The Nigerian Guild Of Editors: A Captivating Tale of Media Leadership

Nigeria, the giant of Africa, has a vibrant media landscape that plays a significant role in shaping public opinion and promoting democracy. At the forefront of this flourishing industry is the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE). Established in 1963, the NGE has been pivotal in maintaining journalistic excellence and advocating for press freedom.

A Rich History of Excellence

The Nigerian Guild of Editors has a rich and illustrious history, filled with remarkable achievements and milestones. Over the years, the guild has played a crucial role in unifying editors across the country and fostering a spirit of collaboration and professionalism. It has successfully navigated political challenges and upheld ethical standards, making it a formidable force within the Nigerian media.

With an unwavering dedication to promoting media excellence, the NGE has consistently organized workshops, conferences, and seminars to enhance the skills and knowledge of its members. It has forged partnerships with international organizations, facilitating exchanges of ideas and promoting global best practices in journalism.

UNEVEN STEPS : The Story of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

by Lanre Idowu (Kindle Edition)

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Championing Press Freedom

The Nigerian Guild of Editors has been at the forefront of advocating for press freedom in Nigeria. Recognizing the critical role of a free and independent press in any thriving democracy, the guild has actively engaged with government institutions, civil society organizations, and international bodies to champion the rights of journalists.

Through persistent lobbying and advocacy efforts, the NGE has contributed to the enactment of legislation that safeguards press freedom and protects journalists from harassment. The guild has also played a pivotal role in calling for justice in cases where journalists have been unfairly targeted or intimidated.

Empowering the Next Generation

The Nigerian Guild of Editors understands the importance of nurturing young talent and ensuring a robust pipeline of skilled journalists. Through various scholarship programs and mentorship initiatives, the guild has empowered aspiring journalists, providing them with opportunities to develop their skills and gain invaluable experience.

Furthermore, the NGE actively engages with journalism schools and universities to promote academic excellence and encourage research on media-related topics. It organizes competitions and awards to recognize outstanding achievements among young journalists, fostering a culture of excellence and innovation.

Shaping the Future of Journalism

As the media landscape evolves at a rapid pace, the Nigerian Guild of Editors remains committed to staying ahead of the curve. It recognizes the need to adapt to changing technologies and embrace digital platforms to effectively disseminate information in a digital age.

The guild has embraced social media and online platforms, leveraging these tools to engage with a broader audience and ensure the public has access to accurate, timely, and reliable information. By exploring emerging technologies and collaborating with stakeholders, the NGE aims to shape the future of journalism in Nigeria.

In

The Nigerian Guild of Editors is not only a professional organization but a testament to the power of unity, advocacy, and excellence. It has weathered storms, overcome challenges, and emerged stronger than ever, ensuring that the voices of journalists are heard and that press freedom remains a cornerstone of Nigerian democracy.

As Nigeria's media landscape continues to evolve, the NGE stands as a beacon of hope, guiding the way for journalists and promoting the highest standards of professionalism. With its rich history, unwavering commitment to press freedom, and dedication to empowering the next generation, the Nigerian Guild of Editors truly deserves its esteemed place in the country's media landscape.

UNEVEN STEPS : The Story of the Nigerian Guild of Editors

by Lanre Idowu (Kindle Edition)

5 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1177 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	202 pages
Lending	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported

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The history of the Nigerian press has been chequered. From its humble beginnings in 1859 as a pastoral adventure to inculcate the habit of reading and seeking information through reading, it has morphed into a pervasive force in the growth and development of the peoples of Nigeria. It was a strong player in Nigeria’s resistance to colonial rule, in the efforts at self-rule and in managing the challenges of, first, independence, and second, the military’s incursion into governance.

From the ashes of the failures of the first three civilian republics, it remains a player in the politics of the fourth. In all of these eras its performance remains uneven; it has been as much a part of the problem as it has been a part of the search for solution. Much of the narrative about the press has been historical and sociological in conception and execution. This work borrows from that tradition.

This book is about a professional association, the Nigerian Guild of Editors. It discusses the role, place, achievements and failings of the Guild in the quest for press freedom, professional respect, press responsibility and accountability. It is as much an examination of an institutional platform as it is an analysis of the role of individual players in nurturing or restricting the objectives of the Guild.

The book took longer than planned as it suffered great and unanticipated constraints. Being a pioneer work, there was really no pathfinder to trail, no ready literature to examine. Having grown in fits and starts, there was no internal light from the Guild to shed on the path it has trodden over the years. No records at all from its secretariat on its activities in the first 20 years. The Nigerian Press Council (NPC), which had kept a trove of records on professional media associations in its Lagos library and would have been helpful, lost its entire holdings to fire in 2008. Most of the founding fathers of the Guild, who could shed some light on the early days, are dead, except for Lateef Jakande, its first president, who was happy to share what he had. Sources of information, especially in the early days, have come from snippets of writings in newspapers. Babatunde Jose’s Walking a tightrope and Peter Ajayi’s Not my Will provide a torchlight on some of the Guild’s activities in the 1970s. Help, however, came from various writings on developments in the media and the Guild since the resuscitation of the Guild in 1988. Seminar papers, personal notes and interviews with latter-day actors have also been helpful.

Through this work, I give a welcome summary of the story of the Guild of Editors, a key component of the organised media groups in Nigeria. The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) is one of the tripods upon which the organised media rests. Alongside the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), the three form what is known as the Nigerian Press Organisation. They are the press intelligentsia spanning the critical tiers of journalists, editors, and proprietors, or if you like, the general workforce, managers and owners.

This book is the outcome of a grant in 2013 by the Guild under the administration of Gbenga Adefaye (2008-2013) to write the history of the Guild at a time the organisation was not even sure of its date of establishment. The concern was valid enough: When did the Guild start? What were the objectives for establishing it? Who were its directing minds? Where did the Guild start? How did the Guild emerge? Why did it start when it did? What challenges did the Guild face in terms of the socio-political terrain under which it operated? What was the legal landscape like? How did the Guild deal with attempts to restrict/restrain press freedom?