Collaboration key to sustaining journalism and social impact

In a time of dwindling resources, declining trust, and growing information overload, collaboration has become essential rather than optional for African media and civil society organisations, said speakers at the Collaborating for Impact webinar hosted by the fraymedia Foundation.

Moderator Paula Fray, CEO of the Foundation, opened the session by reminding participants that “across Africa, media entities and civil society organisations are navigating incredibly complex landscapes - shrinking revenue streams, declining trust, information overload. All of these challenges mean we can no longer afford to work in silos.” She added that collaboration “is no longer a luxury; it has become a necessity”.

Collaboration as a political choice

Ashley Green-Thompson, founding director of Act Ubumbano, said collaboration requires a “deeply political decision.” “Injustice, inequality and poverty are wicked problems that require multiple interventions at the same time,” he explained. “One of those strategies is to collaborate — to put resources together in order to maximise the ability of activists or social actors to impact the particular issue.”

Green-Thompson warned against tokenistic partnerships that amount to “the occasional banner and shared logo.” Instead, collaboration must “begin with listening to the lived reality of people affected by the issues you’re trying to deal with.” Partnerships driven by donor logframes rather than authentic relationships, he said, are “dead in the water”.

Trust, he added, develops when partners are willing to show vulnerability. “When you share your failures as well as your successes, it allows for connection across countries and between organisations,” he said. “But there must also be a shared values framework — you can’t build trust if you’re pulling in opposite moral directions.”

Journalism partnerships must be equitable

Veteran investigative journalist Beauregard Tromp, convenor of the African Investigative Journalism Conference, said journalism collaborations face their own set of challenges — particularly inequity between partners.

“In the investigative world, collaborations most often happen around projects,” he said. “But too often, one side is seen as the provider … I come to you when I need your local knowledge, and the rest of the time you’re off my radar. That’s not sustainable.”

He called for “transparency and equality across the board,” adding: “Too often these are inequitable partnerships. We need real partnerships where we come in as equals — where there’s full transparency about funding, objectives, and roles.”

Tromp noted that building relationships early helps counter exploitation. “You have to include people from the outset,” he said. “And that means a longer investment - in people, in organisations, in skills - so that next time we have a project, we all bring expertise to bear.”

Green-Thompson agreed, stressing that successful collaboration requires constant communication. “Keep people up to date, make sure everyone knows what you’re doing,” he said. “Even if there’s no weekly call, a regular newsletter or solidarity hub keeps the network alive.”

Thandi Smith, head of programmes at Media Monitoring Africa - now rebranded as Moxii Africa - said collaboration has always been central to the organisation’s work.

“In policy and regulation, the processes and agendas are so fractured that it became invaluable to get a variety of stakeholders in one room,” she said. “When multiple voices agree on a similar approach, it amplifies and strengthens that position.”

Smith added that collaboration is also a practical response to scarcity: “We’re expected to have more impact with fewer resources. Leveraging other organisations’ audiences and relationships strengthens your reach and your results.”

When collaborations fail, she said, it is “usually because of a lack of clarity around expectations and roles.” To prevent that, Moxie now ensures that “every partnership begins with clear discussion and written agreement on responsibilities, even if it seems like overkill.”

Experts and journalists as co-creators

Mariam Ileyem, health reporter at Nigeria’s Premium Times, shared how collaboration between journalists and experts improves accuracy and credibility. “In health journalism, we can’t work in isolation,” she said. “You need experts who’ve studied the issues for years — but the way you approach them matters.”

She emphasised mutual respect and transparency: “We must make experts understand that they’re not just sources but partners. When audiences see expert insight in your story, they trust your work more.”

But editorial independence must remain with journalists. “You need to have a clear understanding that final editorial control belongs to you,” she said. “The expert can inform the work but not control the narrative.”

Managing power and conflict

Speakers also addressed power dynamics and conflict. Green-Thompson cautioned that collaboration often fails because “our eyes are perennially focused on power — we believe influence comes from proximity to power. That’s the biggest killer of meaningful collaboration.”

Tromp warned that journalism’s “male-dominated culture” can introduce ego clashes. “Too many Type A personalities — everybody’s right, everybody’s a leader,” he said. “It’s like watching silverback gorillas. The work suffers.”

His solution: “Set the rules of engagement early. Everyone must know what to expect, and you can’t dictate to partners. Real collaboration means consultation and autonomy.”

As the session drew to a close, Fray urged participants to continue the conversation beyond the webinar. “Collaboration is about intention, trust and clarity,” she said. “If we want to build media that serves the public good, we need to invest not just in stories, but in relationships that make those stories possible.”

This article is based on the fraymedia Foundation’s “Collaborating for Impact” webinar held in October 2025, featuring Paula Fray, Ashley Green-Thompson, Beauregard Tromp, Thandi Smith, and Mariam Ileyem.

Watch the full video here: