MOSHOOD ADVISE ACJ ON NEW REGULATIONS, IMPLORE LARRYSAM TO WORK ON THE PROFESSIONAL INTEGRITY OF MEMBERS.

Yesterday, after the ACJOAU released her regulations for news agencies signed by the Secretary General of the group.

Comrade Moshood known as the Convener of OAU WIKILEAKS and Student Activist as usual put his pen to paper to kick against the regulations he considered to be an exploitative regulations and at the same time advised the ACJOAU.

HE WRITES:

A RESPONSE TO THE NEW REGULATIONS INTRODUCED BY THE ASSOCIATION OF CAMPUS JOURNALISTS (ACJ, OAU CHAPTER)

Dear Olanrewaju Oyedeji Larrysam, the President of ACJ

I write to express my strong reservation and vehement opposition towards the new rules introduced by the Association of Campus Journalists (ACJ) under your leadership.

According to a release issued today 14th May, 2016 by Adebayo Faith, the Secretary General of the Association, the following rules are stated:

1 - That News Agencies must have at least five  members.

2 - That ACJ must have a representative at the interviews of new members(this must have taken place before registration will be verified)

3 - That ACJOAU Must have a representative at News Agencies' induction.

4 - That Members must be financial members of ACJOAU.

5 - That News agencies cannot be a whatsapp news platform.

6 - That any News agency which does not have a board or site, you will not be recognized

7 - That Intending boards/news sites must obtain a form of intent and submit the form along with a letter stating why you want to be registered

8 - That Political figures or personalities that are leaders of political groups on Campus are not allowed to own or be a members of news agencies

I must commend your efforts in sanitizing this Association, thereby reforming it's image in the process. Regulation of News agencies is necessary and it is a Welcome development in view of the influx of media platforms on campus. But I must admit that if any regulation is to be introduced, neither must it be pedantic to the benefit of some people, nor must it be hollow at the same time.

In rule 1, the Association recommend that News agencies must have at least 5 members. This is very correct in view of the hectic  job involved in journalism as different roles need to be marshalled by individuals for the sake of efficiency. But the amount of #1500 for registration is very outrageous and exploitative. For God sake, we are in period of economic recession in the country which is attributable to the glut in the international oil market. That you can afford #1500 for registration does not mean others can get the same amount. We are different. We are from different background. Many state government are yet to pay February salary for Civil Servants and you will agree with me that majority of the wards of Civil Servants are members of the Association. I will recommend that this amount should be pegged to #500. Anything short than this is an attempt to illegitimately disqualify some people out of ACJ.

Rule 5 state that News agencies cannot be a WhatsApp News Platform. For what? As far as OAU is concerned, which platform is easily accessible to by students? I am not wrong to say WhatsApp. So, why banning News reportage on WhatsApp? This is an attempt to censor the media on campus and block information from reaching out to students. Am not sure the Association follow this year celebration of World Press day as no single statement emanate from the ACJ itself to celebrate this historical day.

For the records, World Press Freedom Day was proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in December 1993, following the recommendation of UNESCO's General Conference. Since then, 3rd of May, the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek is celebrated worldwide as World Press Freedom Day which is an opportunity to celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom, assess the state of press freedom throughout the world; defend the media from attacks on their independence, and pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. The 2016 Theme of the World Press Day celebration is: Access to Information and Fundamental Freedoms - This is your right! Am drawing your attention to this since it seems you are oblivious of it. Now, how do you want to preach this year theme of World Press Day with the rule that News agencies cannot be a WhatsApp platform? And let me disabuse your mind on this rule, Free Ese campaign which was spearheaded by The Punch Newspaper was won online after several tweets and sharing of posts to expose the barbaric and monstrous kidnapping of Ese. So why proposing that News agencies cannot be a WhatsApp platform? I strongly recommend complete abolition of this rule. It is incorrect.

I don't have problem with rule 6 provided those who have blog are allowed to practice this prestigious profession of the pen. The ACJ will be inconsiderate by making it mandatory that both blog and board at the same time is a prerequisite for any News agency to be recognized.

Rule 8 is an infringement on the fundamental human rights. Even the people ACJ still look up to own media stations. Or maybe I need to be educated on why a political figure like Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a prominent member of the All Progressive Congress (APC) was allowed to own The Nation Newspaper. Maybe I need to be educated on why Dr Kayode Fayemi, a former Governor of Ekiti State and current Minister of Solid Minerals was allowed to own Adaba FM Station located in Ilaramokin, Ondo State. Maybe I need to be educated on why Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo State was allowed to own Orange FM in Akure, and I will need to be educated on why Raymond Dokpesi, a prominent member of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) was allowed to own the African Independent Television (AIT). ACJ need to give me lucid and meticulous explanation on why these media platforms owned by political figures in the country was not banned by the Nigerian Broadcasting Corporation (NBC). So why banning the people you call political figures from having a media agency? Who are the political figures itself? The ACJ even erroneously wrote that these set of people cannot be a member of News agencies, thereby criminalising what they call politics itself in the process. And to the Political groups, I don't understand. Who are the Political groups because to my knowledge, there is no political group on OAU Campus. What we have on campus are pressure groups. I strongly recommend that rule 8 should be abolished.

Let me use this opportunity to borrow from the word of Ban Ki -Moon, the United Nations Secretary-General who said on this year World Press Day that, I urge all Governments, politicians, businesses and citizens to commit to nurturing and protecting an independent, free media. Without this fundamental right, people are less free and less empowered. With it, we can work together for a world of dignity and opportunity for all." I will also recommend that ACJ borrow from the word of this iconoclastic in implementing it's policies.

And let me use this medium to advise the Association on some issues. Journalism is more than organizing ACJ OAU @ 45 and invite Politicians to deliver lecture, it is more than calling Congress to address issues affecting the Association, it is more than introducing regulations without embarking on internal reforms.
The ACJ need to give training and retraining of members a priority, tackle internal issues as professional integrity is the cornerstone of  journalists credibility, embark on investigative reporting training especially the one organized by the Nigerian Press Council, Source for funds externally, and reward hardworking members with a training workshop especially the one organized by the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN).

Please accept the assurances of my highest
esteem.
Moshood Odunayo Olajide
An independent writer and Convener of OAU WIKILEAKS