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Tag: journalists

  • How journalists should operate in 21st century, by Omatseye

    How journalists should operate in 21st century, by Omatseye

    With the rapidity of information dissemination in the new media and advancement in technology, the traditional media must brace itself to be relevant in the profession, celebrated columnist and Chairman of The Nation Editorial Board Sam Omatseye said yesterday.

    He said the culture of 21st century journalism practice is a function of speed, which, he said, has changed the conventional practice of news gathering and dissemination.

    A modern journalist, he said, needs innovation and new thinking to practise the profession.

    Omatseye delivered a paper titled: Media in the 21st Century, at a lecture organised by Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) students as part of activities to mark their week.

    He said: “How does a traditional news medium react when its audience already has information it is passing across on social media? The traditional media understand that there are amateurs and professional reporters. But, how can professionals make interesting picture of a news story that will be worthy of the money of the reader, who just saw it on social media? This is the conundrum of the media in the 21st century.

    “The Internet is the major task before the 21st century media practitioner. It is the task of timeliness and rapidity. The new media and latest media tools have cancelled space and time, which used to be bullet point in traditional media practice. It is the task of a modern journalist to make news worth a while.

    “Media practitioners must know that people are in a hurry; they don’t have time to delve into details. It is a task before professional media practitioners to be smart and work ahead of an amateur, who twists language and posts unprofessional news on social media platforms.”

    Omatseye noted that the advent of new media should not be seen as a death sentence to the print media.

    But he said the social media pose great challenge to the relevance of newspaper in modern time.

    According to the celebrated columnist, the print media had survived several technology-induced revolutions, noting that newspaper would survive, if the print media practitioners embrace innovation and keep up with the speed of the new media.

    He said: “Online media have less credibility and are more prone to take risk unlike traditional media, which have to go through the rigour of objectivity and fact-checking. But, traditional media managers must understand that this is a post-modern world; journalism is in a hurry as news is served faster.

    “Journalists and journalism students must project into the future and change the way they look at journalism.”

    Omatseye urged journalism student to focus on how to write masterpiece without compromising the ethics of the profession.

    The highpoint was the presentation of award of excellence to Omatseye by the students for his contribution to newspaper and development of journalism.

    NIJ Deputy Provost Mr. Jide Johnson presented the award on behalf of the students.

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • German/French consulates host journalists at book reading

    German/French consulates host journalists at book reading

    The Consulates of the Federal Republic of Germany and France are to host a book reading by culture journalists on Sunday, May 14, 2017.

    The reading by leading culture journalists in the country is to be from a book recently published under the auspices of Nigeria Arts and Culture Journalists and Arts Writers Organisation of Nigeria (AWON).

    The book entitled Route 234: An Anthology of Global Travel Writing, is a compilation of travel writings, travelogues and experiences of the journalists during their various travels around the world.

    The reading is to hold at the Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany, 15, Walter Carrington Crescent Victoria Island. The time is 6:30pm.  The two consulates are hosting the writers as part of activities to popularise the book and show their supports for the art of travel writing.

    Among the contributors are two senior editors with The Nation, Olayinka Oyegbile and Ozolua Uhakheme. Others are Jahman Anikulapo, former editor of The Guardian on Sunday, Pelu Awofeso, an award winning travel writer, Sola Balogun, a journalist and University teacher and a host of others.

     

  • Lawmaker commends journalists for imbibing tenets of democracy

    Lawmaker commends journalists for imbibing tenets of democracy

    Chairman, Committee on Information and Strategy of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Tunde Braimoh has commended journalists covering the assembly for imbibing the tenets of democracy. He expressed gladness that the journalists elected new executive members of their association without any rancour.
    “We do not take you for granted. The Speaker has a lot of respect for you. The way you perceive us may not be the way you want us to be and we can become better friends. I was glad with the way your electoral committee members carried me along in the whole process, they have been open-minded and I want us to continue to tolerate one another. I have age-long traditional relationship with the press and there is no publisher of the past decade that is not my friend ” he said.
    The lawmaker said further that it is unlike him not to be friendly with the press, and called on the journalists to change their negative perception about him, adding that they should work with him to take the assembly to the next level. He described journalism as a noble profession, and advised the pressmen not to be far from him as the Chairman of the committee overseeing their activities.
    The Chairman of LAHACA, Mr. Akinboye Akintola said in his speech that the last executive of the association of which he was the Chairman, produced a constitution to regulate the activities of the association, while they also opened an account for the association for accountability. He promised that the annual get-together of the association is a continuous exercise, while charging other members of the executive council of the association to be ready to work for the interest of the association.

