NIGERIA MEDIA MONITOR
#03-04 MONDAY 26 JANUARY, 1998.
* JOURNALIST ARRESTED; SIEGE ON MEDIA HOUSE. * GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CAUTIONS ON COUP PLOT REPORTING * MEDIA BOSS URGES GOVERNMENT TO REPEAL RESTRICTIVE LAWS * CALL FOR DETAINEES' RELEASE * BROADCASTING AND THE CHALLENGES OF PROGRAMMING. NEWSREEL JOURNALIST ARRESTED; SIEGE ON MEDIA HOUSE The Deputy Editor of "African Concord" magazine, Obi Chukwumba, was arrested 5 January 1998. He has since been detained at the Ikoyi, Lagos, detention camp of the State Security Service (SSS). The government has issued no statement and its reason for the arrest is still unknown. The African Concord has long stopped publication, but two of its top journalists - Mohammed Adamu (Abuja Correspondent) and Soji Omotunde (Editor) arrested on 27 July and 25 October 1997 respectively, are still in detention. In Ibadan, Oyo State, security operatives laid a siege on the offices of "Omega Weekly" magazine, forcing its editors and staffers to go underground. According to a release by the paper's management, the siege began on 9 January 1998 when armed security men went to its offices and demanded to see the Managing Director, Mr. Segun Olatunji and Dr. Adeolu Akande, Editor-in-Chief Mr. Wale Adebanji, Managing Editor and Mr. Bose Opeseitan, Executive Editor. When told by the office assistant that the journalists were not around, the security agents left with a promise to come back. When they returned on 10 January and met locked offices, they queried the gate-keeper and tried to force their way in. They have been visiting the office daily since then, insisting they must get the editors. The management said it had advised the staff to stay away from the office. Government has not given any reason for the siege. GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CAUTIONS ON COUP PLOT REPORTING The Chief Press Secretary to the Head of State, Chief David Attah, has advised journalists to exercise caution in reporting events relating to the foiled plot to unseat the government. Addressing a team of national officers of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) which visited him in his office, Attah said that as opinion moulders, journalists occupied a special position in handling matters considered as breaches to national security. He recalled the recent briefing of media executives at the presidential villa, saying it was part of official efforts to keep the media informed about developments on the foiled plot. Reiterating his determination to push information management in government to a broader spectrum, he said that as conveyors of information, newsmen must be well educated on the subject-matter on the ground. He said: "You cannot educate the public if you are not educated on the subject matter." He donated N100,000 (N) to the NUJ as his contribution to helping the union out of its present financial predicaments. Earlier, the NUJ President, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, said the State House should accredit correspondents from all media houses, pointing out that that would not only enable reporters gather first-hand information on events at the Presidential villa, but would also help them do away with speculations. He also appealed to the Federal government to release all detained journalists. ODUNEWU URGES ABACHA TO REPEAL RESTRICTIVE LAWS The Federal Military Government has been urged to repeal or amend the Official Secrets Act and other media restrictive laws in the nation's statute, to allow for more openness in the conduct of official business by media practitioners in the country. The chairman, Nigeria Press Council and veteran journalist, Chief Alade Odunewu, made the suggestion while addressing "Course 6" participants at a seminar of the National War College in Abuja on January 20, in the paper titled: "The Media and the Military." Odunewu said it is imperative for the government, no matter its colourations, to co-operate with media practitioners and fashion out how the media industry could be improved for national development. In an apparent criticism of government's antagonism of some sections of the Nigerian media. Odunewu called for restraint on the promulgation of media specific laws and observed that the military and security agencies should be sensitised on the imperative of applying the due process of the law in handling media matters and excesses. The chairman further suggested that government should consider the adoption of the D-National System which is currently in use in Britain, but also said that it should be modified to suit Nigeria's local situation. He argued that if adopted, the system would reduce certain areas of disagreement between the media and the military. Source: ThisDay, January 21. 1998. FEATURES DETAINEES: RELEASE THEM NOW It is regrettable that Nigerians continue to wait for the realisation of the promise made in the November 17, 1997 speech of the Head of State, General Sani Abacha, to mark the fourth anniversary of his government, that some detainees would soon be released. The Head of State had promised that the government would effect the release of some detainees who were no longer considered security risks, enjoining them to see the release as an opportunity to contribute anew to the development of the country. That promise was made more than two months ago and since then no detainee (except for one or two briefly detained and released) has been released in line with the promise. This sends the wrong signals about the import of the Head of State's speech. In modern governmental set-up, the President or the Head of State is at the top of the power hierarchy and it is assumed that whatever he/she says has the weight of law as it is necessarily well-considered. It seems, however that the Head of State's speech in this regard is being shown as lacking such force of action as it has simply not materialised. It does not matter here whether the appropriate departments are still working out the modalities of giving action to the promise as this still sends the signal of tardiness on the operations of government. For why would the Head of State go on air about an issue that would still require more than two months to work out without saying so? Furthermore, the issue of