Kunle ADELABU
-Enjoins them to ensure proper dissemination of information at the grassroots
Community Media Practitioners in Lagos State should always endeavour to ensure proper dissemination of information at the grassroots and uphold the tenets of journalism.
This was the positions of the state government functionaries, scholars and practitioners at the Lagos State Government sponsored 2-day workshop themed, ‘Strategic Communication: A Tool For Media Networking and Community Relations”, held at the Orientals Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos, between Thursday, December 27 and Friday, December 28, 2018.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Community Affairs, Mr. Muslim Folami, while speaking at the workshop, urged media practitioners to exhibit a high sense of probity and professionalism in the discharge of their responsibilities of reporting on the activities and achievements of the government in their various communities.
“Community media practitioners are experiencing a workshop that will impact positively on them because we have a government that is sensitive, responsive to the yearnings of the people and a government that believes in inclusion.
“As practitioners, you are our eyes in various communities because you give us updates on various communities.
“Be factual in what you report. Always maintain integrity and probity in your reportorial activities. If you are known for integrity, you will become an important person.
He enjoned community journalists to be cautious in their reporting during the current electioneering period as politics starts from the grassroots.
“We are now in electioneering period and we expect you to be careful in your reportage. It is the grassroots that dictates political tunes and we expect you to be careful and factual in your reporting. Don’t use your medium to showcase lies or promote those looking for political relevance.
“It is high time media starts selling people of integrity to the electorate. We should stop promoting mediocre. Enough is enough”.
The Commissioner applauded members of the Community Media Practitioners for their steadfastness in their reportage of the State government’s programmes and activities, adding that community newspapers are some of the ways that the programmes, projects and policies of the present administration are being propagated.
Folami urged all the practitioners not to rest on their oars by continuing to report on all the various programmes being implemented at the grassroots, stressing that they possess the ability to provide in-depth information about occurrences within their communities.
On his part, the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communications, Mr. Akeem Sulaimon, commended community journalists for effective reportage of developments in variuous communities across the state.
“I commend you all for your efforts in community reporting across the nooks and crannies of the state: From Gbaji in Badagry to Oto-Awori in Ojo; from Oriade to Ijesha; from Ikeja to Agege back to Kosofe to Ikorodu – Epe down to Ibeju Lekki, Eti-Osa and Apapa, projecting the activities of government to the teeming populace at the grassroots.
“Let me emphasis that through Community Media, the residents will experience inter-cultural dynamics, reach out to members of the communities, share relevant information, news, provide content in different languages and as well as further raise awareness on measures to protect and defend the rights of victims within the community.
He charged participants not to engage in peddling of fake and unsubstantiated news which he said has negative effects on the communities.
The Special Adviser also commended practitioners for their efforts in promoting community participation in government and urged participants to open their minds to discussions at the event. He further stated that, “Let me emphasis that through community media, the residents will experience intercultural dynamics; will be able to reach out to members of the communities , share relevant information, news, provide content in different languages and as well further raise awareness on measures to protect and defend the rights of victims within the community”, he affirmed.
He said the Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs would continue to support community media practitioners, adding that their training and retraining are aimed at equipping them with tools needed to be successful in the world of publishing as well as render the needed support in enlightening local residents on government activities.
“The present administration is very aware of the important role the media plays in the socio-economic development of the people and it is determined to assist the community media practitioners in fulfilling that role in the interest of the various communities in which they are operating. The government is happy to see that community newspapers have now become a thriving enterprise which is now contributing its own quota to the development of the State and the country as a whole”, he said.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Director, Local Government Administration, Mr. Hakeem Grillo, maintained that sustainability of community newspapers is vital to government and entrenchment of transparency.
The theme of the workshop is apt and focus on addressing challenges of contemporary community journalism .
The workshop will help the government to provide good governance and afford practitioners to rub minds and deliberate on how to move the community journalism forward.
