THE MEDIA and COVID-19 (Weekly Newsletter of the Institute for Media and Society, Nigeria) Issue 1 - Friday, May 15, 2020

“Infodemics” Behind Misinformation, Disinformation on Covid-19, Says IMS Executive Director, Akingbulu

Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director, Institute for Dr Benson Oluigbo, Executive Director of CLEEN Mr Lanre Arogundade, Director, International Press Media and Society, IMS. Foundation. Centre, IPC.

he Executive Director Institute for Media crisis situation and during crisis truth was Some of the fake news relate to what and Society, Dr Akin Akingbulu has always the first casualty. medications can help and the law of Tblamed what he termed “infodemics” for survival is driving some to believe in just the prevalence of misinformation and He added that many Nigerians are anything. disinformation as the world battles the witnessing this kind of pandemic for the CAOVID-19 Pandemic. first in many years after the flu pandemic “For example, one would have expected of 1918-20, hence the panic surrounding health communication experts to be part In a tweetchat organized by CLEEN Covid -19. of and central to the operations of the Foundation on Friday, May 15, with the topic: Presidential task force on Covid-19,” he Curbing Misinformation and Disinformation on He said, “Covid-19 and panic reaction to said Covid-19: The Role of The Media, Dr it have thus fuelled all kind of opinions Akingbulu, who was one of the panelists, and theories including conspiracy ones. On her part, a broadcaster, Affie Bassey noted that loads of information, much of which agreed that a kind of global infodemic is false, ascendancy of citizen communication has emerged as a result of the need for and vested interests were among the factors information. “So people just share and that have led to prevalence of false news. Covid-19 and panic reaction forward whatever info they receive “to it have thus fuelled all kind without verification.” He added that foreign actors, also, who have diverse interests to protect and polarization in of opinions and theories She further pointed out that the system, contribute to the twin evil of including conspiracy ones. government's non-response to issues at misinformation and disinformation. Some of the fake news relate the right time may also be a contributing factor. According to Akingbulu in his tweet: to what medications can “Infodemic: loads of information, much of help and the law of survival is “Addressing issues that concerns the which is false. Ascendancy of citizen driving some to believe in just nation on time, no matter how minute it communication, pre-eminence of vested may seem, is one important way of interests and foreign actors also, who have anything. For example one quelling fake news.” She said, adding, diverse interests to protect: Some kind of would have expected health “one of the driving factors I'd say is not polarization in our system. People come from enough information given out by those various backgrounds with positions to guard communication experts to be who are responsible for giving out and project.” part of and central to the accurate information. In my work operations of the Presidential producing content for Radio and TV Another panelist and Director of the stations, one of the hardest tasks is International Press Centre, IPC, Mr Lanre task force on Covid-19. getting people”. Arogundade said Covid-19 pandemic was a ” INSIDE THIS ISSUE: Journalists' Safety on the Frontlines; Inside Media Business; Policy and Regulation - Page 1 - Journalist Safety On The Frontlines

Imo Suspends Journalist For Demanding Three Months Unpaid Salaries. Katsina he Imo State Government has ordered the indefinite suspension of a senior editor with the T Imo Broadcasting Corporation, Mrs Ottih Kano Vivian, who had earlier been queried for reportedly complaining of non-payment of her salaries and that of her colleagues. Kaduna Bauchi Ottih, had on May 4 taken to her Facebook wall to post her plea publicly to the state government to pay her colleagues and herself their over three months salaries. Abuja

Acting Director-General of IBC, Mrs Osuchukwu S.O issued her a query, after which the government directed that she be suspended indefinitely.

DSS Detains, Releases Imo JOURNALISTS: Journalist On Bail Bayelsa With Covid-19 Issues aint Miepano Onitsha, a Bayelsa state based Safety Issues news blogger has been granted bail by the S Department of State Security, DSS after he was arrested over the a publication of false news on the collapse of the alleged N7 billion Isolation Centre located at the Federal Medical Centre, Lokoja in Kogi discharged from University of Abuja State. Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada Isolation Minister of Health, Dr. Osagie Ehanire, had

