INTERVIEW: CEO and Publisher Of Satcom Media, Oluwatoyin Bolakale Speaks Deeply On Citizen Journalism

The CEO and Publisher of The Satcom Media Consults, Mall. Luqman Oluwatoyin Bolakale has granted an Interview on his understanding of citizens Journalism in Ilorin, the Kwara state.

When asked about His understanding in regards to citizen journalism and forth, he answered;

My understanding of citizen journalism is simply centered as a means of information dissemination which is solely based on public opinion and its analysis. However, it is the overall collection and collation of information from the public domain.

How do you, as a participating citizen journalist go about your work in terms of gathering and disseminating news content?

You know basically, citizen journalism is all about gathering information from the public domain. So as an active participant of citizen journalism, I also leverage all public accurate and accessible information within the public. But as a professional, I do what is termed as proof checking before disseminating it to the public. Because information is power, so as such it must be accurate and devoid of all content that can protest against the ethical practice of a good and professional journalist.

what medium do you use in disseminating news gathered?

 

I engaged many mediums to ensure that I have accessible information being disseminated which includes, social media and my blog.

Are you concerned about being accountable in your content and disseminating it (with regards to ethical considerations of the media)?

Yes. Upholding the ethical practices of the profession has been my topmost concern Because it is a portion of this profession that can't be compromised. Therefore, we must sustain the credence of the profession.

If yes, What are the frame of mind that puts you on the path of accountability?

Accountability is one of the important frameworks that have to be unbiasedly sustained in this line. As such, I often stay conscious of embracing and advancing our accountability as a people's trusted media outlet. We must continue to be responsible to our readers and viewers, so they will continue to embrace the trust they have in us. Part of it is to also set principles guidelines for our content. After the introduction of this media house to be public, we launched an online survey to gather people's views on our reportage accountability. By that, we were able to identify our strengths and weaknesses.

In your own opinion, what modalities should be put in place to check excesses on the part of citizen journalists' journalism?

I will suggest a regulating body for that, and the citizen journalists on their own should do self-checkmating of their members, this can be done by having an association that will closely oversee the affairs of the members thereby checking the excessiveness of their members. In Kwara, we have domestic examples of such which include ASCAP.

Identify challenges faced in the line of duty and what probable solution would you suggest?

One of the challenges but not limited to refinance, audience, and insecurity amongst others. To start a media channel and house requires adequate finance and resources. As well as making in an obligation that the security of the journalist sometimes is not always guaranteed. Imagine a journalist giving live reportage of Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen and bandit all these involve enough personal risks.

Government should therefore improve on our security architecture, apparatuses and work on the efficiency and effectiveness of the gatekeepers. By doing that, the insecurity challenges of journalists and the general public can be secured and guaranteed.

On finance, the government should endeavor to empower young people on media capacity and look at how to formulate media-friendly implementable policies and polity.

End.