detainees has become a very embarrassing one in Nigeria's dealings within the international system with other international actors raising queries about lack of respect for human rights in Nigeria. This unfortunate situation is bound to be further accentuated by the accusation of insincerity which can be levied on the government on account of the non-fulfillment of the November 17, 1997 promise. In an international system that sets great store by integrity, Nigeria is going to be potrayed as an unserious nation that does not even respect its own promises. Incidentally, the most important project of the Abacha government is the political transition programme through which the government wants to return the country to democratic rule. And an irreducible signpost of democracy is the rule of law and respect for rights. Granted that a subsisting military government cannot be expected to put into practice all the tenets of democracy, a transiting government, nonetheless, has to show some fidelity to democratic norms particularly with respect to respect for citizen's rights. We believe it is in this respect that the government itself has come to recognise the irregularity of detaining citizens without bringing them to trial in the law courts. The government therefore has the responsibility to translate this recognition into action if only to show its respect for its citizens' rights. We are, therefore, concerned that it is in the interest of the government to effect the release of the detainees now to restore integrity to the Head of State's speech, repair the damaged image of the country on account of the unfulfilled promise and demonstrate real commitment to the political transition programme and its associated ethos. The government definitely has everything to gain from the release of the detainees; it should not be delayed any longer. Source: Nigerian Tribune, Editorial January 20, 1997. BROADCASTING AND THE CHALLENGES OF PROGRAMMING by Sylvia Dallas-Salami Between 1992 and 1994 frenzied efforts were made by interested parties to raise public awareness on the challenges of private broadcasting. Seminars and workshops were also organised to intimate potential owners and employees of the new independent dispensation on its many possibilities and otherwise. In fact, a particular seminar held early 1994 at the Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Ikeja, Lagos drew quite a crowd. Old broadcast managers like Dr. Christopher Kolade, and Dr. Mrs. Victoria Ezeekoli of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) delivered papers at the seminar tagged: Challenges of Private Broadcasting. Dr. (Mrs). Ezeokoli in her lecture emphasized on the need for proper programming. Programming which happens to be the core of broadcasting, she stated, should be regarded as a major challenge. Another speaker went further to say that next to the budget for technical facilities and personnel should be the budget for programme packaging. And in September 1994, Ray Power 100 FM heralded the dawn of private broadcasting in Nigeria. A keen observer of the electronic media, Dr. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju of the University of Ilorin, comparing the present situation with the past when broadcasting was strictly a government affair noted that with government control over the electronic media, the sort of diversity-multiplicity of opportunities that comes with private enterprise - was lacking. "However with the granting of licences there is a boom in that direction," he said. The question therefore is what kind of boom have we really recorded especially in the area of programming? A programme has been described as a complete item broadcast on television and radio. This goes to show that all the packages one listens to and watch on radio and TV- discussions, news, features, documentaries, interviews, magazines, drama - fall under programmes category. And if we say, they are all programmes, how far have they improved since the introduction of independent broadcasting? And if they have not improved what are the factors responsible and how can the situation be arrested? Broadcasting being a long term but capital investment confronted the new proprietors with certain basic realities. The need to find other sources of generating revenue apart from adverts became very glaring, hence, the very fast move to accommodate new programme ideas. Instead of the restrictive pattern established by the older government stations, the new stations decided to draw the private sector to programme packaging. Programmes were designed to elighten special publics and at times the general public on the activities of some professional and industrial bodies. Instead of the few documentaries done in the past, areas like stockbroking, petroleum, insurance, aviation, transportation, banking and architecture began to receive adequate coverage and weekly programmes were packaged out of them. While some sponsors felt they could cut corners by using independent producers/presenters, who were not necessarily professionals, some insisted on using experts in the given fields for production. Unfortunately, many independent producers lack the where/withal for such programmes. In fact Livy Ajuonuoma who has become a familiar face on television has a line of programmes that has the same brief more or less. Some of his magazine programmes are no more than a catalogue of boring interview sessions. A magazine is meant to be as divergent as possible but linked in an innovative manner in order to keep the interest of viewers or listeners. But many programmes are built after the examples of some foreign stations without due consideration to the relevance of such programmes to the Nigerian setting. Hybrids have become the hallmark of many an independent production. Discussions have been turned into multiple interview sessions. Some audience participation programmes especially on Galaxy Television are just a lousy device to draw the attention of viewers with no clear cut purpose for the programme. Now we have new presentation techniques with some independent announcers sounding more like disk jokeys on the American FM stations they ape. In fact there is a whole new tide of confusion that has engulfed the broadcasting industry. Even though the