My 36 years odyssey in media advocacy

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It’s a red-letter day for me, ladies and gentlemen. I ventured into writing for the media exactly 36 years ago. Prof. OBC Nwolise nudged me into it in 1988.  Then I was a student under his tutelage during my A Level studies organised by the Faculty of Education, University of Ibadan. Today is a day of multiple celebrations – thirty-six years of my media advocacy and 14 years as a Columnist with The PUNCH newspaper. This is a day of reflection and reminiscences. In my over three decades of being involved with the media at both national and international levels, I have witnessed a lot which is worth sharing.

Media taught me the true definition of passion. I am very passionate about making my voice heard and count on topical national issues. I started out with writing “Letter to the Editor” in the defunct Daily Sketch in Ibadan. Thereafter, I began writing full blown articles of 1,000 – 1,300 words. When Daily Sketch started rejecting my articles which were critical of military junta then, I began sending them to private media like Nigerian Tribune, Daily Champion, National Concord, The Guardian and The Punch. About 30 years ago, I started getting interviewed in the electronic media – Radio, Television, Podcast. In the course of time, I became popular with the moniker ‘Asorogbayi’ meaning one who talks to earn honour.

Summary of my achievements in media is that I am an award-winning writer, author, columnist, analyst and mentor. I have written over 2,000 published commentaries and has been a columnist with The PUNCH newspapers (one of the most widely read and influential Nigerian newspapers) since October 2012.  Before then, in 1997, I was the Editor-in-Chief of ‘Corper Courier’, the magazine of NYSC Delta State where I did my youth service and was later Editor of Money and Politics Newsletter of International Foundation for Electoral System better known as IFES, Nigeria Office.    I was ‘resident’ News Analyst with Arise News TV from October 2017 – March 2020. 

My three published books are: “Nigeria, My Nigeria: Perspectives from 1990 – 2010”, “A Nation in Tow: Essays on Governance and Leadership in Nigeria.” (2016) and “Nigeria: Corruption and Opacity in Governance“(2019). To date, I have been published in 84 newspapers, magazines and newsletters and have been guest analyst on 72 television stations and 96 radio stations across 16 states and FCT.  I hosted a talk show, Development Focus with Jide Ojo every Wednesday morning on Independent Television, Abuja from January 2021 – December 2022.

Some of the foreign or international media organisations that have interviewed me are: Reuters, Deutshe Welle, Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT), Russia Television, China Central Television (CCTV), BBC News, China Global Television Network (CGTN), DD National TV Channel, India (Doordashan), Al-Jazeera, Sputnik Africa, Asaase Radio, Ghana, West Africa Democracy Radio, Dakar, Senegal, Associated Press,  and Africa Health Report.

Media organisations that have given me awards include Nigerian Television Authority, Independent Television, NTA Language, and Love 104.5 FM.

Sincerely, my long years of involvement in Nigeria media landscape hasn’t brought me fortune but it has gotten me modest fame. I now have name and face recognition as some people sometimes approached me to compliment me when they see me at public events. One thing I am sure of, that has rubbed off my media enterprise is social capital. I have been interviewed by high profile media correspondents, presenters and newscasters. I have been on the same set with governors such as Simon Lalong Esq. of Plateau and Captain Idris Wada of Kogi State, Ministers such as Chris Ngige as Minister of Labour and Alhaji Lai Mohammed as Minister of Information, senators, members of House of Representatives, Deputy and Assistant Inspectors General of Police, Senior Advocates of Nigeria, Professors, political party chairmen, etcetera.

I was a media consultant to Channels Television on 2023 General Elections and has also consulted for media focused NGOs such as International Press Centre, Centre for Media and Society and Media Rights Agenda, the trio, alongside Konrad Adenauer Stiftung have engaged me to train journalists and media practitioners.   

Some of the privileges I enjoy as a media practitioner whose craft cuts across writing and speaking on multiple media platforms on daily basis include the goodwill of free media coverage for some of my social events. When my alma matter, Bishop Onabanjo High School, Bodija Ibadan celebrated its 40th Founder’s Day on September 26, 2000, NTA Headquarters directed NTA Ibadan zonal centre to give my school free media coverage. The crew was on ground from start to finish of the programme. I also recall that on the occasion of the public presentation of my three books, none of the media houses who came to cover the events ever asked me for money.

On the flip side, many viewed me as very rich because they see me frequently  on many reputable media channels. They didn’t realise that the media engagements are done pro bono i.e. free of charge. In fact, if I consider my cost of transportation to most of the media stations and the enormous cost of data to be able to join some of the stations virtually for the interviews, then it will be clear that I have only succeeded in building social and not financial capital from my media enterprise. Will this make me quit media practice? No! I feel good being the voice of the voiceless and contributing to national development via media advocacy. Few days ago, I did a vox pop on what people think about my writings and analyses and all the responses so far are very positive and encouraging. That’s the tonic I need to continue to soldier on. Do I have any fear for the future? Yes, and that’s the encroachment of Artificial Intelligence into media practice. I hope one day soon, media owners will not be using AI to write opinions and editorials and provide analyses in broadcast media. To all my media partners, kudos! Thanks for giving me your platforms to ventilate my views!

I.G: @jideojong

 

 

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