The Nation Newspaper

Tag: media

  • Media hosts Omoni Oboli

    Media hosts Omoni Oboli

    It is no longer news that Omoni Oboli was named the Sun Nollywood/Entertainment Personality of the year 2015, taking over the title from Don Jazzy. The mother of three over the weekend officially received the award letter from the MD of Sun newspaper Eric Osagie.

    “I’m so humbled and blessed to be honoured with the Sun Newspaper Nollywood Person of the Year award. I was hosted to lunch by the management of Sun Newspaper, led by the MD, Mr Eric Osaigie, along with Mr Onuaoha Ekeh and Mr Tosin Ajirire,” she stated.

    The multiple award-winning actress whose latest movie, The First Lady is still running in cinemas across the country, has featured in movies like:  The Figurine, Render to Caesar, Anchor Baby, Being Mrs Elliott, among others.

    In 2014, the actress made her directorial debut with the movie Being Mrs Elliott. The movie which featured the actress alongside Majid Michel, Uru Eke, AY Makun, Chika Chukwu, Seun Akindele among others, received positive reviews. And in 2015, she released her second movie as a producer The First Lady, starring Alexx Ekubo, Joseph Benjamin and Yvonne Jegede, and others.

  • Twin brothers’ legacy for media

    In every profession, there are those whose contributions and actions play critical roles in the growth of such human endeavour. Often times, such individuals help shape and define the trends and practices and thereby become masters of the trade. This, perhaps, informed the choice of 50 world journalists that make Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe’s book entitled 50 World Editors (conversations with journalism masters on trends and best practices.

    But, who are these world class masters of the pen profession? Your guess is as good as mine. They are drawn from top flight media organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The 628-page book is a compilation of conversations with the masters on issues ranging from day-to-day schedules of practising journalists to what defines a news, what defines a front page story, quality of news, tips for success as a reporter, core values of a media house, the defining story of a reporter, and many more. In all, the conversations though share many things in common, reveal some interesting stories about some editors and their media organisations, including personal experiences.

    But, the book, which is a result of the authors’ ten years of traversing the globe interviewing key players in the industry, is not all about editors, but top media players some of them at the apex of the media pole-publishers, presidents, managing editors, editor-in-chiefs, editors, bureau chiefs, line editors and correspondents who made great marks in journalism. The scope is all embracing as it covers practitioners in print, broadcast journalism and international news agencies such as Reuters, AFP and Globalpost. The book is ‘ultimately biographical in the sense that each of the candidates featured in this collection shares his or her own journalism story and in so doing, reflects on the diverse aspects of the practice and precepts of journalism in different generations covering different countries.’

    To the authors, the book is a lived experience rather than a pedantic narrative of scholarly exploration, capturing similarities, diversities and sociological nuances of media operations in different countries of the world.

    Published in 2014 by Corporate Biographers Limited, the book is in three sections A to C, with The Americas having 20 of the 50 masters, while Europe has 19 and Africa and Asia share 11 masters. Nigeria’s newspaper legend Alhaji Babatunde Ajose of the old Daily Times led the pack of masters featured in Section C that comprises Africa/Asia alongside Segun Osoba, Nduka Obaigbena Thisday newspaper), John Momoh (Channels TV), Dele Olojede, Bayo Onanuga (The News magazine), Joseph Odindo (Nation Media Group, Kenya), Ferial Haffajee (Mail & Guardian South Africa among others.

    From The Americas and Europe Sections A and B are masters such as Michael Goodwin (New York Daily News), Jill Abramson (New York Times), Chris Cramer (former President CNN), Alan Rusbridger (The Guardian UK),  Robert Thomson (The Times UK), Victor de la Serna (El Mundo, Spain) and Alan Johnston (BBC Correspondent).

    On the challenges of being editor of Daily Times at the era of Nigeria attaining independence, Alhaji Jose said: “We published a paper that was trusted by the readers. To be trusted you have to show the integrity of a leader. The people knew that I had no political ambition. I had access and was consulted by highly placed government functionaries, prime ministers, presidents. So they know that whatever we did, it was not because I am a Yoruba man. They had seen the paper openly attacking Chief Obafemi Awolowo-the leader of the Yorubas.”