likes of Chukwuma Anyanwu believe that "programmes concept, packaging and presentation must break away from the norm to be significant, initiative and innovative," in order to, "arrest the audience", the new trends pointed out so far have not augured well for the industry. Changes must be made not for the sake of it. They must be positive. The trivia which one hears on air at times are definitely not innovations. For instance, the programme by Elvis Daniel on Galaxy Television is far from being innovative. His jokes are not only bereft of humours, but the entire programme should be overhauled so that people don't get confused as to his purposes. The presenter of "Love Serenade" on BCOS can be commended for the timing of his programme, but when he continues using expressions like "give me a break" to his callers has to be notified of the proper usage of such expression. The single word "pardon" is a far better substitute. The programme "Newsline", for instance, had a different brief when Patrick Oke and Yinka Craig were co-presenters. Today Frank Olize's brief is quite different from theirs and yet his brand of humour and dovetailing techniques make the programme a unique news magazine. Another problem which hinders programming in this country is the lack of knowledge of professional ethics or total disregard for it. These days we see presenters cursing on air without apoligising. Presenters talk about sex freely on air when children are around to hear and pornographic musical dubbled from MTV satellite have become the bane of TV music presentations. While on radio, lurid notes have taken over music programming. On this situation, the Director General of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC) who has always frowned at the transmission of pornographic materials, stated that "no culture glorifies sex in the public" and warned that "if change is not effected by the culprits then there is no reasons for them to transmit". Movies are no longer previewed before they are put on air to the embarrassment of the station as some of them are yanked off halfway into programme for one reason or the other. The sensibility of the audience must be taken into consideration at all times so that the broadcaster can play his role more effectively. For image building in a nation, a producer has a role to play. Through his programming, Browning, a communication theorist, insists that the "broadcaster should indicate which views and behavious that are acceptable and praise worthy in a given society as well as those that are unacceptable outside the mainstream". In short, media personnel should serve as attitude and behaviour model to his audience. The effect is such that without being over the producer/presenter teaches his audience how to conduct themselves in both ordinary and work situation." However, these days when the Kenny Ogungbes throw unguarded insults at callers who wish to participate in his programme, is it still possible for the audience to see him as a role model? The truth is that many broadcasters are yet to know the ethics from the deviation. Infact many are yet to understand the place-no matter how subtle - of programming in the scheme of things. The twin evils of commercialisation and low budgeting have become the worst enemies to proper programming. Because of commercialisation NTA has thrown caution to the winds in its attitude to some sensitive programme areas. NTA may not fall foul of the 60% local content stipulated by NBC but its continued serialisation of foreign soap operas has reached an embarrassing pitch. And before we begin to make up defence on cultural exchange, I understand it is cheaper cost effective - to use such soaps and then get sponsors for them. In fact, some of these soaps have nothing to offer the average Nigerian in terms of morality, information and so on. One wonders why NTA, when it finally got round to it, put out substandard serials like "Winds of Destiny" when there are many Nigerian scriptwriters who have more imaginative scripts to offer. Dr. Oloruntola-Oju who has worked with TV houses for over a decade says it pays NTA better to use the second-rate artistes because of their low budget. NTA should have a rethink on this issue. AIT in its own small way seems to have taken over the traditional role of NTA by promoting Nigerian arts and culture through its programme. Its sponsorship and participation in home video production and other serial plays have gone far to boost the station's image. While some new stations like Eko FM and Rhythm 93.7 have promised to stick to this 60% local content stipulation this remains to be seen as they continue operations. Fortunately, the NBC as regulatory body was quite up and doing in 1997. In a concerted effort to keep a tab on programming it evaluated the 1997 performance in a statement delivered by the Director General, DR. Tom Adaba. He accused almost all the stations of "copyright infringements, ineffective logging, non-submission of programme schedules, refusal to furnish critical data and access to inspectorate staff as well as airing spurious and unverifiable claims on traditional and religious programmes". In equally clever move, NBC has decided to tie renewal of licenses to some conditions which will now take care of some of these images. Apart from encouraging public opinion on the issue this January, the Director General insists that "any operator who feels uncomfortable about putting local programmes on their channels should hand back their licences to NBC." These new conditions, media watchers believe "will give NBC a good opportunity to put things right" especially in terms of programming. And for stations like Galaxy and ClapperBoard whose technical problems helped to worsen their plight in 1997, a word of caution will do - sound technical infrastructure can go a long way to enhance programme quality. Some stations are not only guilty of some copyright offences, they are also known for incessant fill-ups and repeats. In this new year, one will advise that stations like Radio Nigeria, Ibadan and Lagos, MITV, DBN, Galaxy, BCOS should desist from such practices so that we can record some improvements in broadcasting. Source: Nigerian Tribune, January 20, 1998.
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