Experts task media orgn.to diversify sources of income for sustainability
By Ahmed Ahmed
Expert in Communication, Professor Umar Pate who is also the Vice-Chancellor Federal University of Kashere, Gombe state has tasked Media Organisations to diversify the source of their incomes for sustainability.
Pate gave the advice at the maiden Colloquium organized of Wikki Times, an online media with theme ” Sustaining Democracy through fearless Grassroot Accountability Journalism” with support from MacArthur Foundation and Wole Soyinka Centre for Investigative Journalism (WSCIJ) in Gombe weekend.
He said funding of media organizations is a source of concern especially the upcoming online media organizations among others need to brace up for sustainability.
“Inadequate funding has been frustrating the genre of investigative journalism, the media organizations need to diversify their sources of income.
“Without economic Expert in Communication, Professor Umar Pate who is also the Vice-Chancellor Federal University of Kashere, Gombe state has tasked Media , there is no way the editorial independence of media houses can be guaranteed,” Prof. Pate said.
The communication expert urged the upcoming media should dwell and give much emphasis on technology and the new media.
Pate also urged the media to engage in investigative journalism with a view to revealing societal problems and holding leaders accountable to the masses.
“If we want the media to properly discharge the function of agenda setting, the media must engage in investigations. Not just investigation to reveal corruption or the stealing of government resources,” he said.
The VC said trained journalists are courageous and should do the needful in terms of investigations to effect change in the society.
On his part, Mr Jeff Kelly Lowenstein, an American investigative and data journalist, in his presentation virtually stressed that accountability reporting is instrumental to democracy sustainability.
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He noted that journalists should recognize the power of collaboration in investigative journalism and “working in an interactive fashion.”
Mr Lowenstein, however, urged reporters to acknowledge the power of the public and the environment in securing transparency, while gaining their trust.
Earlier, Mr Haruna Mohammmed Salisu Editor in Chief Wikki Times,l said that Wikki Times was founded in year 2018 with the vision to do fearless and accountable journalism that covers politics, corruption, criminal Justice and Human Rights, adding that the organization.
He added that the media organizations also carry out Investigative stories that are Donor Funded driven.
Salisu emphasizes that Wikki times would remain stronger in the kind of journalism that strengthens accountability, transparency and other salient public interest matters.
The Editor in Chief, however, appreciated the Guests, penslists participants and those that attended the maiden colloquium virtually.
