POLITICALLY EXPOSED GOVERNMENTS PATRONIZE COMMUNITY PAPERS MORE- Mazadu

POLITICALLY EXPOSED GOVERNMENTS PATRONIZE COMMUNITY PAPERS MORE- Mazadu 

Shabul Mazadu is the Publisher of The Beacon Newspaper, and chairman Plateau Publishers Association. In this interview, Mazadu bares his mind on the scope of coverage of Community papers, their plight and vitality to the society.  Excerpts:

Question: How have local and community newspapers been faring in the nation?

Answer: The faring of community newspapers vary from community to community, but on a general scale, it is not satisfactory, based on certain factors militating against the business. You see, every location has the attitude of its inhabitants towards reading culture and knowledge and also its beliefs and government policies towards community newspapers, likewise what and how the papers feed their communities; above all, the attitudes of the youths who constitute the largest population on online news. The reading culture in Nigeria on the average is not encouraging, and with the online mode of disseminating news, it has drastically and negatively affected the production of community newspapers. And not only community newspapers but national papers too. The quantity of papers produced before the advent of online news and their patronage are by far higher than now. Most of the youths prefer to just go online to read anything posted there and to pass their opinions. Those buying papers today are mostly students who are given assignments in their schools that warrant buying the papers. Some just go to the newsstand and enjoy free reading of the papers. Those that buy papers are mostly in the academia, the middle-aged and the aged. The youths are mostly interested in sports news and online news. These contribute in affecting the production of community newspapers. Some states have their governments patronizing community newspapers through granting of advertorials and also availing all government activities to be published for the consumption of the public. But some states don’t patronize them at all, feeling they are insignificant. In such a case, if the community papers in such locations are confronted with unfavourable government policies, and if businesses thrive and the businessmen are inclined to using the papers to advertise their goods and services, that can help also in sustaining the papers. Papers don’t survive on patronage by readers. Aside that, for every paper sold, there is a commission given to the vendor. When publishers or community newspapers are not getting consistent and proper patronage, there is no how they can fare well. Most grassroots don’t have strong businesses that can warrant them to patronize community papers through adverts. Those that do it skeletally or epileptically are the politicians who give their adverts, those with change of names and, once in a while, the state government, especially on Democracy Day and Independence Day; sometimes their scorecards within a 100 days in office, one year, two years and above.

Question: Community papers are basically established to give good coverage to happenings at the grassroots. To what extent are the community newspapers doing this?

Answer: Well, community papers, to an appreciable extent are covering grassroots events very, very well, except that the sustenance of such feat due to poor patronage by the communities. As I earlier said, most people at the grassroots are interested in knowing the happenings in their state in its entirety and other local governments. As such the community papers are doing their best in feeding them with the information surrounding them. Unlike the national dailies, community papers carry information on local politics, health, sporting and other activities which may not interest the entire country but the very grassroots. For instance, if one community goes to play a football match with another community, the surrounding communities might be interested in knowing the result. But nationally, sports enthusiasts will delight more in international and national football. Take Dadin Kowa for example: If it is going to play a football match with Zarmaganda, you shouldn’t expect Daily Trust to carry such news at the expense of Chelsea, Manchester United, Super Eagles and the World Cup. But you find that community newspapers can comfortably do that. Again, a politically exposed government knows that its jurisdiction is its state and those that should know more about their achievements are the governed. As such, they will prefer to patronize more of the community papers so that their supporters can get to know their achievements if they want another term, or to build their political careers. The people at the grassroots delight in knowing who and who is going to contest what position; the football teams they have, their local league, and other things within that environment. And any happening, they easily call on the reporters of the community newspapers and feed them with information to be carried. With dissemination of information, the community papers are doing remarkably well, but the sustenance of their media is the challenge, due to poor patronage.

Question: Unlike the community radios or radio broadcasting which use local languages for the sake of their audiences, what styles are the community newspapers adopting to solidly connect with their local audiences?

Answer: I think this also boils down to various communities. There are communities that are highly homogeneous by tribal inclination and such communities are enlightened and have so many books written in their languages. In such communities you will find community newspapers written in their languages. On the other hand, communities where they are heterogeneous by shoulder-to-shoulder tribal population, such communities have most of their community papers published Nigeria’s lingua franca, that is, English. Communities which have papers in Nigerian dialects are mostly found in the south-west, south-east, the Hausa north. But in the north-central hardly is there any, due to very low patronage as a result of so many minority tribes. For instance, if you print a paper in Berom language in Plateau State, automatically it is the Berom people that will patronize you, and what is the percentage of Berom that read papers in Plateau State? With such, one is automatically putting himself out of business. Unlike Kano where if you print a paper in Hausa, the population of Hausa readers in Kano can sustain a community paper there, likewise in Ogun and Anambra States respectively. The south-south too has similar problem with that of the north-central. So, on the average, most community papers are printed in English language.