The General Manager, Lagos Television (LTV), Mrs. Siju Alabi, in her goodwill message at the worhsop, stated that the occasion is a clear attestation to the fact that the state government understands the relevance of community media.
Alabi was represented by the Director of Programme, LTV, Mr. Oba Adeoye.
She stated that there is no absolute objectivity in journalism anywhere in the world but enjoined community media practitioners to at all-time protect the interest of the grassroots.
LTV GM urged practitioners to take advantage of the cyber world to adequately report their respective communities while also enjoining them to distinguish themselves among quacks by upholding high professional standard in their practice.
In his remarks, Hon. Rotimi Olowo, Chairman, House Committee on Local Government Administration, commended the organization of the workshop and the resource persons.
“This workshop is the most interesting and engaging event I have attended in recent time. Presentations from the resource persons were precise and educative. I have also learnt some things.
He called for more recognition and patronage for community media because of the importance of propagating developments at the grassroots level and described the growth of the grassroots media as pivotal to the social, economic and political developments at various councils
Prof. Alaba Adenuga of the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-Iwoye, presented a paper on “Strategies For Human Relations and Administrative Communication For Communal Growth And Development”.
In his presentation, he enjoined participants to develop good communication within their organization and their immediate environment.
“Good administrative communication would not only promote harmonious co-existence but would also build confidence and sense of belonging among staff members”.
He tasked participants on choice of language and style while also asking them to be objective and apolitical.
He pointed out that projecting the activities of the state government to community dwellers and relaying the feedback to the government should be the core objective of community media.
According to him, “the dynamism of a well managed community media improves literacy in the society and helps defend the right of vulnerable members of the community”.
He challenged community media practitioners to always write news that would stand the test of time if they are to be taken seriously.
Mr Deji Balogun, the Director of Social Media in the Ministry of Information and Strategy, in his paper titled, “Community, Conflict, Communication: The Nexus”, urged community media practitioners to help in managing the information available in the public space in the interest of the public.
He said as professional journalists, community media should always check and recheck the details of information received from their sources, especially when in doubt.
Balogun charged the publishers and reporters to be objective in their reportage, avoid unsubstantiated reports and try to project the activities of the State government in their various publications.
Citing the Rwanda genocide, Mr Balogun stated, “Community media has always played a significant role in instigating and curtailing conflict in the society.
“Community media practitioners are part of the community architecture of their community. Practitioners must never allow conflict of interest to override the tenet of journalism”, he charged participants.
Prof. Taiwo Edun, also of the Faculty of Education, Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago Iwoye, in his paper titled, “Public Relations Skills for Community Media Practitioners”, enjoined participants to consistently engage the public to be ahead of competitors.
Alhaji Monzor Olowosago, Publisher, Oriwu Sun, in his remarks, appreciated the state government for given community journalism relevance in the state.
While bemoaning the patronage of Community newspaper in the country, the publisher stated that community media is the most powerful weapon in the world because of its proximity to the people.
He urged participants to endeavor to give the government more coverage in appreciation of its effort in positively changing the status of community media in the state.
The veteran community newspaper publisher also advised participants to use more of human angle stories and photographs to tell their stories.
Also speaking, Mr Dayo Akintobi, President, Association of Practitioners of Community Media (APCOM), commended the administration of Mr Akinwunmi Ambode for the resuscitation of the community media in the state.
“Community media, before the present administration, was on life support and had lost its relevance in the life of the society.
“Governor Ambode, on coming to power, has promised that community media will be the reference point and communication superhighway between the community and those that will administer the state”.
According to Akintobi, the Governor has not only fulfilled his pledge but has also given practitioners the mantle of authority and responsibility to better the life of grassroots dwellers.
Mrs Bisi Olufuwa, the Director of Public Affairs, Ministry of Local Government & Community Affairs, assured participants and practitioners of community journalism that the workshop is the beginning of good things to come.
