TheNewsGuru

Tag: MEDIA

  • NEMA partners media on disaster, emergency reporting

    NEMA partners media on disaster, emergency reporting

    The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has sought the partnership of the media on the reportage of disaster and emergency occurrences in the country.

    The director-general of NEMA, Mustapha Ahmed, stated this at a workshop for media practitioners on Saturday in Lagos.

    The workshop was titled: “Disaster Resilience in Media: Sensitisation Workshop on Promoting Ethical and Ethical Reporting for Media Practitioners.”

    Mr Ahmed said NEMA intended to use the workshop to foster collaboration and networking with the media.

    He said the goal of NEMA was to facilitate effective information dissemination during emergencies.

    “By working together, we can ensure that timely and accurate information reaches the public, creating much-needed awareness and enabling them to make informed decisions and take necessary precautions where applicable,” Mr Ahmed said.

    He said the objective of the workshop was to provide a clear understanding of NEMA’s operations, Nigeria’s triple response structure and its relationship with sub-national actors.

    Mr Ahmed added that the workshop would provide an opportunity for NEMA to interact with media practitioners, share learning, insights and equip media practitioners with knowledge needed in their reportage.

    According to him, it will enable media practitioners to mediate misinformation, disinformation and fake news while building resilience in the sector.

    Mr Ahmed, however, enjoined media practitioners to act as gatekeepers in this era of disinformation.

    “We trust you to act as the bulwark against misinformation and fake news and the shenanigans of citizen journalists and fifth columnists,” Mr Ahmed said.

    Contributing, NEMA’s director, special duties, Onimode Abdullahi, in his technical presentation, explored the history of NEMA, the agency’s mandate and its efforts on disaster management.

    The first panel discussion focused on “navigating challenges in disaster reporting, insights from media practitioners.

    The second technical presentation had the topic “collaborative approaches in disaster reporting, strengthening partnerships for effective communication and was led by communications management expert, Chido Nwakanma.

    Public relations and development expert, Toni Kan, facilitated the third technical presentation with the theme: “Ethics in disaster reporting: balancing sensationalism and responsible journalism.

  • Exercise caution against deployment of many channels for naturalization

    Exercise caution against deployment of many channels for naturalization

    A Civil Society group, under the aegis of Save Nigeria Movement has called on the Federal Government of Nigeria to exercise caution in the deployment of the Brown Card aimed at granting permanent residency and citizenship status to foreign national in the country.

    According to the group, introducing a brown card as a bona fide document for granting permanent residency and citizenship would require a constitution amendment to review the eligibility conditions.

    The group, in a statement issued and signed by the Convener, Reverend Solomon Semaka, in Abuja on Thursday also noted that the introduction of a Brown Card would amount to creating a conduit for fraudulent foreigners who are looking for escape routes from the existing systems that keep them in check.

    According to the statement deploying a parallel programme that competes with existing ones would worsen the already fragile security situation and the safety of the nation against foreign nationals who come into the country with ulterior motives that undermine the country’s security system.

    Semaka, was speaking against the backdrop of media reports that quoted the immediate past Minister of Interior as saying that the federal government has granted permission to the ministry of Interior to execute new pathways to citizenship and permanent residency for eligible foreign nationals through the issuance of brown cards to foreigners who desire to be Nigerian citizens.
    “Introducing the brown card is tantamount to introducing a parallel platform for escapee defaulters in the payment for existing programmes.

    “Our investigations have shown that unscrupulous agents have already started calling expatriates in their data base to pay as much USD 5,000 with the promise that they could grant them residency and citizenship application waivers in the guise of Brown Card, even when the process to its introduction is still a long way to go.

    “This is the sign of things to come if you open multiple channels of granting permanent residency status to foreigners in Nigeria,” Semaka stated.

    According to him, the focus should rather be to sustain and strengthen existing structures to tighten the security of the country, especially in this time of heightened global terrorism.
    “Earlier this year, over 500 hundred foreign nationals were arrested with permanent voter cards.

    Also, a British national paper reported that Chinese nationals in the mining sector are financing terrorists groups in some parts of Nigeria to gain access to the country’s mineral resources.

    “All these are pointers to the fact that some unscrupulous foreign nationals could take advantage of multiple channels of naturalization which could render Nigeria’s already threatened security more porous,” Semaka said, adding also that the focus should be to strengthen available programmes and not introduce other products.

