Friday, 29th March 2024
To guardian.ng
Search
Breaking News:

Momoh urges journalists to embrace technology

By Anote Ajeluorou and Gbenga Salau
27 August 2015   |   1:22 am
THE Chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, has said that professional journalism would continue to be relevant in the oldest means of mass communication if journalists co-operate with technology and compete with content.
PAGE

Special Guest, Stella Awani (left); Guest Speaker, John Momoh; Commissioner of Police, Lagos State, Fatai Owoseni and Director, Lagos Operation, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Ike Okeke, during the Radio One 103.5FM inaugural lecture 2015 in Lagos… yesterday. PHOTO: SUNDAY AKINLOLU

THE Chairman of Channels Television, Mr. John Momoh, has said that professional journalism would continue to be relevant in the oldest means of mass communication if journalists co-operate with technology and compete with content.

Momoh, who spoke yesterday in Lagos during a lecture organised by Radio One, an FM station of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), said that if journalists co-operate with technology and provide good content, then journalism would be more alive than ever before.

According to him, new tools and practices are changing the ways that journalists are producing information which is also redefining the place of professional journalism in a new world information system.

He said: “While there may be some concern about the damaging consequences of these trends for the quality of journalism and the professional survival of journalists, I believe very strongly that the current developments may in fact be paving the way toward better journalism and more independent journalists.

He also stated that with technology which is changing the environment in which the professional journalists now operate, new facts are being uncovered daily, more audience feedback is being integrated; more voices are being heard and more diverse perspectives on the same news subject are being presented.

Momoh further said: “Today, journalism seems to be more alive than ever and going through a multiplication of both forms and content at amazing speed.”

A professor of Mass Communication, Ralph Akinfeleye, who applauded Momoh for his erudite discussion of the issue, called on the Federal Government to ensure continued training and retraining of the FRCN members of staff, as it would be a misnomer to have digital equipment managed by analogue members of staff.

The General Manager of Radio One, Mrs. Funke Treasure-Durodola, in her welcome speech, thanked all those who had in one way helped to grow the station. She said: “As we celebrate our first anniversary, we recognize the fact that we have only just begun.

The best is yet to come. We are equally not oblivious of the fierce competition from other private radio stations in Lagos. What is worth celebrating is the fact that despite the limited resources and constant regulations by our mother organisation, Radio Nigeria, we have risen from obscurity to prominence within so short a time.”

Also, the Director, Lagos Operation, FRCN, Mr. Ike Okere, thanked the Channels Television boss for accepting to deliver the lecture, saying that FM stations of the FRCN are technology-driven and are run with a business-oriented mindset.

0 Comments