NIGERIA MEDIA MONITOR

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#03-04 MONDAY 26 JANUARY, 1998.


*	JOURNALIST ARRESTED; SIEGE ON MEDIA HOUSE.
*	GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CAUTIONS ON COUP PLOT REPORTING
*	MEDIA BOSS URGES GOVERNMENT TO REPEAL RESTRICTIVE LAWS
*	CALL FOR DETAINEES' RELEASE
*	BROADCASTING AND THE CHALLENGES OF PROGRAMMING.

NEWSREEL

JOURNALIST ARRESTED; SIEGE ON MEDIA HOUSE
The Deputy Editor of "African Concord" magazine, Obi Chukwumba, was arrested
5 January 1998.  He has since been detained at the Ikoyi, Lagos, detention
camp of the State Security Service (SSS).  The government has issued no
statement and its reason for the arrest is still unknown.  The African
Concord has long stopped publication, but two of its top journalists -
Mohammed Adamu (Abuja Correspondent) and Soji Omotunde (Editor) arrested on
27 July and 25 October 1997 respectively, are still in detention.

In Ibadan, Oyo State, security operatives laid a siege on the offices of
"Omega Weekly" magazine, forcing its editors and staffers to go underground.
According to a release by the paper's management, the siege began on 9
January 1998 when armed security men went to its offices and demanded to see
the Managing Director, Mr. Segun Olatunji and Dr. Adeolu Akande,
Editor-in-Chief Mr. Wale Adebanji, Managing Editor and Mr. Bose Opeseitan,
Executive Editor.  When told by the office assistant that the journalists
were not around, the security agents left with a promise to come back. When
they returned on 10 January and met locked offices, they queried the
gate-keeper and tried to force their way in.  They have been visiting the
office daily since then, insisting they must get the editors.

The management said it had advised the staff to stay away from the office.
Government has not given any reason for the siege.

GOVERNMENT SPOKESMAN CAUTIONS ON COUP PLOT REPORTING
The Chief Press Secretary to the Head of State, Chief David Attah, has
advised journalists to exercise caution in reporting events relating to the
foiled plot to unseat the government.

Addressing a team of national officers of the Nigeria Union of Journalists
(NUJ) which visited him in his office, Attah said that as opinion moulders,
journalists occupied a special position in handling matters considered as
breaches to national security.

He recalled the recent briefing of media executives at the presidential
villa, saying it was part of official efforts to keep the media informed
about developments on the foiled plot.

Reiterating his determination to push information management in government
to a broader spectrum, he said that as conveyors of information, newsmen
must be well educated on the subject-matter on the ground.

He said: "You cannot educate the public if you are not educated on the
subject matter."

He donated N100,000 (N) to the NUJ as his contribution to helping the union
out of its present financial predicaments.

Earlier, the NUJ President, Mr. Lanre Ogundipe, said the State House should
accredit correspondents from all media houses, pointing out that that would
not only enable reporters gather first-hand information on events at the
Presidential villa, but would also help them do away with speculations.

He also appealed to the Federal government to release all detained
journalists. 

ODUNEWU URGES ABACHA TO REPEAL RESTRICTIVE LAWS
The Federal Military Government has been urged to repeal or amend the
Official Secrets Act and other media restrictive laws in the nation's
statute, to allow for more openness in the conduct of official business by
media practitioners in the country.

The chairman, Nigeria Press Council and veteran journalist, Chief Alade
Odunewu, made the suggestion while addressing "Course 6" participants at a
seminar of the National War College in Abuja on January 20, in the paper
titled: "The Media and the Military."

Odunewu said it is imperative for the government, no matter its
colourations, to co-operate with media practitioners and fashion out how the
media industry could be improved for national development.  In an apparent
criticism of government's antagonism of some sections of the Nigerian media.
Odunewu called for restraint on the promulgation of media specific laws and
observed that the military and security agencies should be sensitised on the
imperative of applying the due process of the law in handling media matters
and excesses.

The chairman further suggested that government should consider the adoption
of the D-National System which is currently in use in Britain, but also said
that it should be modified to suit Nigeria's local situation.  He argued
that if adopted, the system would reduce certain areas of disagreement
between the media and the military.
Source: ThisDay, January 21. 1998.

FEATURES
DETAINEES: RELEASE THEM NOW
It is regrettable that Nigerians continue to wait for the realisation of the
promise made in the November 17, 1997 speech of the Head of State, General
Sani Abacha, to mark the fourth anniversary of his government, that some
detainees would soon be released.  The Head of State had promised that the
government would effect the release of some detainees who were no longer
considered security risks, enjoining them to see the release as an
opportunity to contribute anew to the development of the country.  That
promise was made more than two months ago and since then no detainee (except
for one or two briefly detained and released) has been released in line with
the promise.

This sends the wrong signals about the import of the Head of State's speech.
In modern governmental set-up, the President or the Head of State is at the
top of the power hierarchy and it is assumed that whatever he/she says has
the weight of law as it is necessarily well-considered. It seems, however
that the Head of State's speech in this regard is being shown as lacking
such force of action as it has simply not materialised.  It does not matter
here whether the appropriate departments are still working out the
modalities of giving action to the promise as this still sends the signal of
tardiness on the operations of government.  For why would the Head of State
go on air about an issue that would still require more than two months to
work out without saying so?

