An official says the lecture will examine commercialization of news and how journalists are influenced by their political affiliations.
Nkereuwem Udokah, a lecturer in the department of Communication Arts, University of Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, will be speaking on how the Nigerian political economy affects journalism practice in the country.
Mr. Udoakah, a renowned professor of Political Communication and Media Studies, was head of communication arts department in the university at three different times.
He will be presenting his inaugural lecture on Thursday at the university's main campus, Nwaniba Road, Uyo.
The topic of the lecture is "Political Economy of Nigerian Journalism."
Mr. Udokah’s lecture is expected to touch on the contemporary challenges facing journalism practice in the country, Charles Obot, a lecturer in the department, told PREMIUM TIMES, Wednesday.
Mr. Obot said the lecture is likely going to examine the issue of commercialization of news and how journalists are influenced by their political affiliations.
“The volume of what we write (as news stories) depends on how much money we are given (by people who sponsor news reports),” says Mr. Obot, who worked for several years in the broadcast media before joining the faculty of the university.
He said the significance of the lecture could be summed up thus: “It’s like holding a mirror in front of all of us – journalism teachers, the practitioners, and the entire society – and telling us this is how we have fared and maybe providing a new paradigm regarding how it should be done.”
The Vice Chancellor of UNIUYO, Enefiok Essien, is expected to attend the lecture, alongside other members of the university community, as well as several guests from outside the university.
The inaugural lecturer, Mr. Udoakah, studied