    But given the content of the book, it can be described as the ‘most encyclopedic book on global journalism.’ It ranks among publications such as Martin Walker’s 1982 award winning book, Powers of the press: The World’s Great Newspapers. Apart from that, one unique character of the book is that it presents the journalistic views of the world editors in their own words.

    Again, the public presentation of the book at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos on September 15 was more than a launch. It brought together veterans in the industry to celebrate a worthy product, an effort that would gladden the heart of the late Igwe in great beyond. However, some oversights were noticed in the compilations. For instance, the retaining of late Dimgba Igwe’s email and telephone number suggests the book had gone to press with all the information before the death of Igwe. But, classifying Gillian Tett (Financial Times, USA) under Europe is an avoidable error of proof reading. If charity, they say, begins at home, 11 masters interviewed in Africa/Asia combined is an under-representation by the book, especially when considered against the conditions under which these media operate. Or is it a case of get one, you get all? Nigeria and indeed Africa deserves more representations in the book.

    Notwithstanding, the book is a legacy of a sort for the media industry, which makes it a must read for all-students of journalism, politicians and other professionals. 50 World Editors is a well-packaged book with clean quality prints and is a collector’s item any day. It will be useful for researchers, media operators and practicing journalists irrespective of generation or region of practice.

  • Media urged to publicise free health facilities

    Media urged to publicise free health facilities

    The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) has stressed the need for the public to take advantage of free health facilities.

    But for this to happen, the Chief of Field Officer in charge of Sokoto zone, Mr. Mohammed Mohiuddin urged the media to create the awareness and ensure that every  mother and  child have access to health care facilities, vaccination, and good water, among other necessities.

    He made the call while briefing reporters in Birnin-Kebbi, the Kebbi State capital, saying, “Nigeria is not poor in terms of resources but the people need more commitment and enlightenment.”

    Speaking further, he said, “In Nigeria, resources  are not a constraint,  but Nigeria is one of  the worst states when  talking about  access to health care, access to  good water and access to  basic education.”

    He also said millions of children are out of school and several more exposed to the six killer diseases, adding that most pregnant women and nursing mothers don’t even know that there are free health care facilities available for them to access.

    This situation results in needless deaths of mothers and their children, he said.

    He urged the media to work together with UNICEF to remove this problem by enlightening the general public on how to access some of these health facilities available in Kebbi.

    Besides, he said, “When they don’t access some of these vaccines, they become expired and spoil’’.

    In his presentation, Dr. Danjuma Nehema said every year about one out of every 20 women who deliver live babies in Nigeria die due to problems associated with pregnancy and childbirth. He urged the media to help disseminate these key information to the general public, saying that expectant women should receive antenatal care from a health worker at a health facility at least four times during pregnancy while those with vaginal bleeding, severe abdominal pain, difficulty breathing should go to the nearest clinic as early as possible.

  • Workers bag media awards

    Two workers of the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (FUNAAB), have been honoured with the Excellent media Southwest Nigeria awards for their outstanding performance in their chosen fields. They are: Dr. Elizabeth Oluwalana, a Programme Leader, Gender Issues and Youth Development (GIYD) programme, Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Centre (AMREC) and Mr. Kunle Agboola, a Chief Academic Technologist in the College of Food Science and Human Ecology (COLFHEC) of the university.

    While Oluwalana was awarded the ‘Ogun State Outstanding Personality of the Year 2015’, based on her immense contributions in empowering students and graduates in vocational and entrepreneurial skills, Mr. Agboola was honoured as the Ogun State Outstanding Technical Instructor of the Year 2015, based on his efforts at developing and imparting technical skills in the area of indigenous African textile technology, with special focus on adire.

    The organisers of the award, Excellent Media Group, is made up of media practitioners that are based in the Southwest geo-political zone of the country in a bid to promoting the culture of excellence in the society.

  • Examination malpractice and the media

    Ever wondered why there seems to be a decline in the learning attitude of students in Nigeria? You may also wonder why hard work is now a rare virtue among students in Nigeria. Pause for a moment and reminisce on the countless number of half-baked or even unbaked graduates that roam the streets of this country. They cry foul even though they are evidently unqualified for the jobs they seek. The reason for this aberration is that our educational value system has been debased and the thirst for knowledge and reward for merit have been replaced by a mere pursuit of a document called a degree.

