I am addressing this letter with due respect to appeal to our esteemed private media owners to speedily sanitize Nigeria’s ’50’ media scenes and save the country from collapse.
Our media environment is engulfed by enormous problems that have resulted into serious backwardness to journalism profession, the journalists and society at large, hence the need for redress.While some of the problems are being caused by external influence, there are, notwithstanding, a significant number of them arising from the leadership of our various media organizations which I trust, to a great extent, when our esteemed media proprietors look into it, would leave no stone unturned in changing the ugly narratives.
Notable among the problems, of course, and most worrisome, is the issue of poor remuneration, welfare and other entitlements of journalists which are either grossly inadequate or not paid at all, thus causing the growing underperformance of our existing media institutions.
That is why barring few of the practicing journalists, an overwhelming majority of them have arguably toed the path of “Yellow Journalism” in which they welcome brown-envelops with keen interest to perfect stories to the taste of some selfish charlatans.
Thanks to the few media organizations that have introduced the whistle blower policy to drastically curtail the gluts of the ‘money-liked’ journalism.
Let me, for instance, briefly share my early encounter with the media as a young graduate, who was privileged to work with a national daily (newspaper company) which name I wouldn’t want to mention, as a state correspondent.
It was certainly an encounter that both weakened my passion for the “paper and pen business” as well as setting-in entirely different impression about it.
It was one taxing moment, filled with stress and duress, when I was to offer my best from December 2019 to December 2020; crossing heels and creeks, nooks and crannies as state correspondent in one of the coolest Nigerian cities, sourcing for story ideas to prepare news items and send for publication.
Throughout the period, everytime I sent stories, they were treated and published upon delivery, including moments when my stories made the banner.
Alas, notwithstanding the pressures, tensed and hardships, it had ended being moment of no pay and less regards.
It is annoying to see especially journalists working without getting paid. This is what is causing corruption in the media.
We are, therefore, in dear need of responsible journalism where the media, specifically private owned institutions, hold the government accountable.
It is for this reason that I am appealing to media owners to forthwith strive towards reviving the reputation and credibility of the press by first and foremost, improving the emoluments of their employees, specifically journalists, in order to efficiently restore the glory of the profession which embodies trust and reliability.
It is often said, information is power and our ability to effectively manage the information in/outflows determines our level of economic growth and social awareness.
Yusuf Mairiga Shekarau,Yelwa Plateau state [email protected]
