Mr Musatapha Saye, the Kaduna State correspondent of Kano-based media outlets, the Abubakar Rimi Television station and Triumph Newspaper, has decried the growing selective exclusion of some journalists from coverage of Northern Governors’ events and major government and public events in Kaduna State.
Raising concern over the incidence, Saye said the government now deny many journalists in the state access to important assignments, but selects only a few whom the government grants permission to cover events, while the majority are consistently left out.
He said: “It is unfortunate that many journalists have witnessed an unhealthy trend where, during major assignments, only a few selected journalists are allowed to cover important events, while others are consistently left out.”
The practice, according to him, marks a departure from past norms in the state’s media space. He noted that in the past, journalists in Kaduna State did not experience this kind of exclusion, adding that the profession was more inclusive, giving media practitioners equal opportunities to carry out their responsibilities.
Mr Saye further expressed worry over the alleged silence of the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Kaduna State Council, on the matter.
He said: “To the best of my understanding, the Kaduna State Council has remained silent on this disturbing development instead of addressing it. Such silence only raises more concerns among media professionals.”
The journalist called on relevant authorities and stakeholders in the media industry to intervene in order to restore fairness and unity in the profession, saying, “I sincerely hope the relevant authorities will look into this issue in the interest of fairness, professionalism, and unity within the journalism profession.”
