The International Centre for Investigative Reporting (ICIR), on Wednesday, rolled out the carpets to mark the 10th anniversary of its essence as organisation poised to ensure and promote accountability in the practice of journalism.
ICIR, a not-for-profit media organisation, drew the crème-de-la-creme in the media world to a conference on Media Sustainability at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
In its 10 years of operation, the ICIR, apart from publishing investigative stories, has helped to build the capacity of journalists across platforms and all the geopolitical zones in emerging areas of media and journalism.
The essence of the conference, as noted by the organisers, was “in order to dissect the existential challenges facing both legacy and digital media in the country.”
In a communique issued at the end of the event, stakeholders were of the consensus that building a sustainable media business is associated with being purpose-driven.
Therefore, it was agreed that media organisations, like other business concerns, must clearly define their purposes, from which they must come up with definite strategies for growth, development and sustainability models.
“Naturally, media organisations should be change agents in the society. Therefore, media platforms must establish themselves as being relevant to the development of the society, else they will not attract patronage.
“Media organisations must deliberately ensure that their staff are competent and be able to deliver on the jobs in the best and competitive standard.
“Media organisations must emphasize excellence, openness, integrity, transparency, accountability, and must invest in exclusive and investigative contents, in order to survive in the hostile business environment.
“To become commercially viable, media owners must invest in news gathering, and effectively fund journalists to do good stories.
“Journalists must not shy away from holding the government accountable, as that is one of the ways media could become relevant as the Fourth Estate of the Realm.
“Editors and media owners should become crusaders for media freedom and this starts by reassuring journalists that the integrity of the media will never be allowed to be tampered with.
“The independence of the media must as such be held sacrosanct, most importantly by editors and media owners,” it was stated in the communique.
African media owners and editors were also called upon to remain vigilant and ensure that the voice of the media is not stifled.
“The media, in view of sustainability discourse, needs to explore new content generation opportunities and must be ready to diversify into areas where they have core competence, by coming up with products like music, movies, documentaries as well as other educational and entertainment concepts.
“The media needs to leverage the power of collaboration. At tables where conversations on global investigations e.g Wikileaks, Panama Papers and so on happens, African media must collaborate and ensure it is ably represented.
“African media must not be seen as purchasers of global content but must take its place as generators of global content.
“In thinking about media sustainability, African media must transit beyond news generation into knowledge generation, as part of its drives for diversification and sustainability.
“The media needs to address the challenge of trust deficit, as sub-standard news contents, misinformation, disinformation, and mal-information has threatened the confidence of the people in the media.
“The media should engage with media regulators on the need to re-evaluate the punitive approach to media regulations.
“It is believed that a closer working relationship with the regulators is important, while encouraging them to see the media as partners-in-progress.
“In order to improve the business environment and enable the media to thrive, the media must draw the attention of the government to the challenges of infrastructure deficit, like the lack of electricity, insecurity apparatus, and bad road network, etc, to ensure they are addressed,” it was stated.
Participants at the conference, drawn from diverse sectors in the country, congratulated the ICIR for its tenacity that has made it possible for it to engage in critical reporting for 10 years on.
They also commended the Executive Director of the organisation, Mr Dayo Ayetan, for hosting the conference on the contemporary challenge of media sustainability in Nigeria, and, by extension, in Africa.
Among dignitaries present at the event, compered by Eugenia Abu, a multi-media expert and broadcaster, was the chairman, Arena Holdings, South Africa, Tshepo Mahloele, who was represented by a former editor, Sunday Times, Bongani Siqoko as the Keynote Speaker.
Also present were Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University, Kashere, Gombe State, Professor Umar Patte; Chief Executive Officer/Director of Radio Now, Kadaria Ahmed; founder of Connected Development (CODE), Mr Hamza Lawal; and David Kaplan of the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN).
Others were Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times; Managing Director, Guardian Newspaper, Martins Oloja (moderator of the panel session); Mr Babatunde Irukera – FCCPC; Malam Mannir Dan-Ali, former CEO/Editor in Chief, Media Trust Limited, publishers of Daily Trust.
Also present were Mallam Isa Gusau, Special Adviser Media and Strategy, representing the governor of Borno State, Professor Babagana Zulum; Mr Dayo Olaide, Deputy Director of MacArthur Foundation (Africa); and a former chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Mr Ibrahim Magu.
