The Special Adviser to the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, has cautioned community-based media outlets in the country against publications that amplify feelings of discouragement and hopelessness.
Adesina, who made the call at the 30th Anniversary of Prestige Newspaper, a community news medium in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, insisted that community media must strive to be authentic, factual in their reportage to promote peace and tranquillity in Nigeria.
Adesina who was represented by a former editor of the SUN newspaper, Yinka Fabowale, stressed that it was the responsibility of community-based media outlets to educate the grassroots people on the activities of government at all levels.
Adesina said it was important for the media to educate the audience on the climate change bill and the amendment bill signed into law by Buhari in November.
H said, “The media, including those at the community level, have a responsibility to educate themselves about what governments are doing. It means stepping out of the newsroom more often and also going beyond social media sentiments to find out actual ‘on group’ reality.
“If the FG says the Economic Sustainability Plan has delivered stimulus funds to tens of thousands of Nigerians and households, the media should get out there and look for beneficiaries and talk to them.
“In November, President Buhari signed two bills into law: the Climatic Change Bill and the AMCON Amendment Bill. The community media should take a deep dive into these new laws and break them down for their audience to understand.”
In his remarks, the publisher of Prestige newspaper, Dada Olanipekun, said the survival of community-based newspapers is dependent on consistency and ability to withstand criticisms.
He mentioned poor funding as one of the challenges posing difficulties to community newspapers.
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