    “Just a couple of months ago, the immediate past Minister of Interior, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola, commended all the service providers engaged by the Ministry of Interior and its services/Board for their dedications to using the public-private partnership (PPP) arrangements for improving service delivery, and revenue generation for the Federal Government of Nigeria, while also calling for sustenance and strengthening of existing services being provided through these partnerships. That is the way to go,” he added.
    The group has also expressed concerns and curiosity at the reported approval granted for the brown card at the twilight of former President Muhammadu Buhari Administration.
    The group explained that what the Brown Card is designed to do is already being handled by NIS, through their technical partners, suggesting that any loopholes observed should be channeled through the existing programmes instead of creating new contracts that could be a further hemorrhage for the country’s weakened security.

  • Sanctions on broadcast stations not media gag – NBC clarifies

    Sanctions on broadcast stations not media gag – NBC clarifies

    … as journalists urge incoming govt to partner media on anti-corruption

     

    Against the growing concern by stakeholders that press freedom in Nigeria is threatened by broadcast regulations, the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC) says its disciplinary measures and sanctions on erring broadcasting stations are not aimed at gagging the media.

    NBC’s Director-General, Balarabe Shehu Ilelah, clarified during PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, an anti-corruption radio programme produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.

    Represented by the agency’s Director, Public Affairs, Susan Obi, revealed that imposition of sanctions on broadcast stations is not done hastily but requires a rigorous procedure and steps, insisting that the main aim has never been to gag the Nigerian media space but to get all stakeholders to play by the rules.

    Obi said the functions of the Commission were not just set up by NBC but were agreed on by broadcast stakeholders while urging the media to take responsibility for ensuring credibility and balancing their duties.

    She said NBC could contribute to Nigeria’s fight against corruption by ensuring that broadcast stations have programs or content that are authentic, that have been thoroughly investigated, and balanced contents.

    Dismissing insinuations that NBC is contracting press freedom in the country with sanctions, Obi said: “NBC does not just sanction. There are procedures for sanctioning. They are even formal procedures because we are concise with decisions. There are letters given, letters of caution, and letters of warning before the sanction we all talk about, which is the fine.

    “Broadcasting is supposed to help the people make informed decisions, make informed choices. Because of the function of the Commission, stations, on their own set agenda, have their content, but the Commission does not determine the station’s content.

    “In the fight against corruption, how NBC can help is to ensure that the stations have programs or content that are authentic, that have been thoroughly investigated, that is why the Commission asks that there should be different sides and opinions being expressed,” She stressed.

    On his part, Editor-in-Chief of Forefront Magazine and Online, Amos Dunia, questioned the legality of NBC sanctions, saying that it was founded on faulty grounds and had made NBC act as both complainant/prosecutor and the judge in sanctioning media houses.

    Dunia called on the Nigerian government to be less combative against the media but work with them, particularly in the fight against corruption. He, however, stressed that journalists and the entirety of the media industry are doing their best in their role as enshrined in the constitution.

    He lamented the dwindling fortunes of investigative journalism as journalists face attacks, adding that the government’s reluctance to react and act appropriately on corruption cases was worsening the issues.

    “Government must understand that the media is the oxygen needed for democracy to thrive. And as long as the media must exist and work, the government should be less combative against the press. They should be able to listen more to the media and ensure that they carry the media along in the fight against corruption. You see, once corruption can be minimized. I’m not saying you can eliminate corruption totally. It’s pretty difficult to do because you are dealing with human minds. As long as corruption can be minimized, you have more development.

    “The bottom line is that the government should see the media as partners in progress in governance,” Dunia said.

    Advising the incoming administration on strengthening the fight against corruption, Kabir Yusuf, a Premium Times reporter, urged the government first to see the media not as a competitor but as a partner.

    Yusuf stressed that anti-corruption agencies that are charged with the responsibility of fighting corruption must collaborate with the media while lamenting that journalists are facing a new form of attack by state actors.

    “Government and the media can work together. There is no way a democracy like ours can develop and grow without the media playing its crucial role. I believe the government can work together with the media,” He stressed.

    An investigative report by Premium Times exposed that media houses are tightening their digital security measures out of concerns that new spy technologies have exposed journalists to even more significant threats of surveillance and harassment.

    Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program PRIMORG uses to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.

    The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.

    End.

  • 2023: PDP tasks media on accurate, balance reportage

    2023: PDP tasks media on accurate, balance reportage

    The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has implored media practitioners in Cross River to ensure accurate and balanced reportage ahead of the general elections.

    The state Chairman of the party, Mr Venatius Ikem, gave the advice in a press statement made available to newsmen on Tuesday in Calabar.

