Ernest Chinwo in Port Harcourt
The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) has commended the Nigerian Army and other security agencies for their efforts in curtailing activities of insurgents, militants and other groups threatening peace and security of the country.
It also called on the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) and other media stakeholders to collaborate to ensure the setting up of newsprint production companies and resuscitation of the moribund one in Oku Iboku, Akwa Ibom State, to address the crisis of high cost of imported newsprints.
These were part of decisions contained in the communique issued at the end of its 13th All Nigeria Editors’ Conference (ANEC) and Extraordinary Convention 2017 held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, from September 20 to 24.
In the communique signed by the president and the General Secretary of the Guild, Funke Egbemode and Victoria Ibanga respectively, the editors who deliberated on the theme: ‘Balancing Professionalism, Advocacy and Business.’ Expressed concern that the media industry is facing untold hardship in the country.
“The media industry has been and is still experiencing a crisis of recession, which presupposes that government would need to do more to ensure a conducive environment for the media to flourish,†they said.
They also said: “There is a need for editors, while remaining professionally excellent, to also explore other revenue yielding ventures or business prospects to ensure that life after their editorial assignments is not nightmarish.
“That editors, in addition to their editorial functions, should concern themselves with the business side of the media industry to ensure that their establishments thrive, and that their venture into business upon retirement will be knowledge-based and experience-enriched from their service years.â€
The editors called Mass Communication Departments and journalism training institutions in the country to include business courses in their curricular so as to prepare future editors for the business of the media industry.
They also expressed gratitude to the Rivers State Governor, Nyesom Wike, for his magnanimity in hosting ANEC back to back successfully and applauded his administration for the significant level of infrastructure development recorded in the state under his watch.
The conference was declared open by the Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike, while Malam Ismaila Isa Funtua was chairman of the opening ceremony and the former Governor of Ogun State, Aremo Segun Osoba, Chairman of the Conference.
The Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of The Interview, Mr. Azubuike Ishiekwene, delivered the Keynote address while the Senate President and sister associations and unions like the Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), and the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) gave goodwill messages.
