Media stakeholders; including media owners and editors have appealed to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to address the severe economic challenges facing Nigeria’s media industry.
The stakeholders made the appeal at the All Nigerian Editors Conference in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, on Thursday.
The annual conference tagged “Economic Growth and Development Strategies in a Resource-Rich Country,” brought together publishers, editors, and other media stakeholders together. The aim is to discuss the rising costs and operational constraints threatening the sustainability of industry in the face of dwindling economy.
Speaking at the event, the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) President, Eze Anaba, bemoaned the current economic situation in the country. He noted that the scarcity of resource materials, such as newsprint and broadcasting resources, presents one of the biggest obstacles to the industry.
Anaba stressed the fact that media outlets are struggling to adapt to digital trends while staying financially viable.
He said, “The biggest threat to media survival today is the availability of resource materials.”
Anaba, therefore, urged the Government to fulfil its promise to help alleviate the industry’s burden.
On his part, the Chairman of the conference and publisher of Thisday and Arise Television, Prince Nduka Obaigbena, expressed cautious optimism. He also acknowledged the nation’s economic reforms.
Obaigbena, however, emphasized that these reforms must prioritize the well-being of the vulnerable and support sectors like the media that uphold democracy.
Speaking at the occasion, the publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Amuka, painted a stark picture of the media business climate. He noted the unsustainable cost of newsprint, which has surged from N600,000 to over N2 million in two years.
He said, “Every day we publish a hardcopy newspaper, we lose money.”
Amuka, therefore, called on the Government to support the media to sustain print journalism.
President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of Information and National Orientation Mohammed Idris highlighted importance of the media. He stated that media play essential role in shaping public perception and fostering national development.
Tinubu, in his message, however, urged media professionals to adhere to factual news reportage and uphold integrity.
The President stated that media must maintain its role in informing the public and strengthening democracy.
source: Daily Trust
Follow us for more news on our WhatsApp News Channels @
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VaC505jB4hdZ5Yx9g82U
