The forum was meant to birth a new publication, the Broadcasters International Magazine, that has its thematic thrust woven around broadcast media in the country. Interestingly, the event ended up providing more. It was also an opportunity for veterans and critical stakeholders in the nation’s broadcast space, to reminisce and go down memory lane.
But, the common thread that seems to bind all views expressed by different speakers at the event together is the fact that broadcast journalism is ailing in the country, and the need to bring back the good old days has become imperative.
Firing the first shot, veteran broadcaster, and Chairman of the Board of the newly launched publication, Ambassador Yemi Farounbi, believes that though broadcast journalism has come a long way in Nigeria, but it is not yet uhuru for the highly-glamorous genre of media practice.
According to him, despite the changing circumstances, the practice has witnessed in its evolution, it is yet to get its deserved pride of place; since there is no professional authority to regulate the activities of practitioners, and ‘derobe’ the erring ones.
Ambassador Farounbi explained that the launch of the new publication is designed to bridge the yawning professional gap in the sector, and provide a shoulder for the younger practitioners to stand on.
The veteran broadcaster also throws his weight behind the recent decision of the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) to revive, and provide legal backing for the Society of Nigerian Broadcasters.
“When legal teeth are given to SNB, there will be provision for community sanction and ethical code. The NBC sanctions the broadcast organisation that breaches its code. But it is only the professional body that can ‘derobe’ a broadcaster for breaching its code,” he stated.
Delivering the inaugural lecture, themed: ‘Democracy, Nation-Building and The Broadcast Media’, the nation’s Vice President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo charged practitioners in that space to use their immense influence to fight fake news in the country.
Osinbajo, who was represented by the Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Senator Babafemi Ojudu, explained that such call had become imperative going by the enormous power and influence broadcast journalists in the country wield.
He also advised broadcast journalists on the need to stay relevant and influential in the broadcast media space, amidst rapid audience shift from television to digital.
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