Worried by the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the media industry, Media Rights Agenda and BONews Service recently held a Twitter Chat with the theme: Ensuring the Survival of Media in the Face of a Global Pandemic – The Role of Governments.
Panellists during the chat included Dapo Olorunyomi, Publisher of Premium Times, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, CEO of Women FM, Ibim Semenitari, Editor and Information Management Specialist and Ted Iwere,, CEO of SME Media Limited, while Edetean Ojo, Executive Director of MRA moderated the session.
Full text of the chat is reproduced below:
Introduction by Edetan Ojo
Over the last few weeks, media bodies like the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, Independent Broadcasting Association of Nigeria and Nigeria Union of Journalists have turned to the government for assistance to overcome the effects of COVID-19 on the media.
The development has evoked understanding from some media stakeholders concerned about the survival of the media and a lot of anxiety among others about the potential negative impact of financial support to the media by Government for media freedom and independence.
There are no easy answers to this conundrum. It is for this reason that the Media Rights Agenda and BONews Service have assembled a team of wise and seasoned panellists to help us navigate the issues. Perhaps we can get some ideas about how to eat our cake and have it!
Before COVID-19 arrived on the scene, particularly in Nigeria, how would you describe the economic environment for media in the country? Would you say that media organizations were financially sustainable?
The economic situation was a challenge for all sectors before COVID-19. Thus, the Nigerian media was also financially challenged before Covid. Covid is accelerating the bad pre-existing conditions, making it much worse for the media.Ted Iwere
Prior to the arrival of the pandemic, the media is Nigeria had and still having some financial difficulties, to the extent that most media organization were depending on sponsors for survival.Olatunji S.Tolulope.
It was an already struggling media space in Nigeria. PreCovid-19, some print media were struggling with limited advert placement. The gestation period 2 break even as a media outfit was becoming longer and fluid. Some radio & TV & new media were barely surviving.
Covid19.Toun Okewale Sonaiya.
It has been said that the Coronavirus pandemic has devastated the media sector in Nigeria to the extent that the media are now facing an existential threat. What is your own assessment of the impact of COVID-19 on the media in Nigeria? Edetean Ojo
During the media gig workshop yesterday @lotufodunrin of @Mediacareerngr @LadyEumukoro and @BayoOlupohunda explained how the media has been struggling to survive during the pandemic; low adverts, reduced number of pages 4 print publication & laying off of staff. Blessing Oladunjoye.
While there are many challenges at this time, there are numerous opportunities to leverage on @BayoOlupohunda mentioned that the future is in the online media.
The impact has been largely diverse. While it is true that the media space has had an unfortunately negative impact from the general economic situation the media space has transcended certain degrees of redundancy. Online means of communication has greatly improved.Evelyn Okakwu
It is fair to say it has given law enforcement agencies discretion to abuse journalists and certainly it has tightened the screw in the ability of the media to generate revenue through events, circulation and advertising among other things.
And this improvement will certainly have far-reaching effects for the future of journalism in Nigeria. But this more than ever, present an opportunity for the media to look inwards for sources of fund and organisational development.Eve Okakwu.
About 40 radio & TV stations in Northern Nigeria with about 40k plus employees nearly shut down. Some shut down eventually. Others scaled down. Salaries on hold. Job losses.
@TounOkewale.
Women Radio @wfm917 reduced our transmission hours and ran skeletal service. Some working from home. I hope as Nigerians we can appreciate the challenges faced by broadcasters & journalists to get news to the people. Nigeria media practitioners are vulnerable. Toun Sonaiya.
With limited or complete absence of commercial activities in the private and public sectors, the media took a direct hit. It was struggling in the best of times. Things just got worse under Covid. #MediaNGCovid19 Ted Iwere.
Perhaps the first question is whether the media was surviving before COVID 19.Ibim Semenitari.
Traditionally, the business model that supported media production has been advertising and sales. in between, innovative media houses had always augmented with events and some form of modest subscription. #MediaNGCovid19 Dapo Olorunyomi.
The Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON) has asked the Federal Government for tax rebates for broadcast stations and a one-year moratorium on their annual operating licence fee. What effect do you think this will make to their sustainability?
For one it will take away a major cost factor in their business and that will free up cash for salaries and other operations. Ibim Semenitari.
The development has evoked understanding from some media stakeholders concerned about the survival of the media and a lot of anxiety among others about the potential negative impact of financial support to the media by Government for media freedom and independence.
Q2. A. It has affected the capacity to do good storytelling because the access to sources is more problematic, it has raised human rights challenges especially with regards to the privacy rights of patients.Dapo Olorunyomi.
True, many examples of governments providing dedicated stimulus packages or programmes for media. Concern, in our part of the world at least, that it might come with some restrictions and definite attempts at interference. Think it is feasible in #Nigeria? Zoe Titus (Free Expression Activist).
The report was really a pathetic state of the media and not much has changed. More journalists may still lose their jobs and some media houses fold up.
#MediaNGCovid19.Mediacareer
If granted, it will be a breather for BON members. It will free money for members to deploy to other critical areas of their operations. The overall effect of lowering their operational costs will improve their bottom line. It will be a kind and welcome relief.Ted Iwere.
It is a bait that will “hook the throat” of broadcast stations eventually.Segun Fatuse.