    The value and functionality of any educational system lies in its ability to translate goals into real, tangible impact for the students. Till date, examinations still remain a very important tool for an objective assessment and evaluation of what learners have learnt and achieved after a period of schooling. The Examination Malpractice Act 1999 explains examination malpractice as any act of omission or commission by a person who in anticipation of, before, during or after any examination, fraudulently secures any unfair advantage for himself or any other person in such a manner that contravenes the rules and regulations to the extent of undermining the validity, reliability, authenticity of the examination and ultimately the integrity of the certificate issued.

    Examination malpractice is any irregular behavior exhibited by a candidate or anybody charged with the conduct of examination before, during or after the examination that contravenes the rules and regulations governing the conduct of such examination. Though, examination malpractice is neither a recent phenomenon nor peculiar to Nigeria. But the alarming rate of the scourge in secondary schools in Nigeria calls for concern from all stakeholders in the education sector. The effects of examination malpractice have become so widespread that there is virtually no examination anywhere at all levels and outside the formal school system without any form of malpractice.

    According to research, it has been proven that parents, guardians, teachers, proprietors and proprietresses of private schools, external examiners – in the case of external examinations such as WASSCE, GCE and UTME – have been identified as agents of examination malpractices. Some parents and guardians often change or send their children to “special centres” for external examination. They also pay to purchase examination questions for their children. Others prefer to bribe examiners or invigilators to aid or facilitate the chances of their wards during examinations. Other agents of examination malpractices are lazy students who seek short cuts to get through the system.

    What do you expect of a student who is insufficiently prepared for an examination? Cheating naturally becomes the only option. And unfortunately, students have perfected the various forms of cheating in the examination halls. Some of the methods employed include the smuggling of foreign materials into the examination halls. These foreign materials include prepared notes and materials written on palms, thighs and textbooks and they also come in with various tricks like ‘hide-and-seek’ and gadgets like micro-chips and magic text, all designed to assist them to pass the examination instead of relying on their own abilities.

    Other unwholesome scheming of exam cheats borders on outright stealing of others’ work, converting or misappropriating other candidates’ scripts, substitution of scripts at the end of the examination and so on. There are others referred to as “towing” and “ECOMOG” which involve candidates arranging with mercenaries to execute their evil strategies.

    The whole mess is further exacerbated by students whose penchant for success lacks a corresponding emphasis on legitimate means in achieving same.  Closely linked with the above is the proliferation of unqualified teachers in our institutions who are ready to sell grades at the drop of a hat.  And such disposition raises pertinent questions as regards their understanding of education to mankind.

    There is this saying that when the teacher breaks the board, what will be the action of the student? If the teachers and supposed role models fail to lead by example, what will the students do rather than engage themselves in examination malpractices just to pass and get out of school? And what do you make of a lecturer who cannot defend his own certificate?  What do you make of a lecturer who cannot speak correct English when delivery a lecture? What sort of knowledge is he going to pass to the naïve students?

    As f to compound problems even more, the emphasis on Nigeria’s education system is largely certificate oriented, translating to a tacit downplay of knowledge in place of a paper certification. Until we begin to revere real, transformative knowledge in our society, we will continue to churn out a swarming army of misfits and quacks as graduates.

    The Examination Malpractice Act 33 of 1999 stipulates a minimum punishment of N50, 000 and a maximum of five years imprisonment, without option of fine, for violators. But this Act seems like a toothless bulldog since offenders are hardly made to face the penalties. Some schools are fond of sweeping the mess under the carpet while the culprit gets only a pat on the back.  We proclaimed 2015 general election in Nigeria as free and fair. Yet, one wonders when examinations in our schools will equally experience such transparency and public confidence.

    Parents, government, religious groups and the media must brace up for an education system that is competitive. Our legislations should begin to give education the attention it truly deserves. Education is the lifeblood of any society. The quality of attention and resources available for the improvement of education in a given society determines, to a large extent, the future of that society. We must begin to give attention to what is truly paramount to our collective future.

     

    • Doreen, 200-Level Mass Comm., UNIBEN

     

  • Role of social media in war against insurgency

    The social media plays a pivotal role in the reportage of counterterrorism activities around the world. But this is not to say that the onus of nipping insurgency in the bud solely rests on its shoulders. Nigerian terrorist group, Boko-haram has gained increased media attention over the past few years. However, the efforts of our military troops in the north-east has been commendable and worthy of praise. The relationship between terrorism and social media has long been noted.

