The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) says digital technology offers opportunities for the nation’s media industry
The NGE President, Mustapha Isa, stated this at the end of a workshop themed; “Journalism and Digitalisation: The Imperative of Good Corporate Governance,” which was attended by managing directors, publishers and editors of media outlets, including print, broadcast and online platforms in Lagos.
He disclosed that the Guild was working to explore the benefits of digital communication technologies to create a thriving and more sustainable practice in the journalism and media industry.
According to Isa, as digitization of content and data open up new opportunities for where, when and how news get consumed Nigeria’s traditional media managers need to modernize their operations.
“Journalism has changed forever. People have said print media is going down, but what you need to do is to innovate and bring yourself to speed with current reality. That’s why we have this conference
“There is a massive disruption that has happened and traditional media will have to sit up. That’s because you can never wish away digitalization right now. Everything has gone online. The era of disseminating news through only print is gone, even broadcasting too.”
The Editor in Chief at Diamond Publications and Chairman of the workshop, Lanre Idowu, noted that journalism itself remains unchanged.
“But how do we tell our stories in a more compelling manner? “How do we reach a younger audience? Where do you reach them and where are they?” he questioned in an interview with Voice of Nigeria
According to the publisher, the quest to find the answers to these questions provides opportunities for marketing research organizations to analyze demographics about readership and content monetization adding that challenges still remain.
Idowu mentioned the cost and stability of data as infrastructural challenges that need to get fixed to support the low cost of publishing online.
But he adds there are other challenges when it comes to transiting from traditional publications to digital platforms.
“You can’t just move from print and want to replicate that digitally. Even if it’s your website, your design has to change,” he said. “And it’s from the knowledge that you will explore and exploit the opportunities available. That is why this workshop is good so we can explore opportunities out there.
“Part of the knowledge needed for a successful transition from analogue to digital includes the understanding of management beyond the newsroom
“There is the management of the editorial process. There is management in the newsroom. But there is also management as a business. The media is a business and a big business too. So we need to understand that more and move away from the old ways of looking at news as just a social course. It is that, but it is more.”
The Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu declared the two-day workshop opened, pledging support for the provision of digital infrastructure that will support the work of journalists and media practitioners in the state.
He also pledged support to press freedom. In his words: “I stand with you (media practitioners) in solidarity; to say that, indeed, your profession is not just a noble one, but it’s the one that gives the general public an independent assessment; holding our governance and government accountable at all times.”
The Nigerian Guild of Editors is a network of more experienced journalists who have attained the position of editors.
It is an independent non-profit and non-partisan organisation established to develop human capacity, economic empowerment, protection and welfare of its members.
The NGE in collaboration with other journalistic bodies across the globe aims to preserve the standard of journalism practice and adherence to the Code of Ethics of the profession in the country.
PIAK