Question: How would you describe the relationship between community newspapers in Nigeria with those with national spread and beyond?

Answer: Well, as for me, the relationship is cordial. It’s symbiotic in nature to most publishers of community newspapers, but I won’t say to all. As in my case, my favourite papers are Daily Trust and The Nation. I read them on daily basis because I have to be informed on national and international issues for my benefit as a living person and also to assist me in writing opinions and the editorial of my paper. There is no point in exercising rivalry between national and community papers, because each of them have their areas of coverage. As such, there should be synergy. There are times some of the national correspondents approach community reporters to confirm or to get certain information for their documentaries or for events that have national or international outlook. So, on a general scale, the relationship between the community papers and the national and international papers are cordial. They have their espirit de corps as journalists, just as the police and soldiers do for their counterparts in the force. So, the relationship is cordial.

Question: Do you think many community papers are ICT complaint?

Answer: Of course, most community papers are ICT complaint. Most of them are even online to meet up with contemporary challenges of disseminating information; else they will go into extinction. Without ICT, the analogue method of disseminating information will only compound their problems and they will be left behind in publishing business.

Question: What are the general challenges of running a community newspaper, and how can it be boosted?

Answer: As I earlier mentioned, community newspapers are confronted with the challenge of consistently hitting the newsstands due to poor patronage of their papers at the grassroots. Poor patronage here refers to getting adverts. The politicians are the ones that mostly advertise in the community papers. And you find them doing so only during electioneering periods or when felicitating with individuals that secured appointments or that won awards. Sometimes they send their condolence messages to the bereaved families of their deceased associates. This kind of patronage is not consistent, but the production of paper is consistent and you need money to pay your workers, to distribute your papers to various locations, to improve on the paper and for your welfare and that of your dependants. Locations that have fewer challenges in this area are those that businesses thrive and the inhabitants are exposed to the usage and patronage of newspapers, such as Lagos. These challenges can be eradicated if the government of the day understands the need to constantly patronize the papers, because they are constantly covering the activities of the government. But one of the dangers of the government patronizing the papers too is that they will like the papers to always dance to their tune. But any wise government will appreciate constructive criticism to improve its performance in governance, and as such; they will not constrain the papers they patronize to confine their reportage to only what will please them.

Question: Talking about your recent award as the Best Plateau Print Media, what are those specific things you can say won you the award?

Answer: Well, in the first place I never knew my paper was shortlisted for an award by COA Media. It was a neighbour that drew my attention to the online notice given by the media outlet. What I think gave me an edge over others is my consistency in publishing, the quality of news we carry, our editorial and Telescope. The Beacon is a fortnightly newspaper and being its publisher, I ensure that despite paucity of funds and very poor patronage from the government and the politicians, I stick to the culture of publishing every fortnight. Most times, when the market is good I bend the rules to please our patrons by publishing three or even four times in a month. What I mean is that there are events that might be stale if we keep to our fortnightly schedule and some of our patrons would like the communities or the state to read their stance or opinion about ongoing events. In such a case, I don’t delay and wait for the scheduled production time. If it comes at a time the latest edition just comes out, we have to prepare again to go to press in order to satisfy our customers, because that is the essence of the production. I achieved such feat because The Beacon has never learned to depend on government alone for patronage. We, as Zik would say, “A journalist is the spokesman of the underprivileged, the inarticulate and the forgotten men of society,” we reach out to such people and sometimes most of them come out with N1,000, N2,000 or N3,000 to do change of name or to have us cover an event for them. We take advantage of that and save the meagre amount that comes into our purse to ensure that we publish fortnightly. We live in penury to ensure that the business progresses. We have to look around and scout for resources and we are achieving results because we carry everybody on board. So, I think what gave me an edge is my consistency. Last year alone, we published no fewer than 40 editions of the paper above the 24 editions based on fortnightly production. With time and with resources coming in, we will go weekly.

We disseminate quality news and our analysis, opinions and discourse are always rational. I remember there was a time I met someone and he told me that he went to his hometown, Mangu, and met a girl and she told him that she was going to buy a copy of The Beacon, saying that her teacher gave her an assignment and told her that if she got a copy, it would assist her. Also, there was a time a student of the University of Jos studying Mass Communication called me and said she was given an assignment and she got a copy of The Beacon and sought for some response to some pending questions about the publisher and I responded. There was another time the papers were distributed to Pankshin. As soon as the papers were given to the vendor, some students of Federal College of Education, Pankshin rushed for the papers, saying they were given some assignments in school and it was obvious that the paper had provided some answers to their problems.

Several times my vendors told me that those in the academia: lecturers, doctors and others always ask whether the publication is ready. On several occasions, I got phone calls appreciating our efforts on our Telescope and editorials. These and maybe others, in my opinion, could be what prompted the award. Those that gave the award had stipulated the criteria for giving the award. They included public online voting which constituted 30 per cent, public opinion 20 per cent, research and investigation 30 per cent, judges’ assessment 20 per cent.

