The year, 2017, started like any good year for the media. The practitioners were up and doing, discharging their duties in their best tradition of excellence. Having come of age, the media played its role as the watchdog of the society. It helped in shaping the opinions of the public as well as setting agenda for policy makers.
Discharging their duties came with a lot of challenges as usual. In some instances, some of the challenges remained as mere harassment while some led to death.
In some cases the industry was reminded of the dark days of military dictatorship when attempts were made to silence the ever vociferous Nigerian media.
A flicker of the days of military dictatorship was seen in the attempt by the Department of State Security at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, to silence The Punch newspapers.
Infuriated by a number of revealing reports by the newspaper’s correspondent, Olalekan Adetayo, the DSS sent him packing. He was practically walked out of the villa where he daily reports the activities at the seat of power. The offensive stories border on the ill-health of President Muhammadu Buhari at the time and how it had obstructed the holding of the Federal Executive Council meeting where major national decisions are taken by the Presidency.
The order, however, did not last. The uproar grew and commonsense appeared to prevail. The order was rescinded. Adetayo was back on the beat at the Presidential Villa.
Adetayo can be said to be lucky when his experience is compared to those of many others. A compilation by the International Press Centre, IPC, headed by Mr. Lanre Arogundade showed that quite a number of journalists suffered untold hardship in the discharge of their duties.
These professionals and their organisations faced a number of dangers including threat, battery, arrest, kidnap, killing and invasion.
For instance, Jerry Edoho of Ibom Nation, Akwa Ibom State was picked up in Uyo by police personnel from the Force headquarters in Abuja on January 6; Nsebiet John of The Ink, Akwa-Ibom State, was detained for a night in police cell, arraigned and granted bail to the sum of N250,000 on January 6 and Premium Times, Abuja was invaded by armed police officers on January 19.
Dapo Olorunyomi, publisher of Premium Times and Evelyn Okakwu, judiciary correspondent were arrested by armed police officers on January 19; Godwin Aliuna of National Mirror, Ebonyi State, was attacked by alleged armed robbers in his residence on February 22 while Famous Giobaro, journalist with Bayelsa State-owned radio station, Glory FM 97.1 was shot dead by suspected hired assassins on April 16.
Samuel Nweze, publisher of the People’s Leader was shot by gunmen in front of his office in Abakaliki on June 2, Charles Otu of the Conscience Newspaper was beaten to stupor with dangerous weapons and later abducted by suspected political thugs in Abakaliki on June 2 while Lawrence Okojie of Nigerian Television Authority, Benin, was shot dead by gunmen at 8 p.m. while returning from work on July 8.
Amadin Uyi of Silverbird Television, Abuja was brutalised by police officers during the protest by Ourmumudondo group at Unity Fountain in Abuja on August 8, Segun Salami of Channels Television, Kogi, was battered at the State House detention centre by security personnel attached to Kogi State Government House on August 28 and NUJ secretariat, Abia State was invaded by Nigerian soldiers of Operation Python Dance on September 12 during which some journalists were assaulted.
Wale Odunsi, an editor with Daily Post (online publication) was reportedly attacked by security officials at the Kogi State Government House on October 11 and Ikechukwu Ibe of the Daily Trust Newspapers was allegedly brutally assaulted by an Army captain at Jabi area of Abuja on October 26.
Also, a check by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) revealed that at least 81 reporters were killed doing their jobs in 2017, as harassment and attacks on journalists were said to be on the rise.
This number was slightly down from last 2016 total of 93.
Reportedly, an unprecedented number of journalists were jailed in 2017, with more than 250 still in prison, according to IFJ.
The year also witnessed the growing trend of serious online journalism. The year witnessed the spirited moves to shift away from the conventional newspapers printed in hard copies. With the online publications becoming very popular, it was a hard time for the conventional newspapers which had to contend with getting fresh angles from stories which had been served fresh online before the production of the hard copies. It remains a herculean task for the conventional newspapers to remain relevant.
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One of the brands that stormed the online newspapers scene and gave almost every other publication a run for its money was The Next Edition. The newspaper boasts of unequalled vibrancy, passion, expertise and dedication. With some of the best journalists like Victoria Ibanga and Ibanga Isine at the drivers’ seat, it is no surprise that the publication recorded its one million hits within six months of its operations.
