Lagos community media owners set for revitalisation

Community media operators in Lagos state are returning to school from Thursday to Saturday to rethink their business for revitalisation and sustainability.

An initiative of the communities and communications department of the Lagos state ministry of local government and community affairs, the programme is being facilitated by The Journalism Clinic, which vision is “to raise the next generation of first-rate journalists in Nigeria”.

Kehinde Bamigbetan, special adviser to the Lagos state governor on communities and communications, expressed hope that with the training, the community newspapers and magazines would become reference points to the communities.

“That’s not happening now,” Bamigbetan said.

“We need for them to connect with the people; to help the people make informed decisions about their lives and living, about the authorities, and their environments.

“They should ‘affect the society in a progressive way.’ Done right, they should also become profitable.”

Tunji Bello, secretary to the state governor, himself a journalist, will declare the workshop open and deliver a goodwill message from Akinwunmi Ambode, governor of the state, whose mantra is “to leave no one behind”.

Wworkshop co-ordinator and founder of The Journalism Clinic, said that there will be sessions on impact news reporting, graphics design, media buying, digital marketing, business management, mobile journalism and consumer insights.

Resource persons include Niyi Obaremi, a quintessential newsman; Ogbenyi Egbe, a creative/art director up-to-date with computer graphics; Omomeda Ashofor, a seasoned media strategist and planner; Funke-Treasure Durodola, a broadcaster of distinction; Pelu Awofeso, a social media buff and award-winning travel journalist and author, and Akin Omorodion, an accountant well-heeled in business rehabilitation and insolvency and an array of financial management services.

Others are: Gani Kayode Balogun, Jr, a seasoned newspaper space sales and marketing specialist; Abiola Ayankunbi, a newspaper marketing expert and Kayode Awobadejo, a specialist in business development, production planning, marketing, and credit control in the media sector.