‘South-East Yet To Invest In Media’

Raymond Ozoji,  Awka

Stakeholders from all walks of life who attended the official launch of the book titled “Media Practice And Security Challenges In Southeast”, seemed to concur that the Southeast region of Nigeria is yet to embrace as well as invest in the media subsector of the nation’s economy contrary to what obtains in the Southwest and other  geopolitical zones of the country. They seem to agree that journalists in the Southeast have not fared any better when compared to their colleagues in the Southwest especially those practising in Lagos state. To this end, the book authored by Chief Uche Nworah Ph.D X-rayed a myriad of security, financial, emotional, ethical and other challenges confronting Southeast journalists in the discharge of their professional duties.

The book launch which was held at the ASUU secretariat complex Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka Anambra state was a melting point for the cross pollination of ideas as well as recommendations on the way forward for the media industry in the Southeast region. Stakeholders who stressed on fundamental issues relating to social security and welfare packages for media practitioners in the Southeast, emphasized the dire need for more investments in the traditional media especially as the social media is competing ferociously with the mainstream mass media.

As a result, Professor Chinwe Uzochukwu, Head Department of Mass Communication Nnamdi Azikiwe University noticed that security has been a major challenge in the region with particular reference to Anambra state where she said many people were so afraid prior to the just concluded gubernatorial election because nobody knew what was going to happen. Uzochukwu explained that although security is a general issue, journalists seemed to be at the forefront of insecurity because of the nature of their jobs. She said journalists are usually the first hit during crisis situations and most times used as sacrificial lambs. The mass communication scholar also stated that the most security challenge journalists face in the line of duty is threat to life. According to her, the life of journalists hang in the balance whenever they cover problematic situations in the society. She said journalists are not sure whether they would come back alive when carrying out their legitimate duties in conflict situations. Uzochukwu however pointed out that in the midst of daunting security challenges, journalists are not properly remunerated and motivated to carry out their assignments; this she believes is responsible for low morale and unethical practices. She therefore suggested that government should have welfare packages for journalists and their dependants in case of any eventualities in the course of duty.

Furthermore Professor Angela Nkiru Nwammuo of the Department of Mass Communication Chukwuemeka Odimegwu Ojukwu University lent credence to the fact that the book written by Chief Uche Nworah is timely especially as it concerns security issues not only in the Southeast region but also Nigeria at large. Nwammuo said the author of the book looked at a number of security issues but stated also that the writer made efforts to proffer solutions journalists could apply in the discharge of their duties to effectively handle security issues. Nwammuo was equally of the opinion that communication could be used as an effective tool to address security breaches because youths are involved and they are volatile.

Also,  the Head of Service of the Anambra State Civil Service Barr. Harry Uduh described the title of the book as very apt especially as Anambra state just came out of a very serious security challenge associated with the gubernatorial election. Uduh said prominent citizens of Anambra state lost their lives and the security challenge during the election came in a manner that the state has never seen before. He said it was a thing of joy that someone has recorded it for posterity to see and also recommended strategies for security agencies so that the state will not experience such anymore. The Head of Service recalled that for more than seven years Anambra state was known as the safest state in Nigeria until the recent politically motivated security breaches, stressing that there are lessons to be learnt from it.

The author of the book, “Media Practice And Security Challenges In Southeast”,  Chief Uche Nworah, who also doubles as the Managing Director of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS), said his new book is a way of giving back to his profession. Nworah disclosed that his first degree was Communication Art where he made a Second Class Upper Division at the University of Uyo Akwa-Ibom State and thereafter bagged a Master’s Degree in Mass Communication and a subsequent doctoral degree. He said the most topical issue in Nigeria in the last two years has been security issues. He said Nigeria lived through the EndSARS saga coupled with the security threats in Anambra state in 2021 as a result of the governorship election. Although the author of the book was cognisant of the fact that the Southeast economy is evolving, he also made case for more investments in the media even as he called for increased  government subventions and funding especially for public-owned media houses. He said many media houses in the Southeast are owing salaries and they are not able to pay because of economic challenges. Nworah also observed that people currently prefer to do online advertising as against advertising in the traditional media. Be that as it may, Nworah opined that even in the midst of challenges, there was need for journalists in the Southeast to educate themselves more and keep themselves abreast of current trends in the media industry to be able to compete with their colleagues in Lagos and Abuja. He said another problematic issue with journalists in the Southeast is low self-esteem. Low self-esteem according to him, has made many a journalist soil their hands in unethical practices, adding that the issues of welfare, insurance, emoluments and a host of other critical needs of journalists in the Southeast are covered in his book.

The Managing Director  of the Anambra State Newspapers and Printing Corporation Mr. Chuka Nnabuife who represented Governor Willie Obiano and the State Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment Mr. C.Don Adinuba at the book launch, said the most vital aspect of the  book is that the author wrote the book from his direct encounter with reality. That the book is both a practical and theoretical appraisal of a situation and proferring of solutions too. Nnabuife said that the book came at a time security is a challenge in the Southeast; that Chief Uche Nworah reached out to current and future generations on what to do to surmount challenges in the field. Nnabuife also noted that the most challenging thing in the current dire security situation  compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic is that it starves the media of manpower, financial resources as well as relevant investments coupled with health and security risks. The renowned journalist and author who said he forsees another boom for the traditional media, maintained that Southeast entrepreneurs and business men who have the capacity for long term profits should invest in the media.