LAGOS STATE GOVERNMENT ENGAGES 160 COMMUNITY MEDIA PRACTITIONERS IN A 2-DAY WORKSHOP. | Shakiru Seidu. ...Sheds light on Strategic Communication: A tool for Media Networking & Community Relations

The office of the Special Adviser to the Governor on Communities and Communications, Lagos State, Hon Sulaimon Omoyele Akeem, Ministry of Local Government and Community Affairs, held a 2-day Workshop for Community Media Practitioners with the theme: Strategic Communication: A tool for Media Networking & Community Relations.

The workshop, which was supported by His Excellency, Governor Akinwunmi Ambode was held on Thursday 27th- Friday, 28th December, 2018, at Oriental Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos. The workshop which attracted a total of 160 Journalists from both print and electronic media, also had in attendance top government functionaries in the State.

The thrust of the Workshop was said to build the capacities of the concern Media Practitioners for the development of communities across the State. Overall, the Workshop focused on building the capacity of participants on professional reportage of news stories, ingenuity in marrying integrity, objectivity and sustainability together.

The workshop among many other purposes is also said to help community media practitioners to bridge the information link between the people in the grassroots and Government by providing timely and accurate information on the programmes and policies of Government.

The patrons, Association of Community Media Practitioner and Publisher of Oriwu Sun newspaper, Alhaji Monzur Olowosago, appreciated the State government for giving community journalism relevance in the State.

He stated that after thirty four years of starting the first community newspaper, Oriwu Sun, the media has grown tremendously as the state now has over 80,000 community media organizations. According to him, community newspaper is the most powerful weapon in the world because of its proximity to the people.

While bemoaning the level of awareness of community media in the country, he urged participants to appreciate the state government for its continuous support for the system.

He added that globally, the media survive on government advertisement and as such, the state government should always consider community media in advertisement.

Moreover, the APCOM patron urged the participants not to use their platform to arbitrarily destroy the government, adding that the utility of technology has made journalism convenient for practitioners.

He also said, since journalism has been proliferated, professionals must set a standard for themselves by being responsible in their duties. He opined that to strengthened Nigeria democracy, community journalism must be developed.

He therefore charged participants to avail the opportunity the workshop provides to network and deliberate on the challenges and prospect of the system.

Three papers were presented at the workshop, the delivery format included lead presentations followed by discussions by the participants. With resource persons from academia and public sector, the main papers delivered at the workshop are:
Strategies for Human Relations and Administrative. Communication for Growth and Development.
Community, Conflict, Communication: the nexus
Public Relations skills for community media practitioners.

The Workshop identified and noted the following;
Lagos State is leading other states in Nigeria as the state with the highest number of community media.
The workshop is a clear attestation to the fact that the state government understand the relevance of community media.
Community media is a service to the community and practitioners have attachment to their communities.
Embellished news reports are often the purveyor of conflicts in the society.
Sustainability of community newspapers is vital to government and entrenched of transparency.
Mass media survive on government advertisement.
There is no absolute objectivity in journalism anywhere in the world but community media practitioners at all times must protect the interest of the grassroots.
The dynamism of a well-managed community media improve literacy in the society and help defend the right of vulnerable members of the community.
Media practitioners will lose credibility when it Is well known with fake news. When you impress on falsehood, you lose your credibility over time.
Community media is the most potent tool which can be used to change the narrative of any community.
Community media are accountable to the community they serve and must free from political or commercial interference.

In view of the relevance of community media and commitment of Lagos state to inclusive governance, the following recommendations were made to serve as a way forward in establishing mutual relationship between the government and community media practitioners.

Practitioners must continue to protect Local and state government in good light. Projecting the activities of the state government to community dwellers and relaying the feedback to the government should be the core objective of community media.
Community media practitioners should restrict themselves to ethical standard and abstain from fake news.
There is no need for higher level of diplomacy in community media practices. When you see something good in opposition party, report it though credence may not be as wide as that of government in power.
Media practitioners are the voice of the people so must investigate and ascertain authenticity before dishing out messages.

A well-structured community media will enhance mutual coexistence among residents in the community.
Journalists are enjoined to be objective and apolitical.
It is expected of media practitioners to right something that can stand the test of time sighting publisher of Oriwu Sun who has never written a rejoinder in his 34 years of community journalism as good example. The rule according to him to get facts from reliable sources.
Community media exist with code of ethics and anyone venturing into the profession must adhere to its standing rules. It is high time we elect people of high integrity into political institutions.

His Excellency, the Government of Lagos State, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode was lauded for his unrivalled stride in building the capacities of media practitioners for the development of communities across the state.

The resource persons lauded the ministry of local government and community affairs for organizing the workshop while Shakiru Seidu of MegaXpression Community Magazine and other participants expressed appreciation for opportunity to attend the workshop which it was agreed was high quality. The gala night which afforded the participants opportunity of unwinds and network among themselves was applauded as well.

Hon Muslim Olohuntele Folami, Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftancy Affairs, in his eloquent remarks urged the Media Practitioners to be objective in their reports. He revealed that Gov Akinwunmi Ambode is not leaving any stone unturned to make life meaningful to Lagos residents.

SHAKIRU SEIDU
Publisher, MegaXpression Community Magazine,
The genuine VOICE of Ikorodu Division.
08099799530.