    Ikem, who was reacting to a statement credited to Mr Christian Ita, Special Adviser on Media to Gov. Ben Ayade, noted that the PDP was alarmed with the “spurious claims“ on Ayade’s achievements.

    Ikem particularly said the party was alarmed with the claim by the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC), that the Ogoja rice mill was up and running and that work had reached advance stage on the Superhighway and Deep Sea Port projects.

    Ikem maintained that nothing could be farther from the truth as the Deep Sea Port project never took off while the Superhighway had longed been an abandoned project.

    The PDP chairman added that the claimed that Ayade had laid a solid foundation for the industrialisation of the state was a mere propaganda to “dress the governor on borrowed robe.”

    According to him, “We would request for a project tour of the various industries or infrastructure they are bragging about.

    “Are they talking about the Superhighway conceived as a smokescreen to deplete our rainforests for their personal pockets, even after spending billions of naira in clearing?

    “Could it be the Deep Sea Port used as a subhead to fritter away our billions of naira in the name of mobilisation fees to pseudo companies?

    “The so-called Ogoja Rice distributed in lieu of Senate election in Cross River North were bought from market and repackaged. Which industry is up and running please?

    “The roads constructed by their companies are collapsing before official inauguration.”

    Ikem urged the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to introduce check and balance mechanism aimed at ensuring that press statements from certain government houses were verify before publication to avoid misleading the public.

    “It is embarrassing that some media houses have sacrificed integrity by becoming a willing tool in the hands of the Ayade-led administration to misinform and misled our people just to stay afloat.

    “The quest for survival or mercantile tendencies must not erode the credibility of the press,” he stated.

    Ikem stressed that propaganda would not save Ayade and his party from defeat in the March 11 governorship election.

    Ita had said the state government had done so much to lift the state in the area of industrialisation, noting that work was ongoing on the Superhighway and the Deep Sea Port projects.

    “For the deep seaport, we have gone very far with the preferred bidder, China Civil Engineering Construction Company (CCECC). We are at the stage where the physical construction is to commence.

    “And now they are at the financial closure state and so the process has been very fast for a major project of this nature.

    “Remember that Lekki Deep Seaport took over two decades to be completed. Even Ibaka Deep Seaport in Akwa Ibom was conceptualised by the administration of Obong Victor Attah. After three different administrations, physical construction is yet to commence.

    “This is because huge projects of this nature involve a lot of approvals and processes.

    “On the Superhighway, construction is ongoing in phases.

    “However, construction only commenced about two years ago due to litigations and petitions by some Cross River citizens and their cohorts, who had vowed to stop the project, using environmental concerns as an excuse,” he stated.

  • The media is crucial to sustaining peace, security in the country – CP Effiom

    The media is crucial to sustaining peace, security in the country – CP Effiom

    The Nigeria Police Force, (NPF) has posited that the fourth realm of the government, the media is crucial in promoting peace and security in the country.

    The commissioner of police in Jigawa state, CP Effiom Emanual Ekot stated this when he paid a familiarization visit to the state Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) correspondent chapel office in Dutse.

    He said the visit was to strengthen the cordial and working relationship between police and  journalists in  the state.

    According to him, “journalists are critical stakeholders in establishing and promoting peace and security in the nation.”

    Ekot urged the members of the chapel to keep up with their good work and also to sustain their good working relationship with the security personnel.

    He added that the media needs to put up their best in this critical time of election in the country.

    The CP then urged the members of the chapel to keep up with their good work and also maintain their good working relationship with the police, especially in this critical time of the campaign and other election activities for a sustainable peace and stability.

    Responding, the chairman of the correspondent chapel Comrade Muhammad Zangina said the cordial relationship between the working journalist in the state had contributed immensely in making Jigawa state one of the most peaceful states in Nigeria.

    Comrade Zangina expressed the appreciation of the chapel members for the CP visit, which he described as a great honour and a milestone in strengthening the cordial relationship between the duo.

    The Chapel chairman then promised to continue collaborating with the new CP in the area of promoting public consciousness on security and also play their expected role in supporting a peaceful political campaign and the forthcoming 2023 general election.

  • WPFD: UN chief laments increasing “politicisation” of media

    WPFD: UN chief laments increasing “politicisation” of media

    UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has said journalists and media workers are facing increasing “politicisation” of their work and threats to their freedom for simply doing their jobs.

    Guterres said this in his message to mark World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday.

    The World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3, to inform the international community that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental human rights.

    “The day shines a spotlight on the essential work they do, bringing those in power to account, with transparency, ‘often at great person risk’,” the secretary-general said in a video message.

