A veteran Journalist Chief Olusegun Osoba has called on Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) to intervene in the ongoing crisis within the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) ahead of its dicey conference scheduled to hold in few weeks.
Penpushing reports that Osoba made the call on Thursday at the opening of the All Nigeria Conference (ANEC) 2024 with the theme, Economic Growth and Development Strategies in Resource-Rich Country’ held at DSP Alamieyesigha Memorial Banquet Hall, Yenegoa, Bayelsa State.
The former Governor passionately appealed to the guild that with the current face-off within the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which has attracted litigation by some aggrieved members challenging the office extension of the outgoing administration, it is high time the editors rise up to the challenges to find lasting solution.
Penpushing reports that Osoba, therefore, encouraged the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) on need to set up a committee before the situation gets out of hands, stressing that the guild as a well-organized journalism body should not fold its arms in seeing the union collapse
‘I want to appeal to Nigeria Guild of Editors to look into the ongoing crisis within the Nigeria Union of Journalists. There has been a court challenge on the tenure extension of the President tenure ahead of the conference of the union’, he stated
Penpushing further reports that Osoba disclosed he and Sam Amuka, Founder/Publisher of Vanguard had been contacted over the ugly development, with assurance that the duo are ready to support Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) towards resolving the crisis
‘I want to beg Nigeria Guild of Editors, and as well-organized body of journalism to look into the NUJ lingering crisis. Please set up a committee to look into this. With my support and Sam Amuka, we should help find acceptable solution to the crisis’, Osoba emphasized.
Penpushing also reports that the Publisher of Vanguard Newspapers, Sam Amuka in his remarks at the conference pointed out the dwindling fate of newspapers industry in the country, pointing out that with the present hardship, the newspaper business is dead.
The renowned veteran journalist the bad economy in the country is now forcing newpapers production into oblivion, stressing that, not many readers can even afford to purchase newspapers these days, emphasizing that publishing has died.
‘The truth is that there is no more media. The newspapers business is dead. Things have changed, now you hardly find vendors. Sellers won’t sell if buyers won’t buy. Many now find it difficult to buy newspapers. Publishing is dead’
‘This week I asked our financial controller how do you sell. She said what newspapers proceeds was only enough to pay transport cost. Every publication is a lost. There is a wall of difference between newspapers and online’, Amuka added
‘Hardcopy doesn’t make money all over the world. It is advert that sustain media, but because times are hard. Advert doesn’t come as it used to come. All prices have gone up in Nigeria. Things are bad. In this newspaper industry, the business part of it is dead’, he stated
Penpushing reports that Amuka there is need for government to come to the aid of the media for its survival, pointing out that a tonne of newsprint is N2million, which is not even sustainable, adding that government must appreciate the media for hard copies to stay in operations
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