
At last, recognition for the media
December 2004
The 2004 national honours list, released to the public October 14, is one full of surprises. The list or rather the names on the list, no doubt, is a conversation starter any day. And the conversations have started already. But not withstanding the various debates the names are generating, December 16 will see 194 deserving Nigerians and foreign nationals queue up to receive their awards and medals from President Olusegun Obasanjo. …..Read More

13th DAME
November 2004
It was excitement, fun, excellence and innovation throughout the three and half-hours the ceremony lasted. Venue was the Sheraton Hotels and Towers and the event was the 13th edition of the Diamond Awards for Media Excellence (DAME). The Banquet Hall of Sheraton Hotels has certainly played host to many events this year, but that of the evening of Sunday, November 7, 2004 was splendid …..Read More

EAS Crash Investigation Reporting: an insight
October 2004
SUNDAY May 4, 2003 Nigerians from all works of life gathered at Archbishop Vining Memorial church in Lagos for a memorial service for over 100 souls who perished in a plane crash involving a BACI-11 aircraft belonging to Executive Air Services Limited (EAS). The air mishap occurred in Kano on Saturday, May 4, 2002 as the ill fated plane was on its way to Lagos, Prominent among those who lost their lives in the crash was the youths and sports minister, Ishaya Mark Aku who was on his way to the National Stadium Surulere Lagos, for a football match involving the Super Eagles of Nigeria…..Read More

The Press and the Ibori trial
September 2004
In recent times no case has generated as much publicity and interest as the suit challenging the eligibility of the Governor of Delta State, James Onanefe Ibori to contest the 2003 gubernatorial election. The suit, instituted by two members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party in Delta, Dr. Goodnews Agbi and Mr. Anthony Alabi, is contesting that Ibori stands disqualified being the person that was convicted in 1995 by the Bwari Upper Area Court in Abuja for negligent conduct and breach of trust. The Governor, on the other hand, is saying at no time was he convicted in such court or any other court……Read More

HIV / AIDS & THE MAN
August 2004
At 45, gaining admission to read a National Diploma Course may mean nothing to many Nigerians, but for Fredrick Ibikunle Adegboye it was a fulfilment of a dream. So when on May 25, 2004, he got a provisional admission into the Nigeria Institute of Journalism (NIJ) to read Mass Communication, it was a dream come true. As a social worker with the Positive Life Association of Nigeria (PLAN) an Ibadan based support group for HIV positive persons, he had always wanted to play bigger roles in the thorough education of the people on HIV……Read More

Are the good Times back?
July 2004
In the past three years, the Nigerian newspaper scene has witnessed a certain level of resurgence with the entrance of new newspapers into the industry. But on June 14, this level was taken to another dimension: the first ever buy-out of a government owned media establishment occurred. the privatisation was indeed unique in the annals of government – owned media. …..Read More

GUILTY! Ethnicity, religion colour press reports
June 2004
To most Nigerians, the name Yelwa never existed until june 26, 2002 when news filtered in about ethnic riots in the slumbering town in Shendam local government area of Plateau state. After that, the place was sedated. Yelwa jerked alive again on May 2, 2004. For many days afterward the agitated town kept a grip on the nation as newspapers kept up a running report of anarchy let loose…..Read More

The lure of Televangelism
May 2004
It is sunday morning and you are too tired to go to church and hear the pastor preach. What do you do? In this era of 24-hour television broadcasting, you reach for your T.V remote control; that is if the public power supplier, National electric Power Authority (NEPA) allows, and switch on the TV. Chances are you will find a religious programme on air as early as 6 o’clock…..Read More

A new opportunity online publishing in Nigeria opens revenue frontiers
April 2004
Two years ago, the number of Nigerian media houses with a website on the Internet were few and far between. Today the story is quite different. Six months ago, The Punch made a bold and much publicized move. It went online joining several others that had joined the fad earlier. Over the past few years, much attention has been paid to the Internet particularly in the newspaper industry …..Read More

Impactful stories of 2003
March 2004
As usual last year produced its fair share of earth shaking events. From the controversial to the awe inspiring to the frightening and to the absurd. But which among the many stories holds the distinction of being the year’s top story? Also which stories make up the year’s top ten? A Media Review survey often senior editors from the broadcast and print media on which story had the greatest impact and consequently is the year’s top story threw up one story:…..Read More

Changing face of newsrooms
February 2003
The way Tayo Ajakaye was handling the computer; you would think he has been a computer operator for ages. Sitting behind the Dell computer, jabbing away at the keyboard with a single index finger, Ajakaye’s poise was gracious, the story he was typesetting was almost finished and he was smiling lightly with satisfaction…..Read More