Generally, 2017 can at best be described as an eventful year for the media. Organisations took their turn to organise different events. Top on the list is the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), which held its biennial convention and national conference in the same year.
While the convention was held in Lagos between Friday, April 28 and Sunday, April 30, 2017, the conference later held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, between Wednesday, September 20 to Sunday, September 24.
The two occasions presented the required opportunities for journalists and other media practitioners to fraternise.
At the convention in Lagos where an election was held, a new set of officers emerged to run the affair of the group. Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief, New Telegraph Newspaper, Mrs Funke Egbemode, was re-elected as the President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors. She won the election unopposed.
Other officers who were returned unopposed are Vice President, East, Mr Frederick Fabor; Vice President North, Hajiya Sani and the General Secretary, Mrs Victoria Ibanga.
Mr. Suleiman Gaya emerged as the Deputy President. Other officers elected are Mustapha Isah, Vice President West; Mr Ray Echebiri, Treasurer and Mrs Mary Atolagbe emerged Assistant General Secretary.
Mr. Ibrahim Mammaga of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) and his Leadership Newspaper counterpart, Ms Catherine Agbo emerged as the Standing Committee members for the north. Mr Steve Nwosu, Steve Osuji and Austin Elewodalu were elected as Standing Committee members for the West while Mrs Juliet Njiowhor and Mr. Ikpong Udom won as Standing Committee members for the East.
Both the convention and national conference also gave the opportunities to give the positions of the journalists on topical national issues.
Similarly, the umbrella body for online publishers, the Guild of Corporate Online Publishers, GOCOP, held its convention in August. New officers of the group also emerged for the group with the Publisher of The Eagle Online, Dotun Oladipo, as the new president.
The catalogue of events in the industry includes the 12th Wole Soyinka Award for Investigative Journalism held on Saturday, December 9, 2017 at the NECA House, Agidingbi, Lagos, and the Golden Pen Award, sponsored by the Nigerian Breweries Plc held on October 7, 2017, in Lagos. In addition, Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) held its 26th edition at MUSON Centre, Lagos. At the award events, outstanding journalists were rewarded for their good work.
In fact, quite sumptuous was the reward by the organisers of the Golden Pen Award as some journalists became instant millionaires as winners.
The different newspapers, either in a bid to shore up their image or celebrate some feats achieved, during the year, organised one event or the other, bringing together journalists and members of the public in general. One of such occasions was the New Telegraph Award to honour some members of the society for their outstanding performances.
The event, which was held on Saturday November 24 at the Balmoral Events Centre of Federal Palace Hotel will linger in the memory of the recipients of different awards for a long time.
The same goes for the News Express, an online publication, which celebrated its fifth year anniversary on September 29. The event was held at the upscale Sheraton Hotel & Towers, Ikeja, Lagos. Countless other similar events were witnessed in 2017.
One event that is worthy of mention also was the upgrading of the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre at the Lagos State Secretariat, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos. Well-equipped and redesigned, the centre offers a conducive atmosphere for reporters covering the Lagos State seat of power.
Governor Akinwunmi who was represented at the inauguration on December 15, by the Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Rotimi Ogunleye, spoke on the reason behind his action.
His words: “This administration has taken steps to ensure that the Bagauda Kaltho Press Centre is upgraded, in terms of physical infrastructure and the facilities so that our media practitioners can work in an environment that is in tune with global standard.”
Perhaps the most prominent achievement of the media industry in 2017 is the right to host the 2018 World Congress and General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI). The conference will see Nigeria hosting the media international community.
The high calibre of media owners and practitioners drafted into different committees to prepare the ground for the occasions speaks volume. In the committees, for instance are the likes of top politician and media owner, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu; Publisher of Thisday newspapers, Nduka Obaigbena; Mr. Waheed Odusile, Mr. Victor Ifijeh, Mr. Emma Agu, Mallam Mohamned Idris and Mr. Eric Osagie.
Among others in the committees are also the Managing Director of New Telegraph Newspaper, Funke Egbemode; Managing Director of Next Edition, Victoria Ibanga; Senior Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu.
With countless other events that added to the excitement of 2017 in the media, it would not be wrong to conclude that it was one eventful year despite the economic downturn that hit the industry hard and made many to lose their jobs.