Onitsha, owner of the naijalive.com was arrested on Centre, Abuja, where he had undergone said at the previous days' daily briefing of the Sunday for publication of the reports the DSS treatment for coronavirus infection. Dokpesi Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 in the considered was targeted to tarnish the image of the w a s d i s c h a r g e d w i t h t w o o f h i s nation's capital that: State Governor, Gov. Yahaya Bello. grandchildren. “The THISDAY Dome treatment centre, a Chairman of DAAR Communication, project of the Coalition Against COVID-19 Raymond Dokpesi Jr, who had earlier tested (CACOVID) is complete and ready for Journalists Tests Positive For positive for the virus and was treated at the commissioning on Tuesday. This centre is Gwagwalada Isolation Center, Abuja, has fully self-contained, coming with a PCR Coronavirus been discharged. Laboratory, a fully equipped ICU and an incinerator. This over 270-bed facility adds a ournalists as frontline staff reporting the tremendous boost to the FCT capacity and activities surrounding Covid-19 are falling capabilities.” J victim to the virus. On Tuesday, Nasir THISDAY Dome COVID-19 Ibrahim, a journalist working with Abubakar Rimi The Secretary to the Government of the Television, Kano tested positive for COVID-19, Testing, Tracing, Treatment Federation, Mr. Boss Mustapha, lauded the alongside his wife. Centre Inaugurated private sector-driven initiative powered by THISDAY Media & Technology Group and Nasir Ibrahim reportedly said he developed the the Sahara Group. symptoms following an official engagement with a former media aide to President Umaru Yar’Adua, The treatment centre is fitted with foundation Rabiu Musa, in Kano. wards and ICU centre complete with ventilators, X-ray and dialysis. Mr Musa died from coronavirus symptoms while awaiting his test result on May 2. Mr Ibrahim Others facilities include 54 gene testing voluntarily submitted himself for testing after mobile lab complete with reagents, and a suspecting that he may have been exposed to scalable ability to perform 200-1,000 tests COVID-19. per day. The center is capable of accommodating about 360 patients with Also in Bauchi State, a radio journalist, whose potential to hold up to 500 patients, with name the committee on COVID-19, headed by further needs. Deputy Governor, Bala Tela, refused to disclose to the press, tested positive for the virus on In addition, it would boast of a rapid tracing Saturday. Mr Tela said the journalist has been App for COVID-19 contact tracing as well as taken to the isolation centre. HISDAY Dome Testing, Tracing and 98-room hotel and conference centre for Treatment Centre situated at the medical staff for six months. Meanwhile, a Journalist based in Kaduna, Ayinde T Central Business District in Abuja Saoga, who also tested positive for the virus, has was on Tuesday commissioned by the The project is endorsed by the PTF on been treated and discharged from hospital. Secretary to the Government of the COVID-19, the Federal Capital Territory Federation, Boss Mustapha, who also Administration (FCTA), Federal Ministry of Also, founder of DAAR Communications, Plc doubles as Chairman of the Presidential Health, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control Chief Raymond Dokpesi was on Thursday Task Force on Covid1-9. (NCDC) and CBN.

