How can the Nigeria Guild of Editors (NGE) and other media groups in the country be better administered to become successful professional and business brands and not continue to depend on political patronage?
Editor-in-Chief of The Interview Magazine, Azubuike Ishiekwene in his keynote address at the 2017 Editors Conference held in Port Harcourt, Rivers State recommended the Global Editors Network (GEN), model.
Excerpts from the lecture titled Nigerian Media: Balancing Professionalism, Advocacy And Business is as follows :
For the benefit of the Nigeria Guild of Editors as a group, I would like to make a few suggestions, because I know they have tenure and need money to do a few things for which they will be remembered for good. I was a member of the Board of the World Editors Forum, before a few of us renegades branched out to start the Global Editors Network (GEN), which today – just six years later – is the largest cross-platform of editors in the world – and quite profitable, too!
I’m not suggesting for one minute that we should adopt, wholesale, everything that GEN is doing. But if we want to be more professional, if we want to be worthy advocates, if we want to build a successful professional and business brand, if WE want to be taken seriously, then we must take immediate and urgent steps to free ourselves from the apron strings of political patrons. I’m concerned that there’s currently too much reliance on political patronage than is healthy for our integrity and long-term survival. We can be free if we choose.
Here are a few steps I will recommend:
- Hire a proven executive director (call him/her whatever) that will have specific, measurable business targets.
- Get sponsorships from any of the global media giants, with interest in media in developing countries (but you need house-cleaning to succeed in that!)
- Create open, periodic value-driven conversations that will sufficiently interest partnership with corporates
- Start periodic research-driven solutions for media and allied industries
- De-emphasise physical structures, think network and people
- Create and maintain website/social-media platforms befitting a 21stcentury professional group
- Build networks with other professional groups, especially in more developed, open media environments
- Rejuvenate the Ethics & Disciplinary Committee and let the public know how they may approach it, if they have any complaints.
- Publish audited accounts