    Terrorist organizations such as Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabab, ISIS, and more recently, Boko-haram, depend on the open media systems of democratic countries and the internet to further their propagandist goals and messages. In order to garner publicity for their cause, terrorist organisations resort to acts of violence and aggression that deliberately target innocent citizens and upload these nefarious acts on social media. This method has proven to be quite effective in gathering attention, due to the convenience, affordability and broad reach of social media platforms like YouTube, Twitter and Facebook. While the social media may not support the goals of terrorist organisations, it is their duty to report current issues and events as they break. In the fiercely competitive internet environment, when a terrorist attack occurs, social media outlets scramble to break the story. In so doing, they knowingly or unknowingly help to further the agenda of these groups. This clearly illustrates that terrorism thrives on the oxygen of publicity, and the free media in open societies are particularly vulnerable to exploitation and manipulation by ruthless terrorist groups.

    In the same vein, social media has been a remarkably successful means of publicising the fight against these insurgents by the brave men and women of the Nigerian military. As a result of its unique and ubiquitous nature, the social media has in more ways than one, helped to create a positive awareness via hashtags, retweets, viral anti-insurgency campaign videos and online press releases from notable military authorities, especially in the North-east. However, it can do more. Internet users look to social media outlets to provide news especially on terrorism and counterterrorism. If they believe the former is a threat to their safety, they will want to be informed of the threats against them. The social media must fulfil the desires of its consumers by portraying terrorism as a threat and a menace to our society. These platforms understand that the stories they report have astounding effects on the political, sociological, and psychological perspectives on our society. Hence, they must gear up and help to sensitise and sanitise the mindset of its users, helping to discourage the recruitment of unsuspecting citizens, and also aiding the general public by providing intelligence to security agencies. This means that they must be ready to work hand-in-glove with the latter, and must possess basic skills for writing for the new media. The social media blogger or reporter must be patriotic and must be adept in security intelligence reporting. They must also Understand basic security terminologies, be socially literate, possess the ability to effectively communicate with the public without unnecessarily heating up the polity with “half-truths”, and avoid news commercialisation by any means possible.

    In dealing with extremism, we need answers that go beyond a military answer. We need answers that go beyond force. Considering the role social media plays in our daily lives, it is arguably a massive tool in the ideological campaign of most terrorist groups, and if we as a nation are to gain the confidence of the entire citizenry, it is a weapon we must harness as well.

     

    • Oluwatosin, 400-Level Mass Comm., JABU

     

  • Twin brothers’ legacy for media

    Twin brothers’ legacy for media

    In every profession, there are those whose contributions and actions play critical roles in the growth of such human endeavour. Often times, such individuals help shape and define the trends and practices and thereby become masters of the trade. This, perhaps, informed the choice of 50 world journalists that make Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe’s book entitled 50 World Editors (conversations with journalism masters on trends and best practices.

    But, who are these world class masters of the pen profession? Your guess is as good as mine. They are drawn from top flight media organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The 628-page book is a compilation of conversations with the masters on issues ranging from day-to-day schedules of practising journalists to what defines a news, what defines a front page story, quality of news, tips for success as a reporter, core values of a media house, the defining story of a reporter, and many more. In all, the conversations though share many things in common, reveal some interesting stories about some editors and their media organisations, including personal experiences.

    But, the book, which is a result of the authors’ ten years of traversing the globe interviewing key players in the industry, is not all about editors, but top media players some of them at the apex of the media pole-publishers, presidents, managing editors, editor-in-chiefs, editors, bureau chiefs, line editors and correspondents who made great marks in journalism. The scope is all embracing as it covers practitioners in print, broadcast journalism and international news agencies such as Reuters, AFP and Globalpost. The book is ‘ultimately biographical in the sense that each of the candidates featured in this collection shares his or her own journalism story and in so doing, reflects on the diverse aspects of the practice and precepts of journalism in different generations covering different countries.’

    To the authors, the book is a lived experience rather than a pedantic narrative of scholarly exploration, capturing similarities, diversities and sociological nuances of media operations in different countries of the world.