    “Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, many media workers have been on the frontlines, providing accurate, science-based reporting to inform decision-makers and save lives.

    “At the same time, journalists who cover climate, biodiversity and pollution have succeeded in bringing global attention to this triple planetary crisis,’’ he said.

    According to him, the threats to their freedom to go about their reporting and story-telling fairly and accurately, are multiplying daily.

    “From global health to the climate crisis, corruption, and human rights abuses, they face increased politicisation of their work and attempts to silence them from many sides.

    “Digital technology has democratised access to information. But it has also created serious challenges.”

    The UN chief noted that many social media platforms make their money not through increasing access to fact-based reporting, but on boosting engagement, which often means provoking outrage, and spreading lies.

    “Media workers in war zones are threatened not only by bombs and bullets, but by the weapons of falsification and disinformation that accompany modern warfare.

    “They may be attacked as the enemy, accused of espionage, detained, or killed, simply for doing their jobs.”

    Guterres said that digital technology, was also making censorship easier for authoritarian governments and others, seeking to suppress the truth, with many journalists and editors facing the prospect of their work being taken offline on a daily basis.

    Digital technology is also creating new “channels for oppression and abuse”, with women journalists “at particular risk” of online harassment and violence.

    The UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has found that nearly three-quarters of women respondents had experienced online violence.

    Hacking and illegal surveillance also prevent journalists from doing their jobs.

    “The methods and tools change, but the goal of discrediting the media and covering up the truth remains the same as ever.

    “Without freedom of the press, there are no real democratic societies. Without freedom of the press, there is no freedom,” he said.

    Ten years ago, the UN established a Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, to protect media workers and end impunity for crimes committed against them, and the UN is continuing to fight to protect their rights.

    This year’s World Press Freedom Day Global Conference, began on Monday, and will run until May 5 in Punta Del Este, Uruguay, built around the theme Journalism under Digital Siege.

    Participants will discuss the impact of the digital era on freedom of expression, the safety of journalists, access to information and privacy.

  • 2023: Buhari’s govt. not a threat to media – Lai Mohammed

    2023: Buhari’s govt. not a threat to media – Lai Mohammed

    Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has reiterated that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is not and will not be a threat to the media.

    Lai Mohammed gave the reassurance on Tuesday in Abuja when a delegation from International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria chapter, paid him a courtesy visit.

    He said Nigeria had one of the most vibrant and free press in the world and the administration was not about to stifle press freedom or deny anyone his or her constitutionally-guaranteed rights.

    “If anything, it is the government that is at the mercy of the media.

    “After all, this must be one of the very few countries in the world where a section of the media can refuse to recognise popular sovereignty.

    “How does one describe a situation in which a President who was duly elected by millions of Nigeria is wilfully stripped of that title, President, and then cheekily cloaked in the garb of a dictator by playing up his military title?

    “Despite that abuse of press freedom, those doing that have continued to practice their profession without hindrance.

    “Ours must also be one of the few countries in the world where a reputable medium will report fake news and, when called out, will not retract or apologise,’’ he said.

    Mohammed said he was delighted that serious organisations such as IPI were taking the issues of not just press freedom but also ethics and fake news, among others very seriously.

    He charged the institute to take holistic look at the issues concerning ethics, regulation, sustainability, credibility and fake news.

    “For example, on the issue of ethics, is it part of the ethics of journalism for a media organisation to function like an opposition party, seeing nothing good in the government of the day and only reporting bad news?

    “The last time I checked, the constitutionally-guaranteed role of the media here in Nigeria is that of a watchdog, not an opposition,’’ he said.

    The minister noted that some people had misconstrued their efforts to ensure responsible use of social media as an attempt to tamper with press freedom or threaten independent journalism.

    He reassured that they did not harbour such intentions to stifle press freedom.

    Mohammed commended the media organisations that had set up platforms to fact-check stories that circulate in the media space contending that “it is one sure way to contribute to the fight against fake news and misinformation.’’

    The minister dismissed the reports by Reporters Without Borders which recorded Nigeria’s decline in global press freedom.

    He attributed the preponderance of fake news and misinformation, failure to retract them when the truth came out, misuse of social media by quacks who, turned journalists and the handiwork of some naysayers for the rating.

    Mohammed, therefore, admonished media practitioners, particularly the traditional media not to join the bandwagon in churning out news without verification and fact-checking.

    Earlier, the leader of the delegation, Mr Musikilu Mojeed said to they were in the ministry to engage on how they could collaborate to make Nigeria a better operating environment for journalists, and the media, especially as the 2023 elections season approaches.

