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14 December 2009 BY Ken C Mbata
We want to appreciate the good thought of the
Protection Rights of
Journalist of Africa in her preparation to
honour Journalists who have indeed excel in the
profession for the year 2009. It is also appreciated
too that Nigerian Journalists are nominated for the
award.
It is the expectation of every hard working journalist
to reap the fruits of his labour as the profession is
not a simple one. To encourage practitioners and lure
other talented and qualified journalists who have been
neglecting the profession because it does not bring
instant big money into the profession, this award I
suppose, is designed.
It is imperative therefore, to look out for those who
merit this award to serve as model and encouragement.
Generations unborn will be celebrating the elaborate
support of truth and fair judgement in the selection
of the right people to a right award. In
contradistinction to this basic principle of
selection, generations unborn will equally not forgive
those who deliberately soiled the truth.
The best this association can do is to protect her
integrity at all times irrespective of one's frienship
with one or interpersonal contact main man.
Understandably, two journalists or rather two nominees
have been sloted from
Nigeria. The question now is, how qualified are
these two academically, professionally and morally? I
would like to ex-ray the qualification and capability
of Nigerian nominees under this heading.. Though the
Protection Rights of Journalists of Africa did not
make it known her criteria for selection. However,
basic principle for selection of awardees are always
assessed objectively as I would like to do below.
It is very clear and disappointing that in selecting
Nigerian representatives, freedom radio was selected
as a body and not on individual basis. One can
understand the journalistic activities of the
Radio
Freedom as a body and how the radio house has
affected individual person.with her objective
journalism. The Radio as an instrument of
communication has conducted itself within the ethic of
responsible journalism, this every listener of the
medium can comfortably attest to.
The second Nigerian Nominee as learnt is no other
person than Mr. Tukur Mamu, the Chief Executive,
Managing Director, Editor-in-Chief and publisher of
the Desert Herald. Newspaper. The activities of a
media house are usually assessed good or bad based on
the individual members of staff and their capabilities
as well as their qualifications in the said
profession. Except the left side of a shoe is remolded
by a cobler, it cannot fit the right leg. The
activities of the said Desert Herald in the field of
journalism obviously lives much to be desired. For
instance, one cannot give what one does not have.
The
Newspaper- Desert herald in all its
ramification lacks journallistic education and bases,
in reporting, presentation, colour, style, facts and
semantics. Talking about her grammatical structure is
like bringing a Nigerian kindergaten (Nursery Pupil)
into Oral English competition. The newspaper does not
intend to be so but because the Managers of the paper
lack what it takes to make correct sentences.
From information under the sun, the selection of Tukur
Mamu is as a result of two major factors namely;
godfatherism and nepotism. It is known fact that two
members of the Association are strongly, as a result
of interpersonnelcontact- main- man favoured Tukur
Mamu nomination. Rumour has it that Dr. John Mkunu of
Mass
Communication Department of
University of Cape Town and the
Secretary General of Protection Rights of
Journalsits of Africa and Mr. Sowore, Publisher of
Sahara reporters are hell bent on IMPOSING a
journalistic nonentity, Mr. Tukur Mamu on this award.
Little wonder therefore, the Sahara Reporters
exchanges frivorous, non-existent infornation,
dubious reporting, character assasination report and
unethical news with Desert Herald, since bird of a
feather flocks together.. Educationally, Tukur Mamu is
not a journalist, a mere Diploma holder in
Basic
accounting and has nothing that prepared him
for this profession. Counting numbers is different
from linguistic know-how and both are in
parallel
line. In short, Tukur Mamu has never aquired
orientation in Journalism.
The activities of the Secretary General of Protection
Rights of Journalists of Africa is akin to apathy and
the clear expression of unprofessional behaviour if
the rumour is anything to go by. In his position in
the Association, coupled with his educational status
in the profession, one expects a fatherly attitude
from him in being neutra and fair in the selection.
His relationship with Tukur Mamu should be very
personal and unofficial. The association should be
mindful of what journalists in Africa and beyond are
going to say in criticism if it allows her reputation
to be soiled by nepotism, favouratism and suspected
bribe to rob the rightful owner of the award for a
mere friend.
Note that the whole world beyond journalists are aware
of the forthcoming award in Mexico and are expectantly
watching to see or hear the nominees made by the
general public. The association should be mindful of
the fact that since it is now a public news, there is
fire on the mounting if Dr John Mkunu decides with her
cohorts to favour an unqualified journalist who merit
nothing but disbanment from the profession. We all
know how Tukur Mamu got his so called American
Congress award, which he carries on every picture he
takes in his Desert herald as if it is part of his
cloth. We are not unaware! Whoever you nominate should be justified, and who
is justified should merit the award. A stitch in time
saves nine. |
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