THE NIGERIAN Guild of Editors (NGE) has called for more steps to mitigate the immediate impact of fuel subsidy removal and the exchange rate volatility on the citizenry.
The editors’ call is contained in a communiqué released on Tuesday following the three-day All Nigerian Editors Conference (ANEC) in Yenagoa from November 7-9, 2024.
The communiqué, signed by NGE’s President, Eze Anaba, and the General Secretary, Dr Iyobosa Uwugiaren, urged the federal government to consider tax relief, among other measures, to help media houses to cope with the current challenges.
The professional body of editors and media executives, while stating that it recognised the potential long-term benefits of the federal government’s reforms, it, however, noted that the immediate economic strain on all sectors, especially the media, was becoming unbearable.
The NGE said that the situation was challenging to media sustainability and viability. The guild, therefore, called for targeted relief measures to ease the burden on citizens and businesses alike.
On the sustainability of media revenue models, the guild advocated innovation in revenue generation beyond traditional advertising. “Media owners are encouraged to invest in quality journalism, embrace digital platforms, and offer premium content to ensure financial sustainability,” it said.
The guild also expressed concern over cases of harassment of journalists and called for stricter enforcement of laws protecting the media practitioners. It urged media houses to provide safety training for their staff, especially those covering sensitive issues.
The editors reaffirmed the importance of ethical journalism and urged media proprietors to maintain high standards of professionalism. It said that adherence to these standards was essential for building public trust and countering pressures that threatened press freedom.
“There was a strong recommendation at the conference that the media proprietors should invest in digital transformation, enhance content delivery, and train staff in digital skills like data journalism and multimedia production, to adapt to Nigeria’s increasingly digital audience.
“There was also a call for the guild to encourage greater collaboration among the media organisations, NGOs, and civil society to advocate for press freedom,” the communique also read in part.
While it emphasised that unity is essential in confronting restrictive laws and policies, the guild also discussed the outcome of a conference titled: “The Big Tech and Journalism – Building a Sustainable Future for the Global South”, held last year in Johannesburg.
The Johannesburg conference brought together over 70 journalists, news publishers, media organisations, including NGE, scholars, activists, lawyers, and economists from 24 countries.
It centred on solutions to the crisis of the sustainability of journalism and its intersection with the role of major tech platforms.
The conference culminated in the adoption of Big Tech and Journalism: Principles for Fair Compensation (the Principles).
“The Principles, according to the guild, are intended to be universal, serving as a framework for any country seeking to address media sustainability through competition or regulatory approaches, while enabling adaptation to the unique context.
The ANEC, therefore, resolved to use the Principles and hoped that this would represent an important step forward in addressing Nigerian media sustainability in ‘’the tumultuous era of Big Tech.”
The ANEC also expressed concern over some anti-media laws and decided to forward them to the National Assembly, to begin the process for repeal or amendment.
The guild expressed its gratitude to Gov. Douye Diri of Bayelsa, members of the Bayelsa State Executive Council, and traditional rulers for their hospitality and support.
Their contributions, the guild acknowledged, were instrumental in facilitating a successful conference and demonstrated Bayelsa’s commitment to fostering national dialogue and media development.
The communique indicated that the 20th ANEC rounded off with a shared commitment from Nigerian media proprietors, media executives and editors to promote responsible journalism, support economic growth, and defend press freedom and democracy. (NAN)