Nigeria’s large infrastructure deficit is more impactful on private media esp those in the category of SMEs where you have to provide own electricity, water, security, road to an extent by contributing to neighbourhood initiatives to fill pot holes etc like we do.Toun Sonaiya.
A huge impact indeed. When you spend a sizeable chunk of your savings providing your own infrastructure and paying salaries, you’re left with little savings to rely on for a pandemic like Covid-19. This is our reality in Nigeria compared to a UK media. A sad one. #MediaNGCovid19.Toun Sonaiya.
Exactly my thinking sir. If the FG wants to provide support, it has to be long term which allows the organisations to rethink their strategies and implement reforms.ObasEsiedesa.
Against the request of the Broadcasting Organizations of Nigeria, on May 6, 2020, Information Minister Lai Mohammed announced that the Government had approved a 2-month licence fee waiver for terrestrial broadcast stations in Nigeria. How should we interpret this? #MediaNGCovid19 Edetean Ojo
It is a development that will have a short term positive effect. But as @DapsyOly rightly noted: these steps are still far off from the needed solutions.Evelyn Okakwu.
A two-month waiver is a kind gesture. But that is rather short. It will hardly make a dent on the issues on the ground. Anyhow, it’s better than nothing.Ted Iwere.
At best, this should be treated as a joke. Certainly, it helps us understand the government has no understanding of the central role the media plays in the development of democracy. #MediaNGCovid19.Dapo Olorunyomi.
Providing uninterrupted power will be better. @wfm917 we spend an average of 250k Nigerian naira weekly on diesel. Arepo road & Longbridge on Lagos/Ibada expressway are death traps. Fixing these basic amenities are more useful. #MediaNGCovid19.Toun Sonaiya.
The Information Minister also announced the setting up of a 14-member committee to advise the Government on the best way to mitigate the effects of COVID-19 on the industry. If you were a member of the committee, what would be your advice to the Government?
As a member, I would suggest a lump sum to each Media House to ameliorate the effects of Covid 19. However, this largesse will have no strings attached.Segun Fatuase.
The CBN Governor earlier this year reached an arrangement with BON and NPAN members. Under it, the media was offered loans on concessionary terms, subject to the other standard protocols of advancing credit. I am not sure of how many media houses were able to take the offer.Ted Iwere.
Amongst others to fix power country, provide a lifeline to media to guarantee a sizeable chunk of staff salaries to avoid job loss. To provide support to balance mental well being as front liners – our own social welfare to staff. Toun Sonaiya.
Given that the media, both public and private, are largely providing a public service, do you see anything fundamentally wrong with Government giving grants or other financial assistance to private media organizations to ensure their survival or sustainability? Edetean Ojo.
The problem I have with this is it’s potential to elicit a tainted media that will pander to the paymaster. We already see the ugliness of this pandering in the media space, why make it worse? Bankole A Adams.
I agree with your position. This could lead to unnecessary influences and manipulation of the media. It’s better private media houses remain independent from government. And of course, we know politicians. Especially the Nigerian kind! Mojirayo Ogunlana-Nkanga.
Not at all. Think government have the responsibility to provide a conducive environment for the operations of ALL (not just state-owned) media – including economically. Let’s take a leaf from the #WindhoekDeclaration. @ZoeTitus.
The government can, and should, bail out the media with loans that are repayable, not grants that are free of charge. The media can be given concessionary credit with long tenor, subject to conditions that the monies will return to the public treasury. Ted Iwere
Due to the roles of the media in a democratic setting, there is nothing wrong with the government providing financial assistance to the media, especially during this period of the pandemic. However, such financial assistance should be given in a well-organized arrangement that the freedom of the media will not be compromised. Ayodele Oluwafemi.
Practitioners should demand for media-friendly policies, and not financial assistance. Monetary support will give the government some level of influence over the media.Emmanuel Ikhenebome.
Finally, what mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that any grant or other financial support from the Government to the media do not undermine the editorial independence of media organizations receiving such assistance? #MediaNGCovid19Edetean Ojo
Should the Government decide to give grants or other financial support to the media, including privately-owned media organizations, how can we ensure that the provision of such support is done in a fair and transparent manner? Edetean Ojo
If it is managed by a fiercely independent body and institution manned by men and women with a transparent sense of principle and demonstrable commitment to democracy, civil liberties and an unalloyed believe in freedom of expression Dapo Olorunyomi.
To give support in a fair and transparent way, beneficiaries must meet certain conditions precedent. Only media houses that satisfy the set standards should benefit. Such a programme should not operate without plan or purpose.Ted Iwere.
Press freedom & media independence are key in the democratic process. A credible media will not allow itself to be muzzled because of any intervention from govt or donor.Toun Okewale Sonaiya.
This question is very hard but l think, any grant or financial support to the media should be given through financial institutions. We must resist the tendency for censorship by the government.Adeola Ogunlade.
We have to bring the event to a close. I sincerely thank @DapsyOly @tounokewale @TedIwere and @ibimsemenitari for generously sharing their expertise, experience and insights with us. Our profound apologies for the connectivity challenges that some of you faced. Edetean Ojo.
Thanks for having me. Post Covid-19 media business will not be as usual. You either adapt or die. This trying times calls for a global solidarity for the media. We must begin to leverage intl networks & local partnerships. The media is more than just a business.Toun Okewale Sonaiya.
Thanks for having me the future of our democracy is the core of this conversation. Without a virile and independent media there can be no democracy.Dapo Olorunyomi.