Question: Most people look up to the media to continually enhance peaceful co-existence in Plateau State. By virtue of this award, how will you go about doing this?

Answer: Not to beat my chest or blow my trumpet, but all those who come in contact with The Beacon will surely confess that it is a peace broker, a rugged anti-graft fighter and ardent preacher of the rule of law, good governance and eradication of the pull-me-down syndrome in order to forge ahead as a formidable people. I will use the profession as I am doing to continuously discuss, state my opinions and write editorials on what will foster peace, unity and love. Just as the great Zik of Africa said, “The modern press in Nigeria should place more emphasis on its use for the public benefit. This means that in disseminating information, we should be accurate and in trying to influence public opinion we should be objective.” What brings about conflicts? There are many causes of conflict and one of them is oppression of the commoners by their superiors, which constrains them sometimes to take the law into their hands. And most times, nobody is there to speak for them. However, a true journalist, as Zik said, “It is the task of the new Nigerian journalist to invade the camp of those who, by their words and deeds, ensconce the continued existence of such disparaging distinctions and inequalities among human beings. A crusader is a spokesman of the inarticulate, a friend of the forgotten men and women of the society, a champion of the oppressed and a maker of history,” will not hesitate to protect the vulnerable rights. It is said the pen is mightier than the sword. Therefore, we’ll invade the camp of the causes of crisis and bring them to light in order to incapacitate them and make them lose their power. And by the grace of God we will succeed in enthroning peace on the Plateau.

Question: What other things will the award spur you to do?

Answer: The award is a big challenge in so many facets such as the challenge of going national and international in terms of print and not online in the midst of paucity of funds and dwindling economy. Also, it’s a challenge to study harder in order to influence positive and objective public opinions. There is a challenge also of covering more territories than the ones we are so far covering. So far, our papers are reaching Adamawa and Nasarawa States aside Plateau. In Plateau State, we have covered virtually all the local governments that have vendors. So this award is a serious challenge because it would be shameful having been lifted up, to be thrown down. You see, the Daily Trust has a wide coverage with millions of readers. I was there not at the headquarters of the paper or any of its offices, but as a follower and reader of the paper who kept monitoring the developments, reformation and transformation that the paper went through to reach its present pedestal. It has served as a beacon to all those publishers whose objective is to transform Nigeria and the world at large into a better place for mankind through journalism.

Question: What do you think publishers who fall within your category of publishing should do in order to stay afloat?

Answer: For any community newspaper publisher to stay afloat, they have to sacrifice immensely and selflessly. They should put all pleasures behind and judiciously utilize every meagre amount that comes into their purse to promote their business. They should not make themselves protégés or pawns in the hands of politicians who would use them and buy their conscience so much that they project themselves as only stooges and not people who use their professional training to dispense justice to all manner of men. Once a paper is seen to be lopsided, it is already twice defeated. And once any publisher enslaves himself to a politician, fingers will always be pointed at him, because 90 per cent of most politicians’ activities are fraudulent. And once you are caged, you cannot expose their fraudulent activities. But after sacrifices and you reach stardom, they cannot fight you. They have no option but to patronize your paper to sell their ideals to have wider reach.

Question: 2019 is around the corner. So how will you advise the media generally in Nigeria on its coverage before, during and after the elections, so that they can enhance free and fair and credible elections?

Answer: Kofi Annan said, “The right to a free and fair vote is key to everything that matters most. Without credible elections citizens have no recourse to peaceful political change. The risk of conflict increases while corruption, intimidation and fraud go unchecked, rotting the entire political system slowly from within.” His speech is sufficient for any right-thinking journalist who has the interest of this country at heart to work towards peaceful, free and fair elections. My advice to journalists is not to sell their conscience for whatever reason, because sometimes they might have sufficient facts of rigging and instead of exposing them, they are given money to keep quiet. Some of the journalists have engaged themselves in religious bigotry and ethnic chauvinism. They should know that the peaceful co-existence of the country, the progress and development all hinge on what the media writes. That was why Zik said, “Let us, therefore, serve the Nigerian press by dedicating ourselves to use our professional training so as to make this country a better place of free men and free women to live under the rule of law.” Anything contrary to the ethics of journalism profession is fraud and fraud is corruption. Nuhu Ribadu said, “Corruption makes democracy impossible because it subverts the will of the people. A select few with so much money and authority continue to steal elections and make a mockery of the notion of government by the people and for the people.” If journalists indulge in corrupt practices by supporting corrupt politicians and fostering their agendas through religious and ethnic politicking, they are doing a lot of harm to the country and by implication to themselves. Journalists as the Fourth Estate of the Realm of Government should act against all vices that will destroy good governance and democracy because government by its basics is not evil.