The President of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), Eze Anaba, has raised concerns over an imminent threat facing mainstream journalism, cautioning that civil society groups and other non-media entities are increasingly taking on roles traditionally handled by media professionals.
Anaba shared these insights during an interview with journalists on Friday at the ongoing All Nigerian Editors Conference, held at the DSP Alamieyeseigha Memorial Banquet Hall in Yenagoa, the capital of Bayelsa State.
Anaba highlighted the pressing need for Nigerian editors to uphold and act upon the commitments made at the conference to address the myriad challenges confronting the media industry.
"The way forward is for us to actualize or practice some of the commitments we made here," he remarked. "These are significant challenges that require our attention. For instance, we need to ask ourselves: How do we become more professional? How do we innovate in ways that strengthen our industry?"
He underscored the necessity of engaging with global tech giants, including Google, to enhance the visibility, relevance, and profitability of Nigerian journalism. “How do we engage Google, for instance, to appreciate our job and make it more profitable for us? How do we work as a team to make mainstream journalism more effective for the people? And how do we attract more readers and viewers who will value the work of mainstream media?” he asked, adding that these are fundamental questions the industry must address.
Anaba suggested that the conference serves as a starting point, emphasizing the importance of building stronger collaborations within the industry and potentially pooling resources to undertake investigative projects or convene stakeholders for productive engagements with companies like Google.
"Like I said earlier, there is a crippling threat to mainstream journalism,” Anaba cautioned. “We’re seeing civil society groups setting up investigative units and publishing online. They are taking on some of our responsibilities, and if we are not vigilant, this trend could ultimately weaken our profession.”
When asked about the impact of Artificial Intelligence (AI) on journalism jobs, Anaba acknowledged the potential challenges but advocated a progressive approach. “AI will be a threat only to the non-thinkers," he said. "Play where the progressives play. Instead of seeing AI as a threat, we can turn it into a tool to improve our craft. I use AI, and I have transformed it into an asset."
The conference marks a pivotal moment for the Nigerian media industry, with editors and media professionals discussing strategies to revitalize and secure the future of journalism in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
