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Community media practitioners across Nigeria, under the aegis of their industry group, the Association of Practitioners of Community Media, APCOM, have started a campaign against the expanding community spread of the pandemic.
Rising from their May 2020 monthly meeting, the association members unanimously pledged to intensify the dissemination of Covid-19 information in their respective communities to checkmate its
spread.
The meeting, held virtually for the first time, enabled majority of members to participate from their remote locations.
The president of the Association, Dayo Akintobi, encouraged members to hold strong through these difficult and uncertain times.
He stated that this is a particularly challenging time for community media practitioners because the responsibility falls squarely on their shoulders to keep the wider public informed on all developments relating to the pandemic, especially now that the virus is spreading through communities at the grassroots.
Members agreed that community spread of the coronavirus puts even greater pressure on them to sustain the tempo of their enlightenment of the masses about the preventive measures put in place by government.
It was also noted that community journalists themselves are not immune from the virus and their first duty to themselves, their families, and their constituents is to remain safe by adhering to recommended preventive protocols.
To enable its members to continue carrying out their duty of providing timely and accurate information to the populace, the Association called on government to come up with ways of cushioning the effect of the pandemic on community media houses, including provision of safety kits and stimulus packages.
APCOM assured communities across Nigeria that together, we will beat Coronavirus.
The Association encouraged all Nigerians to join hands at this time in prayer and loving thoughts towards each other’s neighbours.