    Published in 2014 by Corporate Biographers Limited, the book is in three sections A to C, with The Americas having 20 of the 50 masters, while Europe has 19 and Africa and Asia share 11 masters. Nigeria’s newspaper legend Alhaji Babatunde Ajose of the old Daily Times led the pack of masters featured in Section C that comprises Africa/Asia alongside Segun Osoba, Nduka Obaigbena Thisday newspaper), John Momoh (Channels TV), Dele Olojede, Bayo Onanuga (The News magazine), Joseph Odindo (Nation Media Group, Kenya), Ferial Haffajee (Mail & Guardian South Africa among others.

    From The Americas and Europe Sections A and B are masters such as Michael Goodwin (New York Daily News), Jill Abramson (New York Times), Chris Cramer (former President CNN), Alan Rusbridger (The Guardian UK),  Robert Thomson (The Times UK), Victor de la Serna (El Mundo, Spain) and Alan Johnston (BBC Correspondent).

    On the challenges of being editor of Daily Times at the era of Nigeria attaining independence, Alhaji Jose said: “We published a paper that was trusted by the readers. To be trusted you have to show the integrity of a leader. The people knew that I had no political ambition. I had access and was consulted by highly placed government functionaries, prime ministers, presidents. So they know that whatever we did, it was not because I am a Yoruba man. They had seen the paper openly attacking Chief Obafemi Awolowo-the leader of the Yorubas.”

    But given the content of the book, it can be described as the ‘most encyclopedic book on global journalism.’ It ranks among publications such as Martin Walker’s 1982 award winning book, Powers of the press: The World’s Great Newspapers. Apart from that, one unique character of the book is that it presents the journalistic views of the world editors in their own words.

    Again, the public presentation of the book at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos on September 15 was more than a launch. It brought together veterans in the industry to celebrate a worthy product, an effort that would gladden the heart of the late Igwe in great beyond. However, some oversights were noticed in the compilations. For instance, the retaining of late Dimgba Igwe’s email and telephone number suggests the book had gone to press with all the information before the death of Igwe. But, classifying Gillian Tett (Financial Times, USA) under Europe is an avoidable error of proof reading. If charity, they say, begins at home, 11 masters interviewed in Africa/Asia combined is an under-representation by the book, especially when considered against the conditions under which these media operate. Or is it a case of get one, you get all? Nigeria and indeed Africa deserves more representations in the book.

    Notwithstanding, the book is a legacy of a sort for the media industry, which makes it a must read for all-students of journalism, politicians and other professionals. 50 World Editors is a well-packaged book with clean quality prints and is a collector’s item any day. It will be useful for researchers, media operators and practicing journalists irrespective of generation or region of practice.

  • Experts seek reforms in media practice

    A University don, Prof Umaru Pate has called for a reform in media practice and professionalism in the country.

    Pate, a lecturer in the department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano State, made the call while delivering the keynote address at the 60th birthday of the Dean, Lagos state University School of Communication (LASUSOC), Prof Lai Oso.

    The address was themed: ‘Issues in media and national integration in Nigeria.’

    Pate identified issues affecting the media’s ability to inspire integration to include: absence of national rallying points on which the media are all united; lack of funding; tendency to report inter-group conflicts in their fundamental contexts, among others.

    The professor recommended that the media should place more emphasis on national problems rather than restricting their write ups to defined boundaries of gender, religion, location or social status.

    He added that journalists should have a deeper knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s complexities and demonstrate professional competence in dealing with issues of diversity and multiculturalism to inspire media relevance, respect and trust.

    Pate’s recommendation include: “More media emphasis on collective national problems; more focus on mindsets; deeper understanding of Nigeria’s complexities; License more national broadcast networks; encourage all existing media organs to go online; institute the teaching of diversity and multicultural reporting; provide continuous retraining programmes to practicing; and increase the engagement with social media.”

    Also speaking, Prof Ralph Akinfeleye of the mass communication department, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, emphasised the importance of objectivity and fairness in reportage to inspire younger generation in the same path.

    He said: “In this profession, we cannot compromise, because truth is constant and it is the cornerstone of good journalism. The younger generations need to embrace objectivity and fairness in reporting issues. Journalists should be the fourth estate of the realm and not of the wreck; otherwise, they are not wrecking the profession or government but themselves. These are the couple of things you can learn from the celebrant who is very straightforward, articulate, and honest in his professional practice.