Furthermore, the issue of detainees has become a very embarrassing one in
Nigeria's dealings within the international system with other international
actors raising queries about lack of respect for human rights in Nigeria.
This unfortunate situation is bound to be further accentuated by the
accusation of insincerity which can be levied on the government on account
of the non-fulfillment of the November 17, 1997 promise.  In an
international system that sets great store by integrity, Nigeria is going to
be potrayed as an unserious nation that does not even respect its own
promises.

Incidentally, the most important project of the Abacha government is the
political transition programme through which the government wants to return
the country to democratic rule.  And an irreducible signpost of democracy is
the rule of law and respect for rights.  Granted that a subsisting military
government cannot be expected to put into practice all the tenets of
democracy, a transiting government, nonetheless, has to show some fidelity
to democratic norms particularly with respect to respect for citizen's
rights.  We believe it is in this respect that the government itself has
come to recognise the irregularity of detaining citizens without bringing
them to trial in the law courts.  The government therefore has the
responsibility to translate this recognition into action if only to show its
respect for its citizens' rights.

We are, therefore, concerned that it is in the interest of the government to
effect the release of the detainees now to restore integrity to the Head of
State's speech, repair the damaged image of the country on account of the
unfulfilled promise and demonstrate real commitment to the political
transition programme and its associated ethos.  The government definitely
has everything to gain from the release of the detainees; it should not be
delayed any longer.
Source:  Nigerian Tribune, Editorial January 20, 1997.

BROADCASTING AND THE CHALLENGES OF PROGRAMMING
by Sylvia Dallas-Salami
Between 1992 and 1994 frenzied efforts were made by interested parties to
raise public awareness on the challenges of private broadcasting.  Seminars
and workshops were also organised to intimate potential owners and employees
of the new independent dispensation on its many possibilities and otherwise.
In fact, a particular seminar held early 1994 at the Sheraton Hotels and
Towers, Ikeja, Lagos drew quite a crowd.  Old broadcast managers like Dr.
Christopher Kolade, and Dr. Mrs. Victoria Ezeekoli of the Nigerian
Television Authority (NTA) delivered papers at the seminar tagged:
Challenges of Private Broadcasting.

Dr. (Mrs). Ezeokoli in her lecture emphasized on the need for proper
programming.  Programming which happens to be the core of broadcasting, she
stated, should be regarded as a major challenge.  Another speaker went
further to say that next to the budget for technical facilities and
personnel should be the budget for programme packaging.  And in September
1994, Ray Power 100 FM heralded the dawn of private broadcasting in Nigeria.

A keen observer of the electronic media, Dr. Taiwo Oloruntoba-Oju  of the
University of Ilorin, comparing the present situation with the past when
broadcasting was strictly a government affair noted that with government
control over the electronic media, the sort of diversity-multiplicity of
opportunities that comes with private enterprise - was lacking. "However
with the granting of licences there is a boom in that direction," he said.

The question therefore is what kind of boom have we really recorded
especially in the area of programming? A programme has been described as a
complete item broadcast on television and radio. This goes to show that all
the packages one listens to and watch on radio and TV- discussions, news,
features, documentaries, interviews, magazines, drama - fall under
programmes category.  And if we say, they are all programmes, how far have
they improved since the introduction of independent broadcasting? And if
they have not improved what are the factors responsible and how can the
situation be arrested?

Broadcasting being a long term but capital investment confronted the new
proprietors with certain basic realities.  The need to find other sources of
generating revenue apart from adverts became very glaring, hence, the very
fast move to accommodate new programme ideas.  Instead of the restrictive
pattern established by the older government stations, the new stations
decided to draw the private sector to programme packaging. Programmes were
designed to elighten special publics and at times the general public on the
activities of some professional and industrial bodies.  Instead of the few
documentaries done in the past, areas like stockbroking, petroleum,
insurance, aviation, transportation, banking and architecture began to
receive adequate coverage and weekly programmes were packaged out of them.

While some sponsors felt they could cut corners by using independent
producers/presenters, who were not necessarily professionals, some insisted
on using experts in the given fields for production.

Unfortunately, many independent producers lack the where/withal for such
programmes.  In fact Livy Ajuonuoma who has become a familiar face on
television has a line of programmes that has the same brief more or less.
Some of his magazine programmes are no more than a catalogue of boring
interview sessions.  A magazine is meant to be as divergent as possible but
linked in an innovative manner in order to keep the interest of viewers or
listeners.  But many programmes are built after the examples of some foreign
stations without due consideration to the relevance of such programmes to
the Nigerian setting. Hybrids have become the hallmark of many an
independent production.  Discussions have been turned into multiple
interview sessions.  Some audience participation programmes especially on
Galaxy Television are just a lousy device to draw the attention of viewers
with no clear cut purpose for the programme.

Now we have new presentation techniques with some independent announcers
sounding more like disk jokeys on the American FM stations they ape.  In
fact there is a whole new tide of confusion that has engulfed the
broadcasting industry.

