The TwitterChat to deliberate on the teething survival problems, current challenges and preparations for the post-COVID-19 period in Nigeria’s media sector, brought a nagging situation into focus and paved way for sundry perspectives on the way forward.
The hashtag was #MediaNGCovid 19 and the TwitterChat which held on Thursday, July 2 2020 was packaged by Media Rights Agenda and BONews Service with the theme: Ensuring the survival of the media in the face of a global pandemic (the role of governments).
Edetaen Ojo, Executive Director, Media Rights Agenda (MRA) moderated the session which had seasoned journalists including Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium TIMES; Toun Okewale, MD/CEO of Women Radio and Ted Iwere, MD of SME Media as panellists.
The panellists and participants shared robust ideas shared after assessing the despairing situation of the media sector before the devastating advent of the COVID-`19 pandemic and proffered business models in a concerted effort to revive and rebuild the media sector, in line with global standards.
Panellists shared their experiences and insights on the vulnerability of the media sector, the reservations and likely negative influence/ interference of government in the sector.
It was surmised that the media (print, broadcast and online) which costs a fortune to set up and run, has over the years suffered reversals with massive job losses and a crippling professional vulnerability, thereby becoming a pale shadow of the vibrant dream of a free, fair entity.
It was therefore not surprising that panellists came up with a stark message to the effect that the media sector (print, broadcast and online) must overcome its travails, and be circumspect in relating with government, in terms of funding and influence.
It was the consensus that the media sector was already vulnerable before the pandemic . Charting the way forward means that the throwing up of new business models for media managers.
Dapo Olorunyomi expressed reservations about the nagging situation stressing that ‘the future of democracy is the core of this conversation. Without a virile and independent media there can be no democracy’.
Olorunyomi regretted that the advent of COVID-19 also affected the capacity of journalists in the performance of their duties. “It has affected the capacity to do good storytelling because the access to sources are more problematic, it has raised human rights challenges especially with regards to the privacy rights of patients . It is fair to say it has given law enforcement agencies (the) discretion to abuse journalists and certainly it has tightened the screw in the ability of the media to generate revenue through events, circulation and advertising among other things,” Olorunyomi said.”
‘’I hope as Nigerians we can appreciate the challenges faced by broadcasters and journalists to get news to the people. Nigerian media practitioners are vulnerable,’’, a panellist, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, tweeted while responding to the question about the economic environment in the media sector before COVID-19.
According to her, ‘’it was an already struggling media space in Nigeria. Pre-COVID-19 some print media were struggling with limited advert placement. The gestation period to break even as a media outfit was becoming longer and fluid. Some radio and TV stations and even the new media were barely surviving. Nigeria’s large infrastructure deficit reflects more negatively on private media viz provision of electricity, water, road, security etc’’.
She exemplified the situation with the explanation that her media outfit, Women Radio@wfm917 reduced its transmission hours and ran skeletal services while some of her staff had to work from home . However, she was emphatic that Post-COVID media business will not be business as usual. ‘’You either adapt or die. These trying times call for a global solidarity for the media. We must begin to leverage’’, she surmised.
Ted Iwere, another panellist, took it a step further with his tweet that the media took a direct hit with COVID 19 with limited or complete absence of commercial activities in the private and public sectors. ‘’ It was struggling in the best of times. Things just got worse under COVID’’, he tweeted.
Dapo Olorunyomi tweeted that any proposed financial prop or grant by government to the media sector can only work if ‘’it is managed by a fiercely independent body and institution manned by men and women with a transparent sense of principle and demonstrable commitment to democracy, civil liberties and an alloyed belief in freedom of expression’’.
Zoe Titus, a participant from Southern Africa , tweeted that governments should routinely provide a conducive environment for media operations (public or private) .’’let’s take a leaf from the Windhoek Declaration,’’ he added.
However, a twist of opinions arose on the issue of government giving grants or other financial assistance to media organisations to ensure their survival or sustainability .
Bankole Adams, a participant noted that the move has the potential to birth ‘a tainted media that will pander to the paymaster’.’’ We already see the ugliness of the pandering in the media space. Why make it worse?’’, he said.
Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga said the move could lead to unnecessary influences and manipulation of the media. ‘’It’s better private media houses remain independent from government. And of course, we know politicians, especially the Nigerian kind’’, she said.
Ted Iwere said media houses are more likely to throw their independence into the bargain if they receive free money. He believes that it would result in the loss of editorial independence unless the concessionary funds are subject to standard credit conditions.
“The government should focus more in providing an enabling environment to allow for professionalism. This is what the media need. Fix power, provide a lifeline to media to guarantee a sizeable chunk of salaries to avoid job loss. Government can provide support to balance the mental well-being of journalists as frontliners,” Toun Okewale Sonaiya said.
“Bailouts in form of grants and soft loans are inevitable in developed climes. I hope Nigerian government understands the need to intervene now more than before without interference, “she added.
Credit: https://www.thenewsturf.com
