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Media Expert Decries Poor Media Coverage of Environment

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By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.

Veteran Environmental journalist and Editor-in-Chief of NatureNews Newspaper, Aliu Akoshile has decried the low coverage and little space being accorded environment issues by media professionals in the country.

Akoshile, former Managing Director of Daily Times Newspapers disclosed this in Obajana during a two-day environmental journalism workshop at Dangote Cement Company, Obajana, Kogi State.

The training workshop was organized by Dangote Group in partnership with Climate Africa Media Initiative Centre (CAMIC) for about 50 journalists from the North Central Geo-political zone of the country.

The veteran journalist who was also the lead facilitator for the Media training themed: “Reporting the Environment For Sustainability”, said journalists had the onerous task of informing and educating the people and should consistently inform and educate them about their environment.

“Environment has placed responsibility on us as journalists. Our professional calling imposes on us responsibility of informing the public. There is therefore need for us to incorporate environment into everything we do.

Akoshile, who is also the Executive Director, CAMIC regretted that the environment had been grossly under reported adding that International Press Institute (IPI) also recently pointed out this aberration.

He noted that the environment was equal to, if not more important than the socio-economic and political issues which dominate the media space.

He posited that climate change had necessitated a shift in journalism practice making constant update a dire requirement adding that as journalists, “You are the link between the environment and the people.

“Neglecting our environment as journalists is detrimental to us as a nation. We must join hands together, to secure our environment. This can be done by giving in-depth coverage of what is happening in our environment.”

He urged that all hands must be on deck to check devastating effects of climate change which now posed the single biggest health threat to humanity.

Akoshile said that it was therefore imperative to organize the workshop to train and encourage Media Professionals to delve into environmental journalism.

“Our survival is dependent on the well-being of the environment. The environment has been there before us and we need it more than it needs us, therefore, we must protect it from harm for our own good as humans.

Akoshile also frowned at the mode of the practice of Citizens journalism saying it remained a veritable tool for promotion fake news, misinformation and disinformation.

He therefore called for gate keeping through regulations in to check their operations and urged trained professional journalists to remain focused in the discharge of their duties.

“It is a major problem we are facing today in the media. It is affecting our revenue and affecting our integrity. We must join hands to protect our profession”, he said.

Akoshile charged journalists to increase their capacity by interrogating information gotten from their environment and avoid use of scientific jargons to prevent mis-leading or misinforming the general public. (Ends)

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Veteran Broadcaster Reuben Okala is new head of Abuja station of Kaftan TV

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Kaftan TV has engaged the professional services of a veteran broadcaster, Reuben Okala, to lead the Abuja office as head of station.
The move by the station is to reposition the quality of news reportage, current affairs and other interesting programs for satisfaction of it’s viewers

Reuben Okala, who is expected to resume with emmidiate effect, is bringing on board his wealth of experience that spans close to thirty years, as a multitasking professional in journalism trenches at Nigeria’s premier television station, the Nigeria Television Authority-NTA.

Chief Executive Officer of Kaftan tv, Waheed Odusule, unveiled the new station helmsman, on Tuesday, at a general meeting with staff of the fast rising television station.
He admonished them to continue to work hard, while promising to look into their welfare and other emoluments. Odusule who said that their is no room for laziness at Kaftan tv, as hard work will be rewarded just as any staff that engages in professional misconduct will be shown the way out.

In his brief remark, representative of the founder of Kaftan tv, who also doubles as it’s consultant, noted that the founder, Prince Adewale Adebayo, places greater premium on professionalism for the overall success of the station, and that was why the decision to bring Reuben Okala becomes more than imperative.

In his bief remark, the new head of Abuja station, Reuben Okala, expressed satisfaction with the facilities he’s seen at the station when he was conducted round on a facility tour.

He urged them to be creative by carving a nitch for themselves, noting that collectively Kaftan tv can be taken to greater hieghts.
The new head of station admonished them to believe in themselves and their creator if they must achieve individual success, promoting that hard work will be rewarded under his watch as head of station in Anuja.

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Senate to tell its own story as it births in-house magazine

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The Senate has officially unveilled its in-house publication, “10th Senate,” to the public as it expressed the believe that its story can’t be better told by the third party

Chairman, Senate Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Senator Yemi Adaramodu who unveiled the magazine on the floor of the upper Chamber said the new publication”is an embodiment of the Senate’s commitment to open dialogue and effective communication with Nigerian people within and outside. “Within its pages, you will find a tapestry of stories, insights, and ideas that reflect the rich chronicle of our nation. It will serve as a platform for the Senate to share its legislative achievements, initiatives, and aspirations, while also providing a voice to the diverse voices of our citizenry. ”
“As we embark on this journey together, let us embrace the power of knowledge and dialogue. Let us seize this opportunity to strengthen the bond between the Senate and the people, as we work hand in hand towards a brighter future for our beloved nation. ”
Addressing newsmen shortly after plenary, Senator Adaramodu, who incidentally is the Editor-in-Chief of the magazine said the lawmakers are anxious to drive their own narrative in the public, conscious of the space constraints in the traditional media.
He said:” It will be a quarterly magazine to chronicle activities of the Senate which the traditional media may not give attention.
“Today, at the chamber, the Media Committee birthed a magazine to show the other areas that you our partners haven’t been able to showcase.
“We know that in the newsrooms there are deluge of news items fighting for space. You pick the ones that are immediate. That’s why we come up with this quarterly magazine , Tenth Senate.
Our story can’t be better told by the third party, we want to tell it ourselves
“We want the people of Nigeria to know that we are representing them adequately. We don’t want to restrict ourselves to just the hallowed chamber.”
Asked by journalists, if fund for publication of the magazine would be from public fund appropriated for the National Assembly, Adaramodu clarified that individual lawmakers would finance the publication.
“It is to be financed by Senators, we are contributing to run it to shore up our image, we aren’t going to take money either through Appropriation or other sources.”.

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Kogi Governor’s media adviser condemns attack on Akoni TV

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The Special Adviser on Media to Kogi State Governor, Ismaila Isah has expressed sympathy with the Chief Executive Officer of an online television channel in the state, Akoni TV, Deborah Agbonika, over the robbery attack and vandalisation of the Online Television Studio in Lokoja.
Some yet to be identified hoodlums were reported to have gained access to the property of Akoni TV by 200 unit housing estate junction in Lokoja on Sunday night, vandalized the studio and carted away equipments worth millions of Naira.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Lokoja, the Special Adviser to Governor Usman Ododo condemned the act describing it as an affront on journalism in the state.

He urged the management of the online TV channel not to be deterred by the incident as it is only a set back which is incapable of retarding its effort to disseminate factual and timely information to its audience and teeming followers within and outside the state

While calling on security agencies to investigate the attack and ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, the Media adviser restated that the administration of Governor Ododo would not condone criminal elements and their nefarious activities especially where it tramples on the symbol of freedom of expression any where in the state.

Ismaila assured that the organization would be given needed support to ameliorate immediate challenges faced as a result of the robbery and damage to its facilities.

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