Use your media to promote national unity, cohesion, Adesina charges community newspapers

The Special Adviser to President Muhammadu Buhari on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, yesterday, charged proprietors of community newspapers to promote narratives that advance national unity and cohesion.

He also cautioned community media practitioners against publications that amplify feelings of discouragement.

Adesina made the call at the 30th Anniversary of Prestige newspaper, a community news medium in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

He insisted that community media must strive to be authentic, factual in their reportage to promote peace and tranquility in Nigeria.

Adesina, who was represented by a former editor of The Sun Newspaper, Yinka Folawe, stressed that it was the responsibility of community-based media to educate the grassroots people on the activities of government at all levels.

He noted, for example that, it was important for the media to educate the audience on the Climatic Change Bill and the AMCON Amendment Bill, which was signed into law by President Buhari in November.

His words: “The media, including those at the community level, have a responsibility to educate themselves about what governments are doing. It means stepping out of the news room more often and also going beyond social media sentiments to find out actual ‘on group’ reality.

“If the Federal Government says the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) has delivered stimulus funds to tens of thousands of Nigeria individuals and households, the media should get out there and look for beneficiaries and talk to them.

“In November, President Buhari signed two bills into law: the Climatic Change Bill and the AMCON Amendment Bill. The community media should take a deep dive into these new laws and break it down for their readers to understand.”

While saying that lack of fund is one of the challenges facing community newspapers, the publisher of Prestige Newspaper, Mr Dada Olanipekun, however, said survival of a community-based newspapers is dependent on consistency and ability to withstand criticisms.