    “This is an excellent event. Prof Oso was able to pull enough crowds and this is the first time we have an assemblage of professors and scholars in mass communication. I am very proud to be associated with him and I wish him many returns of today. The younger generation can emulate his transparency, honesty, accountability and truth because truth is the cornerstone of good journalism.”

    On his part, Oso expressed gratitude to his colleagues who organised the event.

    “I am very happy and grateful to my colleagues and friends for organising this event. I am also very grateful to God for giving me the privilege to attain the milestone and for the grace to contribute to the profession,” he said.

    He said the celebration was a challenge to do more so as to meet up to high expectations.

    A LASUSOC lecturer, Mrs Lade Atofojomo, described Oso as a father-figure who can be as supportive as he is a disciplinarian.

    “He is a father. That is the best word to describe him. He is supportive, a disciplinarian, in fact he is everything good in one,” Atofojomo said.

     

  • Experts call for reform in media practice

    A don, Mr. Umaru Pate has called for media reform, even as he advised practitioners to be objective in their reportage.

    Pate, a Professor of Mass Communication in the Department of Mass Communication, Bayero University, Kano, was delivering a keynote address at the 60th birthday ceremony of the Dean, Lagos State University School of Communication (LASUSOC), Prof. Lai Oso.

    In the address entitled: “Issues in Media and National Integration in Nigeria”,

    Prof. Pate, who was the Guest Speaker on the occasion, reeled off issues that hinder the media’s capability to inspire integration to include absence of national rallying points on which the media are united; lack of funding as well as the common tendency of reporting inter-group conflicts in their fundamental contexts, among others.

    He said: “Areas of concern have emerged on the behaviour of the media in fulfilling its role in the process of national integration in the context of the country’s multi-cultural setting, particularly at critical historical moments when they ought to have demonstrated leadership positions. The reasons for that are many.”

    To reverse the trend, he recommended that the media should emphasise more on national problems rather than restricting their write-ups to defined boundaries of gender, religion, location or social status.

    He added that journalists should have a deeper knowledge and understanding of Nigeria’s complexities and demonstrate professional competence in dealing with issues of diversity ad multiculturalism to inspire media relevance, respect and trust.

    Continuing, Prof. Pate said: “The media should lay more emphasis on collective national problems; focus more on mindsets; deeper understanding of Nigeria’s complexities; license more national broadcast networks; encourage all existing media organs to go online; institute the teaching of diversity and multicultural reporting; provide continuous retraining programmes to practising; and increase the engagement with social media.”

    Also speaking, a Mass Communication scholar of the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Akoka, Prof. Ralph Akinfeleye emphasised the importance of objectivity and fairness in reportage to inspire younger generation in the same path.

    He said: “In this profession, we cannot compromise, because truth is constant and it is the cornerstone of good journalism. The younger generation need to embrace objectivity and fairness in reporting issues. Journalists should be the Fourth Estate of the Realm and not of the wreck; otherwise, they are not wrecking the profession or government but themselves. These are the couple of things you can learn from the celebrator who is very straightforward, articulate, and honest in his professional practice.”

    Akinfeleye praised the celebrator and expressed excitement at the calibre of personalities who attended the event.

    “This is an excellent event. Prof. Oso was able to pull enough crowd. This is the first time we have an assemblage of professors and scholars in Mass Communication. I am very proud to be associated with him and I wish him many returns of today. The younger generation can emulate his transparency, honesty, accountability and truth because truth is the cornerstone of good journalism,” he said.

    The celebrator expressed his gratitude to his colleagues who put the event together.

    “I am very happy and grateful to my colleagues and friends for organising this event. I am also very grateful to God for giving me the privilege to attain the milestone and for the grace to contribute to the profession,” he said.

    He, however, said the celebration was a challenge for him to do more so as to meet up high expectations from him.

    Present at the occasion was a LASUSOC lecturer, Mrs Lade Atofojomo, who described Prof. Oso as a father-figure who can be as supportive as he is a disciplinarian.

