Nigeria LNG Limited, widely known as Nigeria LNG Limited, has once again reinforced its commitment to strengthening the media landscape as it officially launched another edition of the Change Your Story (CYS) capacity-building workshop for journalists.

The initiative, facilitated by The Journalism Clinic and founded by veteran media professional Taiwo Obe, continues to serve as a powerful platform designed to nurture a new generation of highly skilled and forward-thinking journalists across Nigeria.

Right from the opening session, organisers set the tone for what promises to be a rigorous and transformational learning experience, one that places journalists firmly at the centre of the rapidly evolving digital media landscape.

Delivering the opening remarks, Anne-Marie Palmer-Ikuku warmly welcomed participants and reaffirmed NLNG’s dedication to advancing professional journalism through continuous training and knowledge sharing.

She explained that the programme, which began in 2014, has steadily grown into one of the country’s most respected media training initiatives.

According to her, the latest workshop represents the second edition of the programme for the year and the sixteenth overall since its launch.

“Over the years, more than 400 journalists across Nigeria have benefited from this digital skills enhancement programme,” she noted, adding that every edition continues to deliver unique learning experiences for participants.

She further emphasized that journalism plays a critical role in shaping public understanding of complex issues.

“Journalists do far more than simply report events,” she said. “They interpret issues and help the public understand decisions that affect their lives, particularly in a world where audiences are constantly navigating social and economic challenges.”

Consequently, she explained that the training aims to provide journalists with modern tools, professional insights, and digital solutions that will enable them to report more effectively and accurately.

Furthermore, Palmer-Ikuku encouraged participants to take full advantage of the three-day workshop, which will feature sessions on multimedia storytelling, digital verification, professional safety, and leadership.

“Our goal,” she added, “is to equip you with the latest knowledge and tools that will make your work easier, sharper, and more impactful.”

Earlier, the founder and director of The Journalism Clinic, Taiwo Obe, highlighted the broader vision behind the programme.

He stressed that the training initiative remains firmly rooted in a clear mission: to cultivate and mentor a new generation of first-rate journalists in Nigeria.

Reflecting on his own professional journey, Obe recalled how he pursued an international fellowship in 2014 with the Thomson Foundation, despite already having years of experience in the media industry.

“At the time, a colleague asked me what anyone could possibly teach me,” he said. “But I told him something very simple: I may not know what I do not know. I went there to learn, and I returned with valuable knowledge.”

He explained that the experience reinforced a lifelong commitment to continuous learning, an attitude he believes every journalist must embrace.

“You are never too old to learn,” he reminded participants, pointing to industry experts who continue to undergo training in emerging technologies, including artificial intelligence.

He therefore urged participants to remain open-minded and to focus on how their work can create meaningful impact.

Many of the journalists, he noted, expressed a strong desire to produce stories that inspire positive change.

“This programme,” he assured them, “will help you achieve that goal.”

Providing further context for the workshop, international media trainer Dan Mason introduced three guiding principles that shape the Change Your Story programme.

These pillars, he explained, are Recalibrate, Create, and Connect.

First, he encouraged participants to recalibrate by reflecting on their professional direction and identifying new opportunities for growth.

“In journalism,” he observed, “standing still is not an option. If you are not moving forward, you are effectively moving backward.”

Next, he urged journalists to create, noting that the workshop would explore modern storytelling techniques and digital tools that can significantly enhance newsroom productivity.

The training sessions, he revealed, will cover areas such as artificial intelligence, mobile-first video reporting, and multimedia content production.

Finally, he highlighted the importance of connection, encouraging participants to learn not only from facilitators but also from each other.

“You will gain as much insight from your colleagues as you will from the trainers,” Mason explained.

As part of the opening training session, Mason also led participants through an exploration of emerging artificial intelligence tools that are transforming modern journalism.

He demonstrated how journalists can use AI platforms to analyse audience behaviour, identify trending topics, and develop more targeted content strategies.

However, he also reminded participants that technology alone cannot replace professional judgment.

Instead, he stressed that journalists must continue to prioritise audience needs when creating stories.

“It is not about us,” he said. “It is about what our audience needs and what motivates them.”

Therefore, he encouraged journalists to adopt an entrepreneurial mindset and to think strategically about how they can engage, influence, and sustain their audiences.

Ultimately, the Change Your Story initiative seeks to reposition Nigerian journalists for the demands of a rapidly evolving media environment.

By combining digital innovation with ethical journalism practices, the programme aims to help reporters produce compelling, accurate, and audience-focused stories.

Through initiatives like this, Nigeria LNG Limited continues to play a significant role in strengthening Nigeria’s media ecosystem while empowering journalists to remain relevant in an increasingly digital world.

As the workshop unfolds over the coming days, participants are expected to deepen their skills, sharpen their storytelling techniques, and ultimately return to their newsrooms better equipped to deliver impactful journalism.

In addition, the first day of the training featured extensive practical sessions led by Dan Mason, who carefully walked participants through a wide range of digital tools and platforms now shaping modern journalism practice.

Among the major topics explored during the intensive Day One session were key artificial intelligence and digital newsroom tools such as ChatGPT, Perplexity and Gemini.

Participants were also introduced to a range of practical storytelling and content-production applications including PromptFlam, PicFlam, AudioFlam, ChartFlam, MapFlam and StoryFlam, alongside digital resources such as Pixabay and NotebookLM.

Additional sessions also covered the use of PDF tools, digital converters and other multimedia utilities that support modern newsroom workflows and digital storytelling.

Throughout the training, Mason took time to carefully explain each of the tools, guiding participants step by step from the beginning to the end of the sessions, while demonstrating how journalists can practically apply them to enhance reporting, storytelling and audience engagement.

The highly interactive Day One training therefore set the tone for what participants described as an intense and deeply enriching learning experience, signaling the depth and rigor expected in the remaining two days of the three-day workshop.