NIGERIA(Who is fooling Who?). Episode 13. The Crass - TopicsExpress

NIGERIA(Who is fooling Who?). Episode 13. The Crass Journalists and the Decaying Media Houses. A journalist can be defined as a person who writes for newspapers or magazines or prepares news to be broadcast on radio or television, while Media House on the other hand can be said to be Communication channels through which news, entertainment, education, data, or promotional messages are disseminated. Media includes every broadcasting and narrowcasting medium such as newspapers, magazines, TV, radio, billboards, direct mail, telephone, fax, and internet. It is one of the means through which the public is educated and sensitized about important issues affecting the lives of people. None out of the Two can stand independently, neither can be separated from the other as both works simultaneously hand-in hand. The Iwe lrohin of the Rev. Henry Townsend and that of Robert Campbell of the Anglo-African arguably marked the birth of Journalism in Nigeria but the post Townsendian–Campbellian age saw some Nigerians led the journalism trade and laid the groundwork for further practice in the country. It was with great pride and much passion when Nigerian Journalism started in 1859 at the outbreak of the World War II with Lagos Times (1880), Lagos Observer (1882), Eagle and Lagos Critic (1883), Lagos Weekly Record (1891), Lagos Standard 1894, Nigerian Chronicle (1908), Nigerian Times (1910) dominating as the Peoples favorite in their respective times. This profession was something of immense passion for People like Adeoye Deniga, owner/editor of the Lagos Astrological Mercury (1909) whose journalism also hit the newsstands but since he could not pay the printer’s bills, Deniga decided to practice his profession by writing his newspapers by hand and he circulated among a small circle of people. One could say He gave up later after unbearable circumstance but one thing is, His Passion for the job died hardly. The question is how many people of such can we find with greater or equal passion for their job in the Information sector today?, You can answer that by Yourself. After sixteen-years of active journalism career and publishing, Nnamdi Azikiwe said, “I feel proud that during my sixteen years’ service as managing director of the Zik Group of Newspaper, I was able to give theoretical and practical training in journalism to over sixty of the most eminent journalists and leaders of our country” page 308, My Odyssey (1970). People like Anthony Enahoro, Babatunde Jose, Mobolaji Odunewu (Alhaji Alade Odunewu aka Allah De’s elder brother), A. Dokubo and many others, who turned out to be great Nigerian journalists, anti- colonial activists and leaders were trained by Azikiwe. Chief Obafemi Awolowo of great and blessed Memory was also trained as a Journalist, among other engagements of his and indeed, He excelled. Who are those to train the Young and vibrant Nigerians in the right path of Journalism today? Many Nigerian Journalists have been imprisoned, exiled, tortured, or murdered as a result, among them is the assassination of Mr. Dele Giwa in 1986, Ogoni activist and television producer Ken Saro-Wiwa, who was executed for treason by order of the Sani Abacha dictatorship in 1995 (resulting in the expulsion of Nigeria from the Commonwealth of Nations and sanctions from abroad). Nigerian security agents also in February 1997 kidnapped Razor publisher Moshood Fayemiwo in broad daylight in neighboring Benin and transported him to Nigeria, where he was detained incommunicado, chained to a pipe, and tortured until his release in September. These People are Heroic epitome for any present Journalist in Nigeria, but the question now is, do we still have remains of them? Perhaps, No! Nigerian media especially had/has a number of fearless, very bright, and forthright journalists but nowadays, it is as if journalists been warned to tone it down or be visited with the “Dele Giwa treatment”. The birth of Internet on the other hand, has immensely aided Journalism as it makes the dissemination of Information easier, more widespread and mostly, faster. Nevertheless, its so pitiable and pathetic to see People fabricate stories, cook fallacies and broadcast assumptions via Internet, all to perpetrate their myopic opinions. Forums, Pages and Accounts are rampant on Social Media while blogs and websites are persistently very many, but sincerity and truth saying has inversely been diminshing. They write articles, post comments with politically inclined aim(s) to demolish an opposing Institution or somebody against their sponsor. These People can praise Politicians to heaven and even accredit to them the success that is not theirs, all for Peanuts. As Id want to appreciate the patriotic Job in leaking Stella Oduahs profilgacy, so also will I love to register My bitter disappointment in the circulation of fake news of someone denoucing his councillorship Victory in Kwara; I just believe We need to watch it. In journalism, the Code of Conduct for Accuracy And Fairness states that i. The public has a right to know. Factual, accurate, balanced and fair reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust and confidence. but People who are familiar with journalism in Nigeria cant deny the fact that the brown envelope could turn to a white envelope, meaning the will acceptance of bribery as part of the job is very uneschewed and when this becomes a norm, it will be harder to carry out investigative journalism into every issue that keeps us in poverty, thus negating the Code of Conducts for Accuracy and Fairness. Infact, many journalists go on to work as media aides and or spokespersons for governors, ministers, and governmental agencies, many trained journalists no longer care about the news or the news business; the financial reward and echelon of Power is what most are after but when they are out of power, they turn Accidental Civil Servant. SOLUTION: Presently, Nigeria is suffering from lack of information from the media which is based on truth, accurate, fairness and objectivity due to the level of corruption in the country and the condition is worsening to such a point that if nothing drastic is done about it, the journalism development aspiration will die due to brown envelop. However, lets ask from each other and perhaps rhetorically these questions: *Is Journalism practised according to International specification and even with utmost sincerity? *Do journalists report the truth after collecting brown envelops? *What has lost in Our Media Houses that has made it a facade of decency and moral upbringing. *Is there any hope for the future of accurate and fair journalism in Nigeria? *What are the contributions of Me and You, government inclusive, to change these for better? *Reporters must avoid gifts and favours that turns out to be bribe, such gestures sometimes compromise the integrity of the journalist and the institution he represent. *The Nigerian mass media being the watchdog of the nation should be effective and honest in reporting events in the country. *To counter the temptations of gifts, established and well capitalized media establishment should pay full expense and provide for extra expenses for their reporters. *There is serious need for Journalists to remind the Government of any forgotten policy, carpetted reports and missing cases so that revisitation of such would bring light to obscured criminals. *They should watch who and where they pitch their tent with as Integrity, patriotism and virtue should be their pedigree in chosing Political ally(if necessary) so as to keep alive their standard; show Me your friend(s) and Id tell You who You are. GOD Bless, Develop and Unite the Federal Republic Of Nigeria!(Ameen).