     

     

     

     

     

  • Twin brothers’ legacy for media

    Twin brothers’ legacy for media

    In every profession, there are those whose contributions and actions play critical roles in the growth of such human endeavour. Often times, such individuals help shape and define the trends and practices and thereby become masters of the trade. This, perhaps, informed the choice of 50 world journalists that make Mike Awoyinfa and Dimgba Igwe’s book entitled 50 World Editors (conversations with journalism masters on trends and best practices.

    But, who are these world class masters of the pen profession? Your guess is as good as mine. They are drawn from top flight media organisations in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Americas. The 628-page book is a compilation of conversations with the masters on issues ranging from day-to-day schedules of practising journalists to what defines a news, what defines a front page story, quality of news, tips for success as a reporter, core values of a media house, the defining story of a reporter, and many more. In all, the conversations though share many things in common, reveal some interesting stories about some editors and their media organisations, including personal experiences.

    But, the book, which is a result of the authors’ ten years of traversing the globe interviewing key players in the industry, is not all about editors, but top media players some of them at the apex of the media pole-publishers, presidents, managing editors, editor-in-chiefs, editors, bureau chiefs, line editors and correspondents who made great marks in journalism. The scope is all embracing as it covers practitioners in print, broadcast journalism and international news agencies such as Reuters, AFP and Globalpost. The book is ‘ultimately biographical in the sense that each of the candidates featured in this collection shares his or her own journalism story and in so doing, reflects on the diverse aspects of the practice and precepts of journalism in different generations covering different countries.’

    To the authors, the book is a lived experience rather than a pedantic narrative of scholarly exploration, capturing similarities, diversities and sociological nuances of media operations in different countries of the world.

    Published in 2014 by Corporate Biographers Limited, the book is in three sections A to C, with The Americas having 20 of the 50 masters, while Europe has 19 and Africa and Asia share 11 masters. Nigeria’s newspaper legend Alhaji Babatunde Ajose of the old Daily Times led the pack of masters featured in Section C that comprises Africa/Asia alongside Segun Osoba, Nduka Obaigbena Thisday newspaper), John Momoh (Channels TV), Dele Olojede, Bayo Onanuga (The News magazine), Joseph Odindo (Nation Media Group, Kenya), Ferial Haffajee (Mail & Guardian South Africa among others.

    From The Americas and Europe Sections A and B are masters such as Michael Goodwin (New York Daily News), Jill Abramson (New York Times), Chris Cramer (former President CNN), Alan Rusbridger (The Guardian UK),  Robert Thomson (The Times UK), Victor de la Serna (El Mundo, Spain) and Alan Johnston (BBC Correspondent).

    On the challenges of being editor of Daily Times at the era of Nigeria attaining independence, Alhaji Jose said: “We published a paper that was trusted by the readers. To be trusted you have to show the integrity of a leader. The people knew that I had no political ambition. I had access and was consulted by highly placed government functionaries, prime ministers, presidents. So they know that whatever we did, it was not because I am a Yoruba man. They had seen the paper openly attacking Chief Obafemi Awolowo-the leader of the Yorubas.”

    But given the content of the book, it can be described as the ‘most encyclopedic book on global journalism.’ It ranks among publications such as Martin Walker’s 1982 award winning book, Powers of the press: The World’s Great Newspapers. Apart from that, one unique character of the book is that it presents the journalistic views of the world editors in their own words.

    Again, the public presentation of the book at the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, Victoria Island, Lagos on September 15 was more than a launch. It brought together veterans in the industry to celebrate a worthy product, an effort that would gladden the heart of the late Igwe in great beyond. However, some oversights were noticed in the compilations. For instance, the retaining of late Dimgba Igwe’s email and telephone number suggests the book had gone to press with all the information before the death of Igwe. But, classifying Gillian Tett (Financial Times, USA) under Europe is an avoidable error of proof reading. If charity, they say, begins at home, 11 masters interviewed in Africa/Asia combined is an under-representation by the book, especially when considered against the conditions under which these media operate. Or is it a case of get one, you get all? Nigeria and indeed Africa deserves more representations in the book.

    Notwithstanding, the book is a legacy of a sort for the media industry, which makes it a must read for all-students of journalism, politicians and other professionals. 50 World Editors is a well-packaged book with clean quality prints and is a collector’s item any day. It will be useful for researchers, media operators and practicing journalists irrespective of generation or region of practice.