Even though the likes of Chukwuma Anyanwu believe that "programmes concept,
packaging and presentation must break away from the norm to be significant,
initiative and innovative," in order to, "arrest the audience", the new
trends pointed out so far have not augured well for the industry.  Changes
must be made not for the sake of it.  They must be positive.  The trivia
which one hears on air at times are definitely not innovations.  For
instance, the programme by Elvis Daniel on Galaxy Television is far from
being innovative.  His jokes are not only bereft of humours, but the entire
programme should be overhauled so that people don't get confused as to his
purposes.  The presenter of "Love Serenade" on BCOS can be commended for the
timing of his programme, but when he continues using expressions like "give
me a break" to his callers has to be notified of the proper usage of such
expression.  The single word "pardon" is a far better substitute.

The programme "Newsline", for instance, had a different brief when Patrick
Oke and Yinka Craig were co-presenters.  Today Frank Olize's brief is quite
different from theirs and yet his brand of humour and dovetailing techniques
make the programme a unique news magazine.

Another problem which hinders programming in this country is the lack of
knowledge of professional ethics or total disregard for it.  These days we
see presenters cursing on air without apoligising.  Presenters talk about
sex freely on air when children are around to hear and pornographic musical
dubbled from MTV satellite have become the bane of TV music presentations.
While on radio, lurid notes have taken over music programming.  On this
situation, the Director General of Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
who has always frowned at the transmission of pornographic materials, stated
that "no culture glorifies sex in the public" and warned that "if change is
not effected by the culprits then there is no reasons for them to transmit".

Movies are no longer previewed before they are put on air to the
embarrassment of the station as some of them are yanked off halfway into
programme for one reason or the other.  The sensibility of the audience must
be taken into consideration at all times so that the broadcaster can play
his role more effectively.

For image building in a nation, a producer has a role to play.  Through his
programming, Browning, a communication theorist, insists that the
"broadcaster should indicate which views and behavious that are acceptable
and praise worthy in a given society as well as those that are unacceptable
outside the mainstream".  In short,  media personnel should serve as
attitude and behaviour model to his audience.  The effect is such that
without being over the producer/presenter teaches his audience how to
conduct themselves in both ordinary and work situation."

However, these days when the Kenny Ogungbes throw unguarded insults at
callers who wish to participate in his programme, is it still possible for
the audience to see him as a role model?

The truth is that many broadcasters are yet to know the ethics from the
deviation.  Infact many are yet to understand the place-no matter how subtle
- of programming in the scheme of things.

The twin evils of commercialisation and low budgeting have become the worst
enemies to proper programming. Because of commercialisation NTA has thrown
caution to the winds in its attitude to some sensitive programme areas. NTA
may not fall foul of the 60% local content stipulated by NBC but its
continued serialisation of foreign soap operas has reached an embarrassing
pitch.  And before we begin to make up defence on cultural exchange, I
understand it is cheaper cost effective - to use such soaps and then get
sponsors for them.  In fact, some of these soaps have nothing to offer the
average Nigerian in terms of morality, information and so on. One wonders
why NTA, when it finally got round to it, put out substandard serials like
"Winds of Destiny" when there are many Nigerian scriptwriters who have more
imaginative scripts to offer.  Dr. Oloruntola-Oju who has worked with TV
houses for over a decade says it pays NTA better to use the second-rate
artistes because of their low budget.  NTA should have a rethink on this
issue.

AIT in its own small way seems to have taken over the traditional role of
NTA by promoting Nigerian arts and culture through its programme.  Its
sponsorship and participation in home video production and other serial
plays have gone far to boost the station's image.  While some new stations
like Eko FM and Rhythm 93.7 have promised to stick to this 60% local content
stipulation this remains to be seen as they continue operations.

Fortunately, the NBC as regulatory body was quite up and doing in 1997.  In
a concerted effort to keep a tab on programming it evaluated the 1997
performance in a statement delivered by the Director General, DR. Tom Adaba.
He accused almost all the stations of "copyright infringements, ineffective
logging, non-submission of programme schedules, refusal to furnish critical
data and access to inspectorate staff as well as airing spurious and
unverifiable claims on traditional and religious programmes".

In equally clever move, NBC has decided to tie renewal of licenses to some
conditions which will now take care of some of these images.  Apart from
encouraging public opinion on the issue this January, the Director General
insists that "any operator who feels uncomfortable about putting local
programmes on their channels should hand back their licences to NBC."

These new conditions, media watchers believe "will give NBC a good
opportunity to put things right" especially in terms of programming.  And
for stations like Galaxy and ClapperBoard whose technical problems helped to
worsen their plight in 1997, a word of caution will do - sound technical
infrastructure can go a long way  to enhance programme quality.  Some
stations are not only guilty of some copyright offences, they are also known
for incessant fill-ups and repeats.  In this new year, one will advise that
stations like Radio Nigeria, Ibadan and Lagos, MITV, DBN, Galaxy, BCOS
should desist from such practices so that we can record some improvements in
broadcasting.
Source:  Nigerian Tribune, January 20, 1998. 


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