Alex B. Atuhaire is a veteran Ugandan journalist and editor. Currently he is working as a media viability consultant (MVC) following a tailor-made training conducted by the Innovations Village, Uganda. Atuhaire’s experience focuses on media management and content production, management and distribution. He is currently pursuing a Masters in Media Innovation at the Aga Khan University, Graduate School of Media and Communication Studies and focusing his research interest on new revenue models for sustainable media.
| What motivates you to be part of the Media Viability ecosystem?
Media existence and viability are under threat worldwide. Across Africa and especially in the East African region, long-standing challenges to the profession – including the legal environment and the economic ecosystem – have increased the commercial pressure on editorial decision making and placed business viability in serious jeopardy as newsroom managers grapple with business model dilemmas. My presence in the Media Viability ecosystem is to be part of the leadership and innovation processes for content-led business models which have proved very successful for media viability. |
| What impact do you want to make in the media sector?
As audiences move online, they take with them advertising and circulation revenue, leaving media houses less able to attract or retain talent and even more vulnerable to political intimidation and economic pressure, leaving more viability pressure on the institutions. Journalism suffers in terms of content generation and, in the process, the situation of viability becomes even more precarious — more serious. Addressing the media viability issue using the content-led models will help the industry make a mark in both ways — business and helping sustainable professional journalism. |
| What can media organisations as beneficiaries expect when they work with you?
We shall be able to work together with people and systems to understand the important media viability indicators including content initiatives, technology, the economy, the political factors and community as a way of trying to move from the seriously challenged underlying traditional business models for new content-led models, that leverage the use of technology for business optimism. Using the three-box solution, we shall hope to create a viable feature by first enhancing the development of sustainable villages. |
