The secrets of men are said to be in their stories, Ambassador Dele Cole in his Foreword says, Voices Beyond the Newsroom Edited by Richard Ikiebie, Senior Fellow and Director, Centre for Leadership in Journalism, School of Media and Communication, Pan-Atlantic is highly recommended.
Ikiebie in this major work, offers an invaluable service to Nigerian journalism and history. The approach is different and refreshing. The first person accounts of key players on the Nigerian media scene over a period spanning about 50 years provides insights into the backgrounds, leadership styles, motivations, styles, perspectives and contexts of actions that defined several key media organs over the years.
By interviewing many players from the same organisation or the same era, the book offers readers variegated and rich accounts that provide for a holistic view rather than merely the recollections of a single person.
That is one of the appeals of this work. The other, of course , is the large number of persons interviewed. No fewer than 80 players, cutting across age, gender and epochs, feature in this major work. Each interview illuminates a certain area.
Interviews with other players on the same turf provide deeper perspective and balance.
The author has divided this major work into categories of persons interviewed, thus coming up with Publishers & Owners, Managers, as well as Academics. The classification is useful as a handle but in reality, many players cut across these classifications.
Most enriching are the themes explored in this very important work. They cover media management, leadership, finances and financial management, as well as ownership and control, readership an distribution, technology and production. Add themes such as education and training of journalists, qualifications for entry, and conditions of service. Then there is the issue of media ownership. What model works best or has done so in Nigeria? Family ownership, sole proprietorship, government as proprietor? It also covers the periods, the many controversies as well as the perennial question of the role of the media.
The volumes, four in all, are intensely readable because they are at heart a series of people stories. It is one of their strongest suites. They are invaluable books of readings on their own as well as resource material for researchers interested in pursuing further the themes and perspectives it brings forth. The multimedia presentation is a definite plus and confirmation that the author and the institution behind him, the school of Media and commnuncation, Pan-Atlantic University, are in tune with contemporary trends in media and publishing. Highly recommended.
I tell you this book is a must read for every journalist. I happen to have read the volume two where media leaders including Ray Ekppu, Nosa Igiebor, Yakubu Muhammed, Femi Adesina, Ben Lawrence, Chidi Amuta and a whole lot of others were interviewed. It really re-sharpened my knowledge about Nigerian history, journalism history, the challenges, opportunities, the politics in the newsrooms, values, skills, determination and … I lost count already. You just must not go without getting this book. I had to recommend the book for my communication lecturer in school.