Ayodeji Jeremiah
The role of the media in nation building, and as one of the mainstays of modern civilisation cannot be overemphasised. Democracy, despite its faults or weaknesses remains the best tool of governance in modern society and the media, one of its main arms. The Media along with the Judiciary and an educated society are some of the institutions that enable democracy to thrive.
As has been demonstrated in recent times (The Iranian elections for example,) the role of the media as a watchdog, as a catalyst for change, as a tool for new ideas is becoming increasingly relevant especially as the lines becomes blurred between old and new media. Citizens can now fight their governments on Facebook and Twitter. (The Chinese government recently overturned the conviction of a traffic offender after protests online.) Blogs are beginning to replace columns in newspapers and bloggers are gaining increasing notoriety for influencing decision making across industries. (Example, fashion bloggers are now invited to sit with Anna Wintour, the legendary Vogue Editor at fashion shows.)
I want to emphasise that increasingly in recent times, there will be no such thing as being a print, online, or broadcast journalist. Those who will practise journalism now and in the years to come must broaden their horizons and engage themselves such that they can move seamlessly between one form and the other. I also want to say that so called citizen journalism will not erode the importance of old traditional journalism. Rather, it will enhance it. As long as humans remain humans, there will always be the need for informed news, analysis, opinion, discussions and professional journalists will continue to act as moderators setting the pace of the discussions.
Last year saw the closure of print newspapers in Europe and the US, even as readers move increasingly online for their news and advert revenues decline in face of the global economic crisis and with more advertisers moving online. As Internet penetration increases in Nigeria, it’s only a matter of time before this trend catches up with us here.
This raises some issues for print newspapers and what they must do to ensure continued survival:
• Print newspapers/magazines must now concern themselves more with news analysis rather than reporting the news. (E.g. Timeless, Newsweek, Time)
• Print newspapers/magazines must focus more on young people who love reading about themselves (how come Facebook and Twitter are so popular?)
• Print newspapers/magazines should start focusing on better design, more headlines, more graphics and less text (reflecting the gimmicks of online media)
• Rather than pandering to the whims of ‘the customer knows best’, newspapers must resist the lure of society journalism (like what’s happening on TV with reality television) and focus on what’s happening in society. Reports and articles must resonate with people and force them to react. Newspapers must set the agenda for the society, which demands that every newspaper must have an ideology
Our own belief is that there is no competition between old and new media. Print books, newspapers and magazines are not going to die anytime soon; (more so in Africa, where literacy levels and Internet penetration are still low.) The challenge rather is how print media can take advantage of the opportunities inherent in online media to increase revenue, increase subscription and stay relevant and engaged.
http://www.ayodejijeremiah.wordpress.com/; http://www.timelesscourage.blogspot.com/
The 1st National Youth Media Summit was held at the British Council on Thursday 7th of January and Friday 8th of January, 2010.
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