarching mission of the group which is to promote justice, good governance, accountability, and social change in the economic and socio-cultural aspects of the Nigerian society through precise, data-based reporting and policy analysis. It ensures that the behaviours of members are flawless and that their deeds and actions respect the journalism code of ethics. A separate code of conduct shall be drawn up to spell out avoidable disciplinary issues and the attendant sanctions for infringement.

THE SECRETARIAT:

Professional Education Department

School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic University

KM 52, Lekki-Epe Expressway, Ibeju-Lekki.

Lagos

Email: professionaleducation@smc.edu.ng