    Mojeed, the IPI Nigeria chapter, President and Editor-in-Chief of “Premium Times’’ said they were worried about the declining press freedom records of the country and ready to collaborate to make it better.

    As part of the institute’s contribution, he disclosed that they had decided to open a black book to document every individual whose action or inaction encouraged or allowed harassment of journalists and the media in the country.

  • NCPC Boss seeks increased synergy with media

    NCPC Boss seeks increased synergy with media

    The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Christian Pilgrims Commission (NCPC), Rev. Yakubu Pam, has called for increased synergy between the media and the commission to educate intending pilgrims.

    Pam made the call when he received officials of the Nigerian Pilot Newspaper, in his office on Friday, in Abuja.

    He said that the media remained the best source of information, as such would also help in educating intending pilgrims on what was expected of them while in Nigeria and the Holy Land.

    “The pilgrims need information from the Commission on a daily basis, and as such, it is the work of the print, electronic and social media to relate such information to the public.

    “We need to work together for the sake of pilgrimage; the Commission cannot do without the media,” the executive secretary said.

    Pam also spoke of the need to revive the reading culture among Nigerians.

    He said that though “we are in a generation of mobile phone users who get their information easily now on social media, Nigerians ought to read to get more informed.”

    Earlier, Mr Chuks Ohuegbe, Director Publication of the Nigerian Pilot newspaper, said the visit was to forge a relationship with the Commission.

  • Bauchi Govt. earmarks N1.5bn to digitize state-owned media

    Bauchi Govt. earmarks N1.5bn to digitize state-owned media

    Bauchi Government on Friday approved N1.5 billion to Fastrack the digital switchover of the state-owned media.

    Daiyyabu Chiroma, the state commissioner for information and communication, made this known at a joint briefing with the works, transport and power and energy commissioners.

    Newsmen reports that the briefing was on the outcome of the Executive council resolutions held in Bauchi on Friday.

    He said N733 million would be spent on digitisation of the state television and N817.9 million would be expended on the State Radio station.

    He said that government is fully committed at improving the services of the media outfits for effective and efficient performances.

    “We would beat the NBC dateline of Dec. 2022,” he said.

    Also, Alhaji Abdulkadir Mohammed, the state commissioner for works and transport, said the council has approved the sum of N26 billion for the construction of additional road network in the state.

    He said the road would cover 210 kilometers and that the contracts had since been awarded to capable construction companies with a specific time frame for the completion of the projects.

    He said the roads would open up rural communities by connecting them to urban towns, noting that the roads would improve the economy of the benefiting communities.

    Miss Maryam Bagel, the commissioner for power and energy, said that the council has approved procurement of 60 units of electrical transformers at the cost of N219 million.

    She said the transformers would be installed across 37 villages as part of government efforts to boost inter-town power connections.

  • Movie producer, Mo Abudu reacts to allegations of sleeping with top politicians

    Movie producer, Mo Abudu reacts to allegations of sleeping with top politicians

    Nigerian media personality, Mo Abudu has finally reacted to allegations of sleeping with politicians in a bid to get to the top.

    Recall that in September 2021, the EbonyLife TV CEO was accused of having back-to-back amorous relationships with Lagos State governors and other top politicians.

    According to Gistlovers, it’s these men who paved the way for her tremendous successes.

    However, Abudu didn’t react to the claim as at the time it was trending, rather she chose to reiterate her brilliance and ingenuity.

    In a recent development, speaking with Chude Jideonwo, Mo Abudu claimed to be undisturbed about the rumours rather her major concern is among ladies who may believe these allegations.

    She said: “I listen to my mum a lot and she is wise. She says, leave them, no one knows how water gets in the coconut so I won’t waste my time thinking about what anyone said, those that know me know me and anyone saying trash doesn’t know me…people were calling me to find out if there is something serious happening and I’m like, you guys, I am very okay. Yes, it can be painful because of the young girls that look up to me. I don’t want the young girls to look up to me to think that this is what I have done and if they do I worry about that because how do you do the work we have done?….

    We at Ebony life studios have over 30 international projects in development from Netflix to Will smith’s company, to Sony and some not announced yet, incredible projects. I get calls every day, about how the western world works when they find someone doing magic, your information spreads and they want to work with you and that is our mission to be global not just Nigerian and African vision. I am getting busy here so let them keep getting busy with their cook up stories.

    Like the Hushpuppi story, many other brands bided for it on the international scene but we won it because I, Mo was involved….we are not justifying what he did but what we are saying is that it is a story that needs to be told cos there are many lessons both good or bad for the youths.”