  • Journalists warn against fake colleagues

    The Plateau State chapter of the League of Veteran Journalists has alerted that some writers who pose as journalists on social media have been raising false alarm in the state.
    In a statement by the chairman, Dr. Gideon Barde and Secretary-General, Tunde Ladapo, the League said that after its own independent investigation, it has found out that “there was no iota of truth in the social media report that alleged of plans for social upheavals in the state.”
    It warned those posing as journalists on the social media to desist from spreading fear.
    The body also stressed that the role of the media is to promote peace and not instil unfounded fear in the populace. It called on the people to report bearers of false news to the appropriate authorities and charged all “ethnic, religious and political groups in the state to live in peace.”

  • Activists decry harassment of journalists

    Activists decry harassment of journalists

    A human rights group, the Access to Justice (A2Justice) has condemned the arrest and harassment of Premium Times publisher Dapo Olorunyomi and its judiciary correspondent, Evelyn Okakwu by the police.

    The two have since been released, while no charges have been filed against them.

    In a statement by its Executive Director Joseph Otteh, A2Justice described the arrest as “a throwback to the dark days of military autocracy when press freedoms were constant victims and casualties of military repression and dictatorship.”

    The group said more than eighteen years after the transition to civil rule, Nigeria should be done with the repression of free speech.

    “Unfortunately, police and military authorities still act with intentional disregard for democratic freedoms and civil liberties. The right of expression and the operation of a medium of communication and dissemination of information is a guaranteed constitutional right.

    “The harassment of persons who exercise these freedoms is a direct assault on the Constitution of this County, and substantially undermines a strong pillar of democratic government.

    “The Nigeria police should not use, or lend its powers to be used, to intimidate those engaged in providing critical information to the Nigerian people; neither should it obstruct the free communication of information or exchange of ideas in a democratic country.

    “The media has a uniquely significant role in keeping those who exercise power accountable for their actions or omissions. That role must be supported and defended and the channel of communication through which information reaches the people must be kept clear, and unobstructed.

    “Access to Justice welcomes the release of those arrested, but demands that the Buhari government ends this gratuitous interference with the freedom of the Press,” A2Justice said.

    Also, an activist-lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, said the arrest of journalists by the Muhammadu Buhari administration seem to suggest a total breakdown of democratic tolerance.

    “The point that I’ve struggled to make all these many months of the Buhari regime, is that all actions of government should follow due process and the rule of law and that there should be no discrimination in the application of law.

    “It is in the light of the foregoing that I strongly condemn the crackdown on the media, by the APC led administration. It started with bloggers and has now moved steadily to social media practitioners and it will eventually get to the traditional main stream media.

    “It will not spare the political ‘allies, the preferred civil society groups, the loyal activists and even the prayerful faith based entities.

    “However, we must not tolerate this clampdown on the media and the opposition, because anytime a government gets this desperate to silence the critical voices of the media, then there is hidden agenda.

    “The media has the constitutional responsibility, imposed on it by section 22 of the Constitution, to hold government accountable to the people,” Adegboruwa said.

  • Baba Aladura tasks journalists on the unity of Nigeria

    Baba Aladura tasks journalists on the unity of Nigeria

    The Spiritual father and Head, C&S Movement Church worldwide, Most Rev. Dr Samuel Adefila Abidoye, has charged journalists to commit their reportage on the oneness of Nigeria, saying press men and women are the people that govern Nigeria.
    Speaking to journalists in Lagos at the dedication of a 5,000-seater capacity ultra modern Cathedral of C&S, Chapel of Divine Blessing, the religious leader said, “except we want to deceive ourselves, we are all Nigerians and we must all try to make Nigeria great, forget about religion, everyone born in Nigeria is a Nigerian. Therefore gentlemen and ladies of the press, the work is in your hand.
    “How many people that are here know what we are doing today, but you’ll carry it to everybody and they will know what happened, so you are the people ruling Nigeria.”
    Abidoye added: “Don’t be an equal yoke with bad people by allowing them to influence your reports with money, because if you spoil Nigeria, it’s all of us who will bear the brunt. You are the mouthpiece that furnish everybody with information on what happens in Nigeria, so don’t allow money to determine what you report and it’ll be well with you all.”