- Page 2 - Inside Media Business

COVID-19 IMPACT MEDIA HOUSES

efault in payment of salaries and delay by the management. For the allowances of staff predated Covid-19 crisis For their counterparts in TVC, “there have , “ there has not been any Din some media houses. The situation has been issues before now as regards salary improvement. The company has only paid however become complicated with virtually all the payment as they (management) claimed weekly transport claims a few times, but major media houses unable to meet their normal money isn't coming in as much but we were salaries remain unpaid. The backlog is now obligations. While the media houses are yet to still getting paid. But since April, there has six months. officially unveil their move, practitioners are been a wage slash of 25% for those earning “Many people are ready to leave if only they restless as they are beginning to sees signs of N100,000 and above. 20% for those earning will get paid. The NUJ and NUPPRO have incoming job loss or work without pay. The distress between N70,000 and N100000, 15% for been engaging management to no avail.” cuts across the print, electronic, online and those earning between N30,000 and broadcast media. N70,000 and for those below N30,000 Though under the same ownership, there's no cut.” THISDAY newspaper and Arise TV have According to Media Career, staff of these different treatment for staff of both organisations expressed uncertainty about their AIT paid staff N30,000 across board for the organizations. The newspaper paid future and seemed prepared for the worse. current salaries. This excluded past salaries. December salary in March. “We are yet to Grouping them according to geo-political zones in receive any salary for this year. Three weeks the country, only three zones of Southwest, North- ago, the Chairman sent a memo to all staff Central where almost all the organizations are saying that some people have been located as headquarters or branches, come into receiving salary without Input. But the TV play. has paid staff up to date.” PRINT This survey featured seven print media, three At , April was paid promptly “but electronic and one online publication from the MEDIA what we are not sure of is what will happen southwest zone, while the North Central has two North Central Zone next based on the memo by the MD. There is print, two electronic and one online publication. apprehension as we all await letters from the Admin,” said the source. For the Southwest zone, the media featured are he story is not markedly different in THISDAY, BUSINESDAY, Vanguard, Tribune, The Daily Trust newspaper where there has not been paid for the Punch, Sun and The Telegraph for the Print media; Thas been 50% salary cut for those on month of April. “There is no word yet from our Channels TV, TV Continental, Arise TV and AIT, level 13 upward; 30% reduction for others, HR on the decision to slash or take ICIR for electronic and The Cable for Online media. and cancellation of annual leave for compulsory leave. There hasn't been a For the North central zone, AIT, Channels, for everyone. The reduction also affects delay in the past.” electronic, Daily Trust, Blueprint and for allowances. This is for the first three months: the print media; for online media. April, May and June.

For , those earning N65,000 below got full payment, while those earning above N65,000 got half payment. If you earn more ONLINE MEDIA/ than N100,000, 50 per cent was paid. BROADCAST-RADIO

BROADCAST Blueprint newspaper has paid a fraction of South West/ the March salary in April. “But efforts are North Central Zones MEDIA being made to pay the balance. Staff payment has been consistent for a year now. South-West Zone April salary was paid last week, and data nlike the traditional newspapers, the allowance has been paid weekly to the online online arm seems to be doing well for and editorial staff.” Uthe obvious reasons of accessibility part from the African International and immediacy promoted by digital Television, AIT, where salaries have Leadership: Salaries have been delayed for technology. Aaccumulated and payment is paltry, some of some time now and there is no sign of the other visible mediums like Channels, Television payment with the impact of covid-19 Lagos- based Cable and its Abuja Continental, TVC, have adopted cut cutting pandemic. counterpart, Premium Times, blaze the trail. measures to stay afloat. For the Cable, staff payment has been consistent for a year now. April salary has Editorial sources at Channels say they have not been paid while and data allowance has been paid for the month of April while “there is no been paid weekly to the online and editorial word yet from our HR on the decision to slash or staff. take compulsory leave. There hasn't been a delay PRINT in the past.” Also Premium Times has paid our salaries MEDIA up to date. “They also paid us transport According to the staff, “We got our April salaries South-West Zone allowance during the COVID crisis too. paid, but everybody is walking on eggshells. As we “Salaries are paid as and when due. March speak five of our colleagues are on three months salary on March 23 and April salary on the suspension for playing a wrong video on air or he initial rumour at the Telegraph office 21st. Data allowance doubled during the something like that. was that there wouldn't be the salary lockdown. No salary cuts. Salaries were Tfor April because there were no sales, increased across the board in February The staff said the current thinking among staff is let alone adverts. But the MD surprised before COVID-19.” that the management “is cutting down costs without everyone and directed 80% payment though actually saying so, adding that, any infraction now, management argued for half salary, which The Lagos based ICIR 102.3 FM has you get suspended for three months or your salary was 50% of our salaries. continued to pay salaries to staff and is docked. allowances to NYSC youth corps members “Those on suspension include one of our news As at the time of going to press, and and interns. Salaries up till April fully paid, editors, a deputy editor and another HOD of a the Tribune newspapers were yet to pay April including additional allowance to staff to department. salary though no reason was given for the cover fuel, data and communication.

- Page 3 - Policy and Regulation

Nollywood Stakeholders Fault FG’s Composition of Committee On Covid-19 and TV as Chairman; Anita Eboigbe of News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, as Secretary, Bolanle Austen Peters of Film and Performing Arts at TerraKulture; Charles Novia of Television and Independent Producer, TeenTV and Segun Arinze, an Actor and Producer, as members.

