Following the controversial bills sponsored by Hon. Olusegun Odebunmi, Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Values, the leadership of Newspaper Proprietors’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) resolved to regulate the activities of its members; this was besides the existing laws. It must be stated here that not all the media firms are members of NPAN because it is a voluntary organization.
It will be recalled that on Monday, July 12, 2021, some Nigerian newspapers (The Punch, The Nation, New Telegraph, Daily Independent, Vanguard, Daily Trust, Leadership, Blueprint, Pilot, Peoples Daily, This Day, Nigerian Tribune, Business Day, and The Guardian) campaigned against the sponsored obnoxious media bills via advertorial which appeared on their front pages.
NPAN deserved to be commended on this, for taking a right step in a right direction. Before arriving at this decision, it gathered feasible alternatives that are potential solutions to the decision problems and ascertained the potential consequences of each of the alternatives before agreeing on self regulation.
NPAN did evaluation of all the alternatives. However, it must be known that evaluation is not always easy because the alternatives outcome in any decision will be based on decision environment, which can be one of certainty, risk or uncertainty, respectively at functional, business and corporate levels
NPAN requested each media firm to set-up its own Ombudsman on or before November 1, 2021. Ombudsman is someone who investigates and attempts to resolve complaints and problems. When put succinctly, ombudsman is all about investigation, reporting, and helping in settling complaints having being set-up to look into complaints about companies. Members are however expected to be free, independent, and impartial.
This NPAN’s decision making taken under risk or stochastic environment presumes that the NPAN leadership has a partial knowledge of outcomes of decision making. This best alternative that was agreed upon ought to be definitely implemented, otherwise the identified problems will remain unsolved and the whole exercise involved in reaching a decision becomes gaseous and meaningless. There is recognition of the fact that decision making is a dynamic process influenced by so many variables such as the situation, time, technology, strategy, structure and behavioural variables.
New Telegraph newspapers wrote two editorials (same titles and contents) on this; they were published on November 30, 2021 and December 15, 2021 respectively and were titled: Newspapers and self regulation.
It stated: “For self-regulatory structure to be well-respected by all stakeholders and stand the test of time, each newspaper establishment should set-up an Ombudsman made up of male and female journalists and media scholars of doubtless character and demonstrable professional proficiency. While some of them may come from within, others should be drawn from outside like retired journalists, serving or retired mass communication lecturers”.
However, it is sad to note here that after seven months, decision has not been implemented by most of the media firms. This is not good enough. It is a known fact that before the NPAN’s directive, The Punch had an Ombudsman with a publicized number. It appears on its back page on a daily basis with the caption: Ethical Complaints? The content: We, Punch Nigeria Limited, do not demand or accept gifts or gratification to publish articles or photographs, neither do our journalists. In the event that a PUNCH journalist demands such, please send your complaint(s) to ethics@punchng.com or 08168214977. Few media firms are currently using Editorial Boards as an abridged version of Ombudsman while many media firms do not have at all.
The media firms need not wait for outsiders to complain before swinging into actions; they need to review their contents from time to time and reprimand the culprits. Implementation is a real and physical action period, requiring a development of emphasis and resources, and one which is very essential since decision is not an end in itself, but a means to achieve an end.
Review or follow-up is necessary to see that the best alternative implemented is successful. It is successful if the initial problem identified is solved or if the predetermined desired level is achieved. Any deviation from this would imply that the best alternative implemented is unsuccessful. In such a situation, what to do is to redefine the problem and retrace all the steps which the desired result is obtained.
Conclusively, media firms need not to wait further to do the needful until the bills are brought back to the house in another form.
Abiola Ayankunbi is MD/CEO at AbingMO3 Marketing Management Consultancy
0802 305 1315
abiolaayankunbi@yahoo.com
