Idowu tasks media on solution journalism

CEO, Diamond Publications, and DAME Trustee, Lanre Idowu, has stressed the need for journalists to embrace solutions journalism and engage in indepth treatment of issues.

Speaking recently at the 33rd edition of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME) Awards in Lagos, he observed that what needs greater honing is the depth of treatment, better framing of issues, and the need to embrace solutions journalism, and less of merely signalling issues.

He added the central message of stories that have been nominated for awards is one of hope, of the need for a better society, and of a belief that Nigeria can and will be better.

Idowu observed most of the reporting revolves around public service advocacy. The journalists, he said, “in line with their professional, constitutional, and moral responsibility have churned out enterprising reports in the effort to draw attention to gaping gaps between policy and reality, and between the pursuit of a meaningful life and the barriers standing therein.”

In a related development, the Editor/Director of PM News and The News Magazine, Kunle Ajibade, has paid tributes to the late pioneer Managing Director of The Guardian, Stanley Macebuh, and Prof of English and African Cultural Studies, Tejumola Olaniyan.

Still holding fond memories of these two, he said Macebuh, who died 14 years ago and Prof. Olaniyan who died five years ago, made The Guardian a literary ideas market.

His words: “When Macebuh was the Managing Director of The Guardian, Rutam House was a big literary tent that sheltered gifted artists and writers. Stories were carefully investigated and wonderfully written. Under him, The Guardian was always a wonderful newspaper. We must not forget one of these illustrious ancestors of Nigerian journalism.”

He recalled, “one of the hallmarks of Macebuh’s era was the vibrant Guardian Literary Series. Before Olaniyan left Obafemi Awolowo University, he had written many articles for The Guardian literary series. He was a star scholar and talented writer. He wrote on Fela, Wole Soyinka and others.”