Others are Ali Jita, an Actor and Musician; Baba Agba-Film Director of BCI Studios; Kene Okwuosa of Cinema and Distribution, Filmhouse; Efe Omoregbe of Record Labels a n d C o l l e c t i v e R i g h t s M a n a g e m e n t , Hypertek/Now Muzik; Prince Daniel Aboki of Radio and Film at CoolFM/WaZoBi; Chioma Ude of Streaming at Envivo; Olumade Adesemowo of Television and Platform at F r e e T V; D a r e A r t A l a d e o f L i v e s p o t Entertainment and Hajia Sa’a Ibrahim of Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria, BON.

This composition of the committee is made up of individuals and this would end up pitching practitioners against the guilds and associations in the industry, the 18 presidents of the The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, (left); and the Acting Director General of the National Nollywood associations said in their statement. Broadcasting Commission, Prof. Armstrong Idachaba, at a meeting with the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria in Abuja, recently. According to them, an industry that makes US$2Billion annually with a contribution of 2.3 ollywood stakeholders have kicked against the besides its global reach. per cent to the nation’s GDP, ought to be composition of a committee inaugurated last accorded better treatment. N Wednesday by the Minister of Information and Eighteen presidents of Nollywood associations Culture, Lai Mohamamed to advise the Federal took the stand on behalf of the sector during the They said: “If really the government is serious Government on the best way to mitigate the effects of week. They included Ralph Nwadike , about this noble initiative, we then respectfully the Coronavirus pandemic on the creative industry. Association of Movie Producers, AMP, Fred call on the Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Amata, directors Guild of Nigeria, DGN, Emeka Mohammed to reconstitute the committee to “It’s a welcome and thoughtful approach to positive Rollas, Actors Guild of Nigeria, AGN, Yinka reflect the actual representatives of the industry. intervention and in alignment with other progressive Ogun of Script Writers Guild of Nigeria, SWGN, governments the world over, who having appreciated Daisy Madu-Chikwendu of Association of “We hold this truth to be self evident that the impact of the pandemic on their creative sectors, Nollywood Core Producers, ANCOP, Yinka Nollywood has leadership founded and developed palliative programs as a support net. Oduniyi of The Independent Television anchored on their Guilds and Associations and Producers’ Association of Nigeria, ITPAN, and we urge the Honourable Minister of Information “However, there are processes and approaches Israel Eboh of The National Association of or any other representative of the federal indicative of a transparent and equitable desire to Nigerian Theatre Arts Practitioners, NANTAP. government, its parastatals and agencies ensure that the needs and requirements of the target planning any intended dealings with Nollywood sectors are achieved”, said stakeholders of the During a meeting with the Broadcasting to humbly but officially do so through the Guilds industry who maintained in a statement that the Organization of Nigeria, BON, last Wednesday and Associations.” committee was not representational enough for a in Abuja, Mohammed the membership of the sector with 20 guilds and employs 2.5 million Nigerians Committee to include Ali Baba of Comedy, Film,

Will FG Committee on Implementation of White Paper Spare NTA, FRCN, VON?

n his reaction to the continued shortfall in Nigeria Television Authority, NTA and the Voice made Chief Executive of the proposed FBCN. government revenue courtesy of Covid-19 of Nigeria, VON, which were also a subject of In the second instance headed Voice of I pandemic and its effect on global oil price recommendation by the White Paper Report. Nigeria recommendation, the White Paper volatility, President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered proposed the same measures for the FRCN. that the White Paper on the Stephen Oronsaye The White Paper on section 143 of the 180 It was in the third one dealing with the NTA Report on the rationalization of ministries, agencies –page document, under the title Federal that it proposed that the selection process for and parastatal, submitted in 2014, be brought out Ministry of Information made three the positions of the Managing and implemented by October 2020 as a way to recommendations on the proposed merger of reduce cost of governance. the FRCN, the VON and the NTA. Director and Executive Directors be transparent and competitive, while the Already a presidential committee is in the works to In the first Instance, headed FRCN enabling laws of the NTA and FRCN, VON be work out ways to implement the recommendations recommendation, it recommended that the repealed and a new one enacted to by the set date. While the public awaits the outcome FRCN and VON be merged. To achieve this, it accommodate the proposed merger. Also, it of its report, there are uncertainty that the recommended that the enabling law of the recommended that the proposed FBCN be government, intent of cost cutting measures post FRCN be amended while that of VON partially commercialized. Covid-19, may implement the 90 per cent repealed. The ensuing consolidation of the recommendations contained in the White Paper. merger between the FRCN and VON, it Interestingly, the government rejected the suggested, should be merged with the Nigeria recommendations and directed that the NTA Though the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr. Television Authority, NTA to be become known should remain as a stand-alone agency to be Chris Ngige, has assured the public that the merger as Federal Broadcasting Corporation of fully commercialized by 2013. and scrapping of MDAs, will not lead to job losses, Nigeria, FBCN, administered by an appointed the fact that the media is currently struggling under Managing Director under a single governing Will the government, desperate to tackle the the impact of Covid-19, has raised fears about the board. Under the new arrangement, two economic plunge following the devastating fate of the public-owned media, particularly the departments, one each for radio and television impact of Covid-19, spare the NTA, VON, Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, the was to be created and administered by an NAN? The answer will keep blowing in the Executive Director, one of whom should be wind until October 2020. - Page 4 - Editor’s Note NCDC Confirmed COVID -19 Cases by State, May 15, 2020 his publication is a child of necessity. The Covid-19 pandemic has knocked every No. of Cases No. of Cases No. areas of human life, forcing people to adopt States Affected No. of Deaths T (Lab Confirmed) (on admission) Discharged creative response to march on in their respective areas of activity. Lagos 2,099 1,525 541 33 Kano 753 633 87 33 As a major media NGO that deals with issues relating to the media and society, the Institute of FCT 379 290 82 7 Media and Society, IMS, has to sustain its Katsina 224 183 29 12 conversation and interventions with media stakeholders in the midst of the ravaging virus. This Bauchi 207 179 25 3 publication is one of the means to do that. Borno 191 151 20 20 Indeed, with the increasing movement of human Jigawa 176 169 4 3 activities into the information super highway of the Ogun 134 72 57 5 Internet, this e-publication is one whose time has come. It will be published weekly as a slim, quick Gombe 124 36 87 1 read e-newsletter especially packaged for online Kaduna 114 94 17 3 readership. Sokoto 112 59 40 13 It deals with stories on media and society related Edo 92 60 27 5 issues in the areas of policy and regulation, safety of journalists, media coping strategies during Oyo 73 55 16 2 Covid-19 and, off course, the inescapable virus Zamfara 73 50 18 5 itself in the area of regular update. Kwara 56 43 12 1 In this first edition, we have packaged some stories for your delight. Osun 42 8 30 4 Rivers 33 25 5 3 During the week, Nollywood stakeholders kicked against last Wednesday's inauguration of a Yobe 32 28 3 1 committee by the Minister of Information and Kebbi 31 16 11 4 Culture to advice the Federal Government on its intervention in the creative. What did the White Nasarawa 29 23 5 1 Paper on the Stephen Oronsaye report on the Plateau 25 21 4 0 trimming of the country's ministries, agencies and parastatal say about the Nigeria Television Delta 22 9 9 4 Authority, NTA, News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, and Adamawa 21 14 7 0 the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, FRCN, as the Federal Government moves to set up a panel to Ondo 19 7 11 1 implement the report? Rights of Journalists across Taraba 17 16 1 0 the country are still been violated with impunity while Media houses are reeling from the blow of Akwa Ibom 17 3 12 2 Covid-19, and journalists, as frontline workers Ekiti 15 5 9 1 covering the pandemic fall victim to viral infections. Enugu 12 10 2 0 These and more are the stories we have for you in Niger 10 8 2 0 this edition. Enjoy, while we await your feedback. Ebonyi 9 9 0 0 Imo 7 5 2 0 The Editor Bayelsa 6 3 3 0 Institute for Media and Society, Nigeria Benue 4 4 0 0 Anambra 2 1 1 0 Abia 2 1 1 0

IMS CONTACT DETAILS imesoimeso.org /imesoimeso No. 3 Emina Crescent [email protected] off Toyin Street, Ikeja Lagos [email protected] /imesoimeso +234 (0) 903 294 3342 /in/imeso-imeso

- Page 5 -