Plateau Radio And Television Corporation’s Political Damage To Journalism Profession Exposed

Yakubu Busari

The Plateau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC) has been challenged to take seriously the issue of professionalism and objectivity in media world.

A concerned group has stated that political wolves are penciling their hoofs on destroying professionalism in the organisation as reporters are going through all manner of problems to file their un-aired reports.

The group lamented; “PRTVC that is considered as a proud voice to the voiceless, where is your pride of responsibility in the service to humanity, why must stories be paid for in the name of revenue generation.”

According to the group, the people of Plateau state have expressed dismay over the indiscriminate charges incur in the name of so called fee before their problem is aired.

“Our request is to the management of PRTVC, the General Manager, Jeftha Jackden to kindly take adequate measure toward revamping the lost glory of the station.

“The founding fathers of the station wanted the people of Plateau state to have a voice of telling their own story to the world, not allowing other people to do that for them,” the group said.

The establishment of NTA the first colour Television in West Africa in 1963 was to see information, entertainment, and news coverage with qualitative professionals in the field.

The group hinted that community development which is voluntary and nonprofit making also pay through their nose to get these communal efforts aired on its news item.

With that its means the station ensure that every of its news has been commercialized, as that gives the impression that PRTVC is an organization that is generating so much revenue that can pay its staff salary or entitlements without subvention by the state government.

The people raised concern that another effect to total commercialization of news is that Professionalism /objectivity is eroded in the name of money making venture.

Most time people call PRTVC reporters to a program that ordinarily it is their social responsibility to the society you will see that the management often insists on payment.

It is so sad that the reporters always give excuse that their organization has already asked them to provide receipts of payment before airing the news.

It’s revealed that the former deputy Speaker Johbull Shakarau paid for news to be aired but the greedy back sellers media abandon their call for selfish politically motivated mind.

Another sad episode is that Jenta Adamu was organizing communal work which has to do with their deplorable state of road that 100 yards, but the television refused to cover it.

“We are sitting on a time bomb when people will kill and the only medium to reach the government will be shut for denying helpless civilian the right to air their grievances.”