Influx of crooks as publishers destroying journalism in Nigeria – Oloja
Martins Oloja, Editor of The Guardian has declared the Nigerian brand of journalism is going down the drain and no longer vibrant owing to the influx of crooks and politicians as owners and publishers of media houses, saying the publishers and owners of media houses are in the media business to cover up corruption and embarrass some individuals.
While recounting Nigeria’s experience in the 2015 General Elections where some sections of the media were used against some individuals and politicians, Oloja disclosed the crooks and partisan politicians who own some media houses are now running the media to run the political enemies and opponents aground without considering the consequences on journalism profession, political and socio-economic development and unity.
Speaking at the 2015 Press Week of the Information Chapel of NUJ, Ogun State Council held on Monday, tagged, “Journalism: Tool For Sustainable Societal Development”, noted that infiltration of crooks and men of questionable character “seriously affects the sanctity of journalism and portrays the media as cesspool of political spin and celebrity of gossip”.
He recalled that journalism started well in Nigeria, like other country of the world, but the infiltration of partisan politicians and crooks as publishers and chairmen of media houses and poor management and entrepreneurial skills of them are running down media houses and responsible for accumulated and unpaid salaries of the workers.
The Guardian Editor, who called for strict control and regulation of media profession, news content and media practice, said “in Nigeria, most of good people are outside politics and the worst people are inside politics. Some crooks own newspapers, TVs, radios and embarrass people because of the poor regulation.
“When partisan politicians set up media houses, what do we do? There will be debate very soon on whether we are covering or covering up corruption. Also, we need to renew our minds about how journalism is practised and how information is disseminated.
“I am telling people in government to sensitize our people in higher institutions to revise curriculum. Journalism education is getting out of classrooms. Journalism does not prepare us to manage business, but to write news. Journalism should include management courses in journalism if not we will continue to have same problems we are having.”
Also, Aremo Taiwo Allimi, former Director-General of Voice of Nigeria (VON) said it was high journalism was professionalised and not unionised as we have today, explaining that the status of Nigeria Union of Journalism (NUJ) and journalists made the industry and profession all-comer affairs, unlike, NMA, NBA, ICAN and some other professional bodies where nobody could infiltrate or do any how.
“What we have in Nigeria now is poor regulation of the entire media. Journalism needs a professional body, not the union, so that the rules they have in ICAN, NBA, NMA and other professional bodies, we will also have them in journalism”, he added.
RAZAQ AYINLA