Media career development specialist, Lekan Otufodunrin writes on recent media focused books which journalists and other media professionals will find invaluable for navigating knowing about the past and navigating the present and future media landscape.
There are lots of lessons and insights to learn and glean from the experiences of many media professionals who distinguished themselves back in the days before journalism became ” free-for-all,” no thanks to the new media era.
Despite the changed media landscape and practice, current practitioners can benefit from invaluable and insightful recollections of those who have written their memoirs or those who worked with top media managers.
On October 24, the book, Ladbone: A life in Print, edited by Dapo Olorunyomi was launched in Lagos to celebrate the 80th birthday of the former editor and managing director of The Guardian Newspaper, Mr Lade Bonuola, popularly known as Ladbone.
Before The Guardian, Mr Bonuola worked in the old Daily Times where he was famous for his Caught-Out column that reviewed newspapers, corrected wrong language usage and questioned editorial judgment. He left The Guardian to publish The Comet and later appointed Publisher of The Compass.
Published by the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) under its Living Archives project, the 747page book is a compilation of contributions by more than 80 writers, including colleagues, former staff, associates of Mr Bonuola, family members and other journalists, academics and personalities.
As Mr Olorunyomi, Chief Executive of CJID rightly stated, the contributors explored “the vast landscape of the life and work of perhaps the most consequential newspaper editor in the late twentieth century history of the Nigerian press. The work is astonishing in both its breath and depth. It is by turns intimate, professional and institutional, but always profoundly human.”
In his review of the book, Mr Kunle Ajibade, noted that in a chorus of voices, the contributors celebrated the man they call “Mr Thoroughness; the man they describe as the gold standard journalist; the conscience of Nigerian journalism; the tree that made a forest; journalism exemplar and statesman; the legend; the great teacher; the standard bearer; the big lad of Nigerian journalism; a fastidious professional; the architect of truth; the editor of editors; the bone of our bones; the phenomenal Ladbone; the engine room of The Guardian; a solid bridge across generations of Nigerian journalists; a perfectionist; a consummate workaholic; the media policeman; an extraordinary talent spotter; an architect and leader of the Joshua generation in the media; a master of simple prose; and a disciplinarian.”
The contributors however also noted Mr Bonuola’s ability to repeat The Guardian success story with the Comet and Compass. There were also criticisms of his management style with a contributor noting that while Bonuola excelled in newspapering, he had gaping deficiencies as a manager of men.
The book like some other recent and past media focused publications should be must-read by practising journalists, media managers, students and anyone who want to learn from the success stories and mistakes of the past.
There are approaches of the past that can still be applied in present day media practice, while some of the mistakes they made can be avoided.
On October 19, the book Dele Giwa’s Granite Journalism, edited by Ray Ekpu with a foreword by Yemi Ogunbiyi was launched to mark the 40th anniversary of the assassination of former Editor-in-Chief of Newswatch Magazine.
The book has compiled selected articles by Dele Giwa from the Daily Times, The Sunday Concord, and Newswatch.
It also features interviews, reflections, and analyses on his enduring impact on Nigerian investigative journalism and press freedom.
On October 1, another book, Communication and Media in Nigeria, edited by Dr Unwana Samuel Akpan, was launched to celebrate Bimbo Oloyede’s contribution to Five Decades of Theory, Practice and Transformation.
Oloyede, the pioneer female newscaster on the Nigeria Television Network news in 1976, is a veteran broadcaster, communication and media specialist, author and keynote speaker.
The book includes contributions from across the industry, classroom, seasoned practitioners, scholars and cultural commentator.
More than being a tribute, the book is a practical toolkit for practitioners, students and academics.
While journalists should get the copy of the books and others to learn from, media organisations should buy copies for their staff for discussion at management and editorial meetings. Lecturers should also recommend the book for their students to read and review.
Other member books to look out for include:
OUR PUNCH YEARS : Reminiscences and insider accounts by former editors and staff of Nigeria’s most widely read newspaper at 50.
The Making of The Nigerian Flagship: The Story of The Guardian.
The Vanguard Chronology: 40 Years of Nigeria’s leading Tabloid.
The Road Never Forgets: Memories of Yemi Ogunbiyi