  • ANA celebrates poets, journalists, patrons, others 

    ANA celebrates poets, journalists, patrons, others 

    The Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Bayelsa State chapter, had a banquet. It was not a feast of wine, red meat and revelry. It was a banquet of poetry and prose; a literary outing to draw a curtain on 2016.

    ANA led by Mr. Michael Afenfia, entertained hordes of literary geniuses and visitors who graced the occasion with soft drinks and food packed in plate-like foils, but the item seven was not the motive of the gathering.

    ANA lifted the spirits of its guests to a plane of literature at the event that was held at the palace of its Grand Patron and Paramount Ruler of Tombia, His Royal Highness, Chief Christian Atani Okpofaa Otobotekere.

    It was a day of poems. Even the welcome address of the aged grand patron, a prolific writer himself, sounded poetic. “Looking around, I can see all of you in good cheer. You call your good selves ANA, but surely, you are much more than a name. I feel humbled at you presence and feel extremely delighted”, the Amanana-Owei of Tombia said.

    Though old, the paramount ruler sounded like his good old self. He glanced through his condensed written address and thundered: “Today, is therefore, a day for high cheer and laughter. A day for ANA and all friends. A day for beams of mental ecstasy.

    “I can see everybody in good cheer. See them. Name them. They are all joyous and smiling, some are almost falling down with laughter”.

    In fact, looking at Otobotekere and another celebrated author and traditional ruler, His Royal Highness, Dr. Bokumo Orukari of Sabagreia, it becomes obvious that some communities in Bayelsa are blessed with learned monarchs.

    The Tombia ruler continued with his rendition. He said: “ANA is another name for the progressive Nigerian outfit bent on lifting a nation, indeed, the world to brighter and higher levels. ANA is on the scoreboard today”.

    The opening remarks of Otobotekere, no doubt gave the event a focus. It opened the floodgates of reading of competitive poems, written and submitted by various poets. All the poets submitted their entries to compete for a prize of N100,000. They were asked to write on the change agenda of the present administration.

    Drums of Terror, the Change Agenda, Journey  so far; Winter Season, Pretty Promises and Promises, were some of the poems filed in for the competition. But before announcing the winner, Afenfia, first presented a certificate to Darlington, a student of the Niger Delta University (NDU), who won the Yusuf Ali Prose Competition for tertiary institution, earlier in the year.

    Similarly, awards were given to some journalists for their contributions to the promotion of art and literature especially the activities of ANA in the state. The Head of Raypower, Daar Centre, Yenagoa, Mr. Winston Akpabio and the Head of News, Silverbird, Mr. Oyins Engrenbido, received their awards.

    Other outstanding writers and promoters of ANA such as Chief Lambart Otiotio, Emmanuel Frank Opigo, Chief Orukari, were all given awards.

    Indeed, it was a gathering of writers. The controversial prolific author, Josef Nengi Ila, who was once committed to prison following his works and past leaders of ANA attended the literary occasion.

    But at the end, a female poet, Hannah Olugbo Isuku, won the poetic competition. Her entry, Pretty Promises, was adjudged the winner of the competition followed by Winter Season and Drums of Terror written by Thomas Peretu. Pretty Promises was described as expansive, explicit with splatter of poetic tools.

    Hannah, who immediately received her N100,000 prize thanked ANA for the competition and asked people to join authors’ association.

    In his remarks, Afenfia thanked the awardees, patrons and other traditional rulers who in several ways contributed to the growth of ANA in the state. He said the awarded journalists had given tremendous support to the association.

  • Group trains journalists on corruption, governance, democracy

    A collation of business organisations called “International Private Enterprise” (CIPE) in partnership with the Plateau Coalition of Business and Professional Association (PLACOBPA) is to hold a one-day media workshop for editors, desk managers and correspondents on business enterprises in the northern part of the Nigeria.

    The coalition are currently developing Business Agenda (BAs) for their respective states in Multi-phased projects  to serve as tools that will allow private sector actors to collectively identify and discuss obstacles that stand for the development and growth of the business sector with potential solutions for them.

    The Marketing Communication/Public Affairs Advisor, Mr. Haroun Audu (NIPR), stated this yesterday during a press briefing held at the Hill Station Hotel in Jos, the Plateau State capital.

    He said the mandates of CIPE’s is to strengthen democracy around the globe through private enterprise and market-oriented reform, as one of the four core institutes of the National Endowment for Democracy and has worked with business leaders, policymakers and Journalist to build the civic institutions vital to a democratic society since 1983.

  • Joint winners emerge in CNN Multichoice African Journalists award

    Two winners, Asha Ahmed Mwilu and Rashid Idi have been awarded the top prize at this year’s CNN MultiChoice African Journalist 2016 Awards Ceremony.

    The duo shared the overall CNN MultiChoice African Journalist of the Year Award for their combined work, Terror Crossing, which was chosen from record number of 1,637 entries spanning 38 countries across the African continent.

    Mwilu and Idi’s Terror Crossing is described as an in-depth investigative documentary about security at the Kenya-Somali border in Mandera county. The story was aired by Kenya Television Network in its investigative programme, The Lead.

    “We are overwhelmed by this accolade. It is a dream come true to win the CNN MultiChoice African Journalist Award for a story that we believe passionately in and one that we felt was important to tell,” they said.

    Yolisa Phahle, CEO of M-Net, and Greg Beitchman, VP, Content Sales and Partnerships, CNN International, presented Mwilu and Idi with the Award at a Gala Awards ceremony held at the Gallagher Convention Centre, in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Mwilu and Idi, winners in the News Impact Award, were among 38 finalists from 15 countries who attended the Awards ceremony as the culmination of an all-expense paid four-day programme of workshops, media forums and networking in Johannesburg, South Africa.

    Meanwhile, Yemisi Akinbobola, Ogechi Ekeanyanwu & Paul Bradshaw, IQ4News for Premium Times, Nigeria were joint winners of the Sport Reporting Award.

    “Congratulations to all the winners! Your unique way of storytelling has captured the hearts and minds of all Africans and those beyond our borders. The Awards have not only had a profound effect on the African media landscape but have catapulted winners into senior positions and success. As MultiChoice Africa we remain committed to recognising excellence in journalism throughout Africa. We applaud all the finalists and winners for continuing to tell Africa’s stories and contributing to Africa’s growth and success,” Tim Jacobs, CEO, MultiChoice Africa, said.

  • Editor advises journalists on investigative reporting

    Editor of a leading online newspaper, Premium Times, Mr Musikilu Mojeed, has charged owners of media houses to invest in effective capacity building of journalists working in their organisations to promote transparency in events reportage.

    Mojeed, an award-winning investigative journalist, spoke at a two-day conference with the theme: “Corruption, transparency and accountability in public and private organisations”. The event was organised by the West Africa chapter of the Academic Stand Against Poverty (ASAP) at the Department of Mass Communication of the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

    The Premium Times editor, who spoke on “Media and investigative journalism”, noted that it was necessary for media owners to commit more resources to training and retraining of journalists on investigative journalism and data gathering.

    Speaking on the need to engage budding reporters on investigative journalism practice, Mojeed said Premium Times had been making effort to create platform to train reporters on investigative journalism.

    He urged journalists to complement their duty of holding government accountable to the people with actions and factual reportage.

    He also advised the media to consistently educate people on impact of corruption on governance, observing that graft remained the obstacle against the government to provide good infrastructure, quality education and ensure buoyant economy.

    The Editor said the media must pay attention to the activities of anti-corruption agencies and security operatives to keep them on their toes in performing their statutory duties with professionalism.

    He said: “Journalists must check corruption in the media too. We need not embrace corrupt politicians. We should keep reporting issues of corruption until actions are taken to stop it.  Consistent reporting on corruption cases is very important in the fight against corruption.”