Print, radio, TV: Media hierarchy vs quality in journalism platforms

By Ejiro Umukoro

AS a media leader in Nigeria’s media space, I still find it troubling to see how the psychological dichotomy where the print press (newspaper) in Nigeria thinks it should be elevated above the electronic and broadcast media is still a thing.

Historically, the print dates as far back as the 1450s with the Gutenberg’s Printing Press came before radio, which had its earliest origin from wireless telegraphy by Guglielmo Marconi’s Radio Experiments in 1890s, and laying the groundwork for the First Radio Broadcasts to commence from the 1900s – 1920s.

TV, on the other hand, emerged first as a Mechanical TV Experiments between the 1920s – 1930s) with inventors like John Logie Baird and Philo Farnsworth who experimented with mechanical television systems, paving the way for modern TV technology as we know it, thus emerged TVs in the 1940s – 1950s). It was the development of electronic television systems that led to the widespread adoption of TV broadcasting.

So at the Media Sustainability Conference jointly organised by the Daily Trust Foundation and Media Development Investment Fund, where I was event host enabled me to call attention to and address this False Hierarchy of Media Platforms on Nigeria: Why Print, Radio, and TV are Equals in Journalism. Big thanks to my darling sister and friend, the formidable and quintessential Toun Okewale, CEO of Women Radio (WFM 91.7) for graciously taking this video shot of me while addressing this anomaly.

In Nigeria’s media landscape, a disturbing dichotomy exists between print, radio, and television platforms. Print media is often perceived as the bastion of real journalism, while radio and TV are viewed as inferior. This perception is not only misguided but also detrimental to the growth and development of our media industry. While I was the GM of a radio station in the Niger Delta, what our radio station did with investigation journalism, community impact, citizens’ mobilisation, and citizens engaging government and governace progress, all the print media in Delta State combined could not match it. And they’d been there for decades before the radio station I pioneered came into existence.

The ‘notion’ that print media is superior amongst Nigerian journalists stems from its historical significance and the perceived depth of analysis it provides. However, this perspective overlooks the unique strengths and contributions of radio and television to journalism. Each platform has its own distinct characteristics, audience engagement, and storytelling capabilities.

Lady Ejiro Umukoro

Radio has the Power of Audio Storytelling. It is the Theatre of the Mind. Radio is an intimate and accessible medium that can reach a wide audience, particularly in rural areas where literacy rates may be lower. Radio journalists use the power of audio storytelling to convey complex issues in a way that resonates with listeners. The immediacy and accessibility of radio make it an essential platform for real-time reporting, breaking news, and live discussions.

Television is about The Visual Impact. It has the power to pull you right in even when you don’t want to. Television combines visual and audio elements to convey news and stories in a way that can be both informative and engaging. TV journalists use powerful images, videos, and graphics to illustrate complex issues, making them more relatable and understandable to a broad audience. The visual impact of television makes it an effective platform for investigative reporting, documentaries, and in-depth analysis.

Print, on the other hand, is about the Depth of Analysis, something that long form investigative documentaries can also give it a good run for its money. For print, though, that’s just a given because writing is a long sum game. It doesn’t make it superior, rather it allows for a more comprehensive approach because it has time and ink space on its side to play with.

Print media provides in-depth analysis and detailed reporting, allowing readers to engage with complex issues at their own pace. Print journalists use written words to craft compelling narratives, providing context and perspective on important events. The permanence of print media makes it an essential platform for archival research, investigative reporting, and thought-provoking commentary.

While they are distinctively different, each of these platforms or means of mass media have Equality in Journalism. Rather than perpetuating a hierarchy of media platforms, we should recognize the unique strengths and contributions of each. Print, radio, and television are not mutually exclusive, but rather complementary platforms that together provide a comprehensive picture of our world.

In reality, good journalism knows no boundaries of platform or medium. Whether it’s print, radio, or television, the core principles of journalism remain the same: accuracy, fairness, and a commitment to telling the truth.

In this age of tech and AI driving new platforms and convergence, it is time to break down the barriers. We are not competitors. We should be collaborators. The pie is big enough. You only need to know your audience and how to create sustainable revenues.

To promote a more inclusive and equitable media landscape, we must break down the barriers between platforms. This requires:

Embrace Cross-platform collaboration: Encouraging journalists to work across multiple platforms, sharing their expertise and perspectives. Promote mutual respect: Fostering a culture of respect and appreciation for the unique strengths of each platform. Engage in Innovative storytelling: New York Times and the Post have been taken over, not by legacy media but by tech and AI owners. We are now forced to embrace new formats and technologies to tell compelling stories that engage diverse audiences.

Stop promoting that dichotomy. It begins with the Nigeria Press Council, Newspaper Proprietor’s Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild Of Editors, Nigeria Union of Journalists, Broadcasters Guild, RATTAWU, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria, Online Media Associations, etc., to begin recognizing the equality of all media platforms engaged in journalism, we can promote a more vibrant, diverse, and inclusive media landscape. Let’s celebrate the unique strengths of each platform and work together to tell the stories that matter.

All must be focused on providing Top Quality Journalism. That’s the only standard that distinguishes the wheat from the chaff.

* LadyE. Umukoro, Publisher/CEO of LightRay Media, is the bestselling author of the novel, Distortion