*THE OGERE DECLARATION*
Leaders of Nigeria’s media industry including chief executives, editors-in-chief, editors and directors of print, broadcasting, online and community media, and a select group of other media stakeholders, attended the Ist Media Leaders’ Summit convened by The Journalism Clinic, from 16th – 17th September 2019 at the TCC Resort and Conference Centre, Ogere-Remo, Ogun State.
Among the attendees were representatives of The Nation, BusinessDay, Premium Times, The Cable, The Daily Report, AIT, Maritime News, The Nigerian Express, FRCN, This Day, The News, Nigerian Guild of Editors(NGE), and Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria(APCOM).
Invited to represent APCOM on behalf of community media practitioners in Nigeria were APCOM president, Dayo Akintobi; Vice President, Odion Aleobua; and member, Hon. Kehinde Bamigbetan.
The Guest Speaker was Mr Juan Senor, President, Innovation Media Consulting Group based in London. Other resource persons included the Founder/Director of The Journalism Clinic, Mr Taiwo Obe; Tara Agbakoba, legal consultant, PwC and Oba Ayodele Kupoluyi, an ex-officio member of the Media Independent Practitioners Association of Nigeria (MIPAN).
The Summit resolved on the following 10-Point Action Plan for the Nigerian news media industry, titled THE OGERE DECLARATION:
1. Although digital technology has disrupted the news media business, the principles and purpose of journalism remain largely the same.
2. Good journalism is the surest path to sustainable business survival and profitability. Therefore, news media operations must strive to produce and deliver content that their audiences and consumers must be willing to pay for.
3. Advertising must not remain the sole source of revenue for the media. Media houses must build their brands such that they can leverage them to generate revenue form sources such as events, festivals, book publishing, merchandising, licensing, affiliate marketing and club membership.
4. There cannot be digital journalism without the reconfiguration of newsrooms to enhance workflow.
5. News operations’ websites – and not third-party platforms – must be the primary destinations for their audiences and communities because the money is where the article is viewed, watched and touched. Platforms must not be allowed to make money off the operators’ talents and initiatives.
6. After the news breaks, the media must continue to develop the story through various techniques made possible by the internet and digital technology to provide answers to questions the consumers want answers to, such as the why, the how and what next.
7. The old ways of buying media space have changed as media buyers now deploy data and scientific methods to decide where to place their clients’ ads. Therefore, media owners must collectively work towards providing sales and marketing information which are measurable and verifiable.
8. There’s a need for tertiary institutions offering journalism and mass communication courses to review their curriculum to meet the demands of the digital era.
9. Media organisations must imbibe sound Corporate Governance principles and ensure that their staff are promptly and adequately remunerated.
10. Journalism must not only be a mirror but also a healer of the society. Media organisations must therefore regularly drive issues of public concern and significant social impact through campaigns or crusade. Examples of the issues worth crusades are:
**How the media should aid credible elections
**What can be done to reduce infant mortality
**How to save indigenous languages from extinction
**How Nigerian oceans can be made safe
**How to make Nigerian security agencies work for, and not against Nigerians.
