MEDIA executives in Kano have pledged to partner with the League of Kano Veteran Journalists (LKVJ) to promote ethical journalism, strengthen professionalism, restore the culture of mentorship and improve the welfare of practitioners in the state.
News Point Nigeria reports that the commitment was made separately by the managements of Freedom Radio, Arewa Radio and Express Radio when the Interim Management Committee of the League paid advocacy visits to the three media organisations on Tuesday.
The media chiefs commended the initiative, describing the emergence of the League as timely, particularly at a period when the journalism profession requires stronger mentorship, continuous training and greater attention to the welfare of practitioners.
“We are impressed with your mission to contribute positively towards enhancing professionalism. We are eager to collaborate, especially in the areas of training and mentoring,” the media managers said.
They noted that journalists and media managers alike require continuous professional development and access to the experience and knowledge of veteran practitioners to improve standards and the quality of media output.
The executives expressed concern over the declining culture of mentorship in the profession, saying the absence of adequate guidance from experienced journalists had contributed to the proliferation of unprofessional practices and poor-quality output in some media organisations.
They also lamented the inadequate attention being given to developments affecting the media industry in Kano, urging practitioners to show greater interest in professional standards, working conditions and the welfare of journalists.
The media chiefs particularly expressed concern over the challenges confronting many seasoned and veteran journalists, including health and economic difficulties. They said a strong association such as the League could play an important role in supporting members and addressing some of their challenges.
The executives further advised the League to explore sustainable sources of revenue to enable it to effectively fund its programmes and activities, while offering suggestions on how the organisation could achieve its objectives.
The Group General Manager, Operations and Acting Group Managing Director of Freedom Radio, Malam Adamu Isma’il Garki, said he shared similar ideas and aspirations with many members of the League’s leadership.
Garki said Freedom Radio was committed to upholding professional and ethical standards, adding that the organisation was making efforts to ensure compliance with relevant ethical codes in its operations.
Similarly, the Managing Director of Express Radio, Alhaji Ali Baba Kusa, said the station had developed a strong culture of continuous training for its staff.
“We conduct series of training for each department and collaborate with organisations such as the BBC to provide professional development opportunities. Moreover, we try to comply with the Nigeria Broadcasting Code,” Baba Kusa said.
At Arewa Radio, the League’s delegation was received by the Manager, News and Current Affairs, Abdurrahman Balarabe Isa, who assured the delegation that the station’s doors were open to initiatives capable of advancing journalism and professional development.
Earlier, the Chairman of the Interim Management Committee of the League of Kano Veteran Journalists, Aminu Mahmud, said the League would continue to engage media organisations and other stakeholders in its efforts to promote ethical journalism, strengthen professional capacity, restore the culture of mentorship and improve the welfare of veteran journalists.
Mahmud called for greater collaboration between the League and media organisations, saying collective efforts were necessary to sanitise the profession and restore public confidence in journalism.
He said the establishment of the League was aimed at contributing to the advancement of professionalism while also providing a platform through which the welfare and interests of veteran journalists could be addressed.
The delegation was accompanied by the Secretary of the League’s Board of Trustees, Alhaji Abdulkadir Ahmad Ibrahim.