Fides Media Living the Faith
By Chioma Ndife
As part of activities to celebrate her 10 Years Anniversary, the International Centre for Investigative Reporting, ICIR, one of the leading Investigative journalism NGOs in Nigeria, has concluded plans to hold a media conference on the theme, “Media Sustainability”.
A press release signed by the Managing Editor, International Centre for Investigative Reporting, Ajibola Amzat, said the conference would take place at Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja, on Wednesday, 22nd June.
According to the editor, the issue of financial viability and sustainability was one that media organisations around the world grappled with daily.
‘This challenge is exacerbated by the erosion of advertising revenues through the rise of technology platforms such as Facebook, Google, Twitter, and several others, leaving the media business in a fragile condition.
‘In the last two years, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic has worsened the misfortunes of global media enterprise in ways never imagined before. But while the western media, to a large extent, seems to have found winning formulae to do business profitably, the media in the global south, particularly countries in Africa, is still struggling to stay afloat.
‘It is in view of these multiple challenges that the ICIR is inviting media practitioners and other stakeholders to a conference on media sustainability in Nigeria,’ Amzat said.
Also speaking on the planned conference, the Executive Director and Founder of the ICIR, Dayo Aiyetan, observed that the time was now to have a conversation on the future of the media in Africa, particularly its viability and profitability.
‘Many news organisations are not profitable because of dwindling sales in advert revenue. Many media companies cannot pay salaries and are laying off staff. The media in Nigeria is hemorrhaging,’ he stated.
The release further added that industry leaders must discuss how to find profitable ways of running media businesses.
A keynote address on ”Sustainability Imperatives for African Media” will be delivered by Tshepo Mahloele, chairperson of Arena Holdings, one of Africa’s largest English newspaper publishers in South Africa.
Mr Mahloele doubles as an entrepreneur who holds major investments in many projects in South Africa and other countries.
A panel discussion that will follow will have as discussants, Chief Nduka Obaigbena, Chairman, Thisday Newspapers; Ms Chris Anyanwu, CEO, Hot Fm; Mallam Kabir Yusuf, CEO, Daily Trust Newspapers; and Ms Kadaria Ahmed, CEO, RadioNow and Professor Abigail Ogwezzy – Ndisika of the University of Lagos, UNILAG.
Martins Oloja, the Managing Director of Guardian Newspaper Limited, will moderate the conversation, while Eugenia Abu, a respected TV personality, will be the event’s compere.
Fides gathered that the ICIR is an independent, non-profit news agency that promotes transparency and accountability through robust and objective investigative reporting. Its mission is to use excellent, investigative journalism to promote good governance by building a culture of critical reporting in the media.