- Title: NIGERIA: Nigerian media yet to fully enjoy press freedom, journalists say.
- Date: 1st May 2013
- Summary: CLOSE OF NEWSPAPERS
- Embargoed: 16th May 2013 13:00
- Keywords:
- Location: Nigeria
- Country: Nigeria
- Topics: Communications,Politics
- Reuters ID: LVA8Q8G9SJK8M391S47QDPQOQH9N
- Story Text: Although Nigeria boasts of a vibrant media landscape, press freedom remains elusive. Most media houses are still faced with the challenge of balancing social responsibility and business interest, and are often faced with political interference. Journalists have also recently become targets for Islamist insurgent group, Boko Haram.
Nigeria is said to have a vocal and relatively free press by the standards of the region, and even criticism of leaders is often tolerated, but the country's press continues to be plagued by political interference, self censorship, poor working conditions and more recently attacks by Islamic militant group Boko Haram.
Although Nigeria boasts of one of the most vibrant media landscape in Africa, with dozens of major daily publications, television stations, radio stations and numerous internet platforms, some media practitioners say they don't feel free carrying out their work.
In a report published early this year by Reporters Without Borders, which publishes an annual Press Freedom Index, Nigeria was ranked 115th out of the 179 countries featured. Eritrea took the 179th spot.
The report added that despite passing the Freedom of Information Law, Nigeria is still not among the best performers in terms of press freedom in Africa.
Davidson Erekpe a seasoned editor at leading daily newspaper 'This Day' knows too well how tough it is to survive as a journalist in the country.
"We are endangered one in the sense that you know we don't have insurance cover, that's one, secondly, journalists, they are not too well paid in Nigeria, the third one is that you know we don't have security, not security in the sense of maybe money but security in the sense that when you report, we have instances when you report a story and it could be a politician, it could be a banker and somebody will just come after you," he said.
Nigerian authorities usually tolerate criticism of government by the press but journalists are sometimes targeted and harassed by security forces, and the secret service is said to keep surveillance on reporters.
But the situation got worse last year with the emergence of militant Islamic sect Boko Haram which proceeded to carry out attacks on the press.
The suicide bomb attacks in Abuja and Kaduna were preceded by a stern warning by sect to the press regarding reports in local newspapers deemed unfair to their cause.
So far television stations and radio stations have steered clear of the Boko Haram threat although some have lost reporters in the subsequent attacks.
John Momoh, founder of privately owned Channels Television, said threats to Freedom of Press in Nigeria were more prevalent in some areas of the country but pointed out that Boko Haram posed greater risk to journalists in Nigeria today.
"The most threat that we've faced so far is the Boko Haram threat, threats to journalists, their lives and sometimes manhandling by the police but for our guy who was shot, Eneche, that was one experience that we pray that we never come to experience again," said Momoh.
Deji Olumoye, chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Lagos Chapter said there was freedom of press to some extent in the country but political influence made it difficult for media to operate.
"The politics is already creeping into the role the media is expected to play, you will discover that at various times, the media will be willing to do some of its statutory roles but is more or less impeded or there are hindrances from both left right and centre. At times you discover that the enabling environment is not there, when I say enabling environment you believe the media should see it all, should know it all but is the environment conducive for them to practice the work?" said Deji.
Some residents who religiously follow Nigerian news through newspapers said the media is not as free as it should be.
"There is a limitation to their freedom and when you're being checkmated, when you're being monitored, when you're being fixed or manipulated, you can't be able to do what you ought to do; you understand me? When you're afraid of the powers that be, you can't be able to present the way the issues are," said Felix Osumule.
Authorities recently charged two reporters for local daily, 'Leadership' with forgery over a story in which they accused President Goodluck Jonathan of launching a dirty tricks campaign against the opposition. The paper reported that the President had issued orders to frustrate a newly potent opposition by any means, including surveillance.
A court in the capital Abuja read out the charges, which carry a maximum of seven years in prison and a minimum of three years.
The Committee to Protect Journalists recently called on Nigeria's police force to "stop harassing Leadership's staff". - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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