I read with disdain the report by tell magazine on the U.S consulate General media tour of its operation held on Wednesday 16thSeptember,2015 for “selected” journalist. I first thought my earlier article released few weeks ago on my blog would have prompted this and felt this will be an avenue for journalist to ask meaningful question that can liberate Nigerians from excessive cost of application. Sadly enough, I found out that our newspapers today and magazine are just mere façade template accommodating tell and dump stories. But quickly, I remembered the teachings of professor Ralph Akinfeleye, a mass communication don Teachings on “Yes sir, Yes sir” journalist as well as various mode of propaganda like junket, moonlightening etc. The Consular Chief, Will Laidlaw who addressed journalist did not say anything special but why they reject people during visa interview. Just honest question as against accumulation of documents but he didn’t state the amount they have made so far compared to the meagre number of people that eventually get the visa after application. He didn’t tell us why they continue to interview 500 people per day at the estimated cost of 32,000 per each applicant per day and above in some few exceptions over the year.Neither,he didn’t mention the figure of application so far this year, people given, people rejected and a whole should have formed part of his address. Nigeria needs data more than mere spoken words please Mr laidlaw.
Nigeria will not heal if our media platform refuses to get serious. Christiana Amanpour is a good example of the CNN and we can lay claim to her style of questions anytime she’s conducting an interview for world leaders. It is not business as usual, it is un-usual. An Average Nigerian Journalist doesn’t do enough research before attending tours and press conferences. They go as dumb and only return and give excuses for their dumbness.
The U.S consular General Lagos looked for trouble by conducting journalist around his embassy. Stories that should form headlines should have aroused therein but it is just the normal story not even news. People used to dislike press men because of publicity particularly when the report does not favour but for a man born of a woman to invite media men confident enough and it was like the normal tour.
I sincerely wish that the business of reporting will take mathematics seriously, if not, we’ll continue to have the thrown away desecrating our much revered media industry.
TosinAdesile
Tosinadesile.blogspot.com