Go safe - farewell to our Nigerian friends

With the designers at the start of the course

Mike with designer Akila

Mike with the design team

Photography specialist Alun John

Mike at work

I said goodbye to nine Nigerian newspaper designers and editors today. They flew back to Abuja after two weeks at the Press Association offices in London where we have been helping them redesign the Trust titles. They had sessions with picture specialist Alun John, software training with Ti Majek and four intensive hands-on design days with Mike Brough. Their first week was seriously disturbed by news from back home that a bomb had gone off at neighbouring newspaper Thisday, and nine people were killed. It emerged later that Nigerian newspapers and their journalists are now targets of the sect Boko Haram. In a remarkable video, posted on YouTube after the attack, an anonymous man lists 11 newspapers and puts them in three risk categories. He says Thisday, in Category 1, was attacked for publishing 'inaccurate and biased information' about Boko Haram. The Daily Trust is in Category 3 and has been warned it will be targeted unless it stops publishing 'falsehood' about the sect. It certainly puts some of the issues we are facing in UK newspapers in perspective. Despite the worries about what was going on at home, the nine enjoyed their London stay, were great company and produced some exceptionally good pages. I wish them a safe return and look forward to the next time. 

Farewell to my new Nigerian friends ...

... from the Daily Trust http://www.news.dailytrust.com who have spent two weeks at Press Association Training in London. They have learned everything from the subbing masterclass and the editor's chair courses and I have learned a huge amount about Nigerian newspapers and culture. They fly back tomorrow to 35 degrees and newspapers that believe, first and foremost, that good journalism sells newspapers. Good luck to them.

Working with the Daily Trust

Working with four senior journalists from the Nigerian Daily Trust http://www.news.dailytrust.com in London this week. We are looking at strategy and managing change. An eye-opener for them .. and for me.