• About
  • Advertise
  • Privacy & Policy
  • Contact
Friday, August 12, 2022
Daily Concord News
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Africa
    • local
    • Nigeria
    • Science
    • World
    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    FIRS Powers To Recover Taxes Unremitted From States, LGAs Are In Order — Group

    Osun 2022: Bankole Urges INEC To Guarantee Inclusion Of PWDs On Election Day

    Osun 2022: Bankole Urges INEC To Guarantee Inclusion Of PWDs On Election Day

    Why Peter Obi Is The Most Fact-Checked Politician

    Why Peter Obi Is The Most Fact-Checked Politician

    Ekiti Election

    EKITI ELECTION: Another Buhari Legacy On Credible Polls – BMO

    FIRS To Commence Recovery of Unremitted Tax Deductions By States, Local Governments

    Trending Tags

    • Politics
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
      • All
      • Gaming

      Timipre Sylva Inaugurates the National Gas Expansion Programme, Committee

    • Tech
      • All
      • Startup

      DG NITDA Urges Computer Sciences Students to Drive ICT Innovation

      How To Apply For Bridge To MassChallenge Nigeria 2021

      How To Apply For Bridge To MassChallenge Nigeria 2021

      DG NITDA Urges Young Lawyers To Use Artificial Intelligence In Legal Services

      DG NITDA Urges Young Lawyers To Use Artificial Intelligence In Legal Services

      Digital Economy: NITDA Assures e-Business Industry Heads Of Public Private Partnership

      Digital Economy: NITDA Assures e-Business Industry Heads Of Public Private Partnership

      Digital Nigeria 2021

      Call For Abstracts: Digital Nigeria 2021

      5G Network Crucial To 4th Industrial Revolution – DG NITDA

      Literacy Day: FG To Train 6000 Nigerians On Digital Skills In 11 States

      Trending Tags

    • Lifestyle
      • All
      • Culture
      • Food
      • Health
      At Avalanche Book Launch, Nigerians Call For More Resources On Mental Health And Trauma Management

      At Avalanche Book Launch, Nigerians Call For More Resources On Mental Health And Trauma Management

      Femi Odekunle; The Pains That Won’t Go! By Haruspice

      Femi Odekunle; The Pains That Won’t Go! By Haruspice

      The Unifying Factor of Culture

      Examining Arts as a Unifying Elements

      The Unifying Factor of Culture

      The Unifying Factor of Culture

      Senate President Greets Asiwaju Bola Tinubu @69

      Senate President Greets Asiwaju Bola Tinubu @69

      Abuja Global Shapers Hub Pay A Velentine Day Visit To Kubwa General Hospital

      GIVE A GIFT – The Abuja Global Shapers Valentine’s Edition

      Trending Tags

    • Opinion
    No Result
    View All Result
    Daily Concord News
    No Result
    View All Result
    Home Opinion

    Fani-Kayode’s Gaffe and the Rot in the Media

    September 1, 2020
    in Opinion, Politics
    4 min read
    0
    34
    SHARES
    45
    VIEWS
    Share on WhatsAppShare Share

    By Gidado Shuaib

    Of late, the Former Aviation Minister, Femi Fani-Kayode, has come under heavy media flogging from various persons, journalism unions and top columnists, condemning his attitude towards a Daily Trust journalist, Eyo Charles, during a press conference.

    Without attempting to belabour the issue, I wish to recall how the incident happened as well as the attendant media backlash. First, it is instructive to know that a press conference, in other words, is a platform on which a journalist and newsmaker interact through a question-and-answer parley. It is a form of drilling to which a newsmaker is subjected for onward transmission to the public.

    However, Fani-Kayode, during one of such parleys, turned down a journalist’s question and, as if that was not enough disservice to the intent of the platform, this fellow had the effrontery to call this benign journalist all sorts of names. Well, thanks to Social Media. Fani-Kayode’s assault against the journalist would have been history.

    An archetypal precedent has long been set. Although, it was not in our clime. At a press briefing in the White House last year, US President Donald Trump used somewhat unprintable adjectives to describe and ‘disparage’ the personalities of both the CNN and NBC White House Correspondents.

    Both Peter Alexander of the NBC and his CNN colleague, Jim Acosta, were not spared the verbal ‘missile’ of the utterly-rambunctious US Number One citizen.

    Mr Trump repeatedly blasted the two US reporters, reminiscent of the Femi Fani-Kayode and Eyo Charles’ ‘fiasco’ in Calabar penultimate week.

    Trump never minced words in telling the CNN reporter, at a point: “You are very rude, and a terrible person. CNN should be ashamed of having you as their reporter.”

    As for Fani-Kayode, who is a self-acclaimed activist, his reaction only exposed him as not being different from every other person he condemns.

    On the heels of the sad incident, one of the foremost Civil Society Organisations in the country, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), came out to unequivocally condemn Fani-Kayode’s belligerent assault against the reporter, reiterating that press freedom and freedom to do journalism could not be joked with, especially at this time when COVID-19 had taken its toll on the journalism practice.

    “While we are not unaware of the Fani-Kayode’s regular antagonistic reaction and response to issues, we uphold our position that Press Freedom and journalism must be respected and protected at all levels.

    “We express total discomfort not only in thoughtless use of the word “stupid” but also reported threat and intimidation of the journalist during and after a press conference held in the state.

    “We also find the reaction of the Former Aviation Minister worrisome and tantamount to silencing the media freedom; as he is known to hitherto leverage the media in expressing a personal view and opinion on issues without fear or intimidation,” CISLAC’s Executive Director, Comrade Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, had said in a statement.

    Now, although Fani-Kayode has regretted and apologised for the public gaffe—an afterthought anyway; what remains befuddling is the fate of journalism in Nigeria. Remember that the journalist, after the incident, had come out bruised and tattered. Nobody was saying anything about him, not even a word of encouragement to make him stay put in the course of objective journalism pursuit.

    Sadly, we live in a society where journalists are constantly killed, harassed and intimidated for doing their job, but little or no care has been shown to address this rising menace.

    It should be noted that most journalists in the country are either unpaid or underpaid, leaving most of them to be bootlickers of one politician or the other. Until media owners pay journalists well and promptly, enforcing the ethics of the profession will remain a major problem.

    As at this moment, only a few publishers constantly pay what can truly be described as a take-home package. Many Nigerians are now discouraged from joining the profession, thereby now exploring other sectors they find lucrative.

    Recent reports have revealed that newsroom employment has significantly decreased. The COVID-19 outbreak has also led to a rapid scaling back of advertising spending, which has inadvertently led dozens of newspapers to cut budgets and furloughs.

    Similarly, a dozen media think-tanks in the country like the Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism, Enough is Enough, International Press Centre, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, and Premium Times Centre for Investigative Journalism had commissioned surveys, following perceptions that journalists were being exposed to danger in the course of covering the pandemic.

    One of the surveys, filled by 463 journalists – correspondents, reporters, editors, freelancers, and presenters from 73 print, broadcast and online media across 33 states and the Federal Capital Territory – revealed that there had been poor attention to the needs, safety and welfare of journalists covering the pandemic.

    Drawing from these responses, media proprietors were urged to prioritize the welfare of their reporters.

    The media, especially in Nigeria, and at this particular juncture, must step up its game by doing everything necessary to protect the inalienable rights and privileges of members of the fourth estate in the country.

    Against this backdrop, it is my humble submission that media owners should come up with innovative ways to generate revenue for their platforms as the present advertising model can no longer work, in as much as such finances are needed to sustain the business.

    Also, as far as I am concerned, it will not sound too ambitious for politicians and other elites in the country to emulate the best practices of developed nations and begin treating journalists like kings and not dregs.

    Only then, will the media and Nigerian journalists take its pride of place in the heart of the masses, and even become society’s true watchdog.

    Gidado Shuaib, a media researcher, is the editor of The News Digest. He can be reached on giddyshuaib@gmail.com.

    Tags: Femi Fani-KayodeGidado Shuaib
    SendShare14Tweet9Share2Send
    Previous Post

    Upgrading Nigerian Transportation Sector

    Next Post

    BREAKING: Trailer Rams Into Comrade Adams Oshiomole Convoy

    Next Post

    BREAKING: Trailer Rams Into Comrade Adams Oshiomole Convoy

    Stay Connected test

    • 517 Fans
    • 13 Followers
    • Trending
    • Comments
    • Latest

    How Atiku’s Lawyer’s Travelled To Cambridge To Confirm Buhari’s Certificate – And The Disappointment That Followed

    September 6, 2019

    Vanguard Apologizes To Professor Osinbajo Over Fake News, Retracts Story

    September 25, 2019

    I Will Waive my Constitutional Immunity to Clear my Name – Osinbajo

    September 25, 2019

    N90bn scandal: Stop Threatening Media Houses, Sue me, Frank tells Osinbajo

    September 25, 2019
    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    0
    Nigeria

    Lest We Forget: Security Issues in Nigeria from 1999 to Date!

    0
    Ministerial list: Nigerians react to Buhari’s nomination of Akpabio, Keyamo, Saraki, others

    Ministerial list: Nigerians react to Buhari’s nomination of Akpabio, Keyamo, Saraki, others

    0
    Channels TV Reporter Precious Owolabi Shot During Shiite, Police Clash Is Dead

    Channels TV Reporter Precious Owolabi Shot During Shiite, Police Clash Is Dead

    0
    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    August 9, 2022

    Post-VAIDS: JTB, FIRS Commences Full Scale Enforcement On Defaulters

    July 12, 2022
    Nami Charges Professional Tax Bodies On Contribution To Tax Development In Nigeria

    Nami Charges Professional Tax Bodies On Contribution To Tax Development In Nigeria

    July 7, 2022
    Benfica Vice Presidents Applaud Sports Minister Sunday Dare’s Ideas

    Benfica Vice Presidents Applaud Sports Minister Sunday Dare’s Ideas

    July 3, 2022

    Recent News

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    August 9, 2022
    16

    Post-VAIDS: JTB, FIRS Commences Full Scale Enforcement On Defaulters

    July 12, 2022
    17
    Nami Charges Professional Tax Bodies On Contribution To Tax Development In Nigeria

    Nami Charges Professional Tax Bodies On Contribution To Tax Development In Nigeria

    July 7, 2022
    16
    Benfica Vice Presidents Applaud Sports Minister Sunday Dare’s Ideas

    Benfica Vice Presidents Applaud Sports Minister Sunday Dare’s Ideas

    July 3, 2022
    16
    Daily Concord News

    Bringing the most intriguing News from around the world you everyone in a positive way

    Follow Us

    Browse by Category

    • Africa
    • Basketball
    • Business
    • Culture
    • Economy
    • Education
    • Food
    • Football
    • Foreign Affairs
    • Gaming
    • Health
    • Health
    • Interviews
    • Lifestyle
    • local
    • News
    • Nigeria
    • Opinion
    • Politics
    • Science
    • Security
    • Sports
    • Startup
    • Tech
    • Uncategorized
    • World

    Recent News

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    Air Marshal Sadique Has No Links With Thugs, Allegations Are Delusional — YAFODE

    August 9, 2022

    Post-VAIDS: JTB, FIRS Commences Full Scale Enforcement On Defaulters

    July 12, 2022
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Privacy & Policy
    • Contact

    © 2019

    No Result
    View All Result
    • Home
    • News
    • Politics
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Entertainment
    • Tech
    • Lifestyle
    • Opinion

    © 2019

    Go to mobile version