Personalities In Authority Use Community Newspapers As Instruments Against Their Opponents —ACNPN Chairman

By Our Reporter

Chairman, Association of Community Newspaper Publishers of Nigeria (ACNPN), Delta State Council, Comrade Jude Obiemenyego, has said that some personalities in the corridors of power only want to use community newspaper as an instrument to fight their political opponents for their selfish gains, stressing that publishers of Community Newspapers will not encourage it.

He stated this in his welcome address on Thursday during the 2021 Publishers Media Week/Awards held at Orchid Hotels, Asaba.

According to Obiemenyego, “it is grossly unfortunate that some personalities that are in the corridors of power, ascended through the help of Community Newspapers when they had no access to the national dailies, but later prefer dealing with national dailies for political and social businesses, other than those that assisted them to climb to the position.”

Also, the Chairman of the Association maintained that most Community Newspapers strive in the South-West region than in other parts of the country because they know the importance of community journalism.

He however, noted that most personalities in journalism practice began their career from Community Newspapers.

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The Community media has given more sense of belonging to grassroots dwellers as part of its responsibility through the exchange of vital information that attracts growth and development within the communities, said Obiemenyego, adding that investigations have shown that vital roles have been played by Community Newspapers in tackling the outbreak of Covid-19.

Recall that information was disseminated to the Communities in the State by the community media in convincing grassroots dwellers on the need to get vaccinated and the benefits in observing the approved World Health Organization’s protocols.