Yusuph Olaniyonu
21 July 2008
Lagos — Founder of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Award, Mr. Edward Boateng at the weekend in Accra, Ghana said the Chairman and Editor-in Chief of THISDAY Newspapers Mr Nduka Obaigbena, deserved to be celebrated by other Africans for his achievements in using his newspapers to showcase that Africans are capable of providing the best media products for the world.
Boateng in an interview with THISDAY after a Media Forum organised for journalists from across Africa and some of their colleagues from the United States who gathered to discuss the way forward in the media industry as part of the events heralding the award ceremonies said Obaigbena, Mr Kwesi Chum of Joy FM in Ghana and Mr Regina Mengi of Tanzania are models of good African media entrepreneurs who are demonstrating that the private media in the continent are young but are making strong impact.
He explained that the media in Africa have challenges that would be resolved with time and that the institution was not as "useless and futile as we often present it." He said though a few bad characters operate in the media on the continent but that the average journalist in Africa is "as hardworking as his colleagues all over the world and therefore should be encouraged to give his best."
"The ethical problems that you mentioned are as a result of lack of resources. If they are well paid, some of the problems of inducement would be eliminated. Our governments need to empower the media. Some of the deregulation exercises done in the media were badly done and seized by wrong people," he said.
Boateng who is chief executive of Global Media Alliance, a multi-media organisation, expressed his happiness with the way the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Award which he pioneered had grown over the years and said the ceremonies surrounding the award have become fora for African journalists to discuss the way forward in their practice as well as network for future relationships.
"This is fulfilling my dream. Issues of common interest are now discussed during the award. The space, platform and recognition the award now provide for African journalists are tremendous. Winners are now engaged to practice in world recognised media. That is the experience of Richard Kavuna, who won the award a few years ago. Again, the winners are now seen as voice of Africa and voice for positive change on the continent," he said.
Boateng said the media have a role to play in institutionalising democracy and economic achievements in Africa and therefore efforts should be concentrated on ensuring that the media themselves and the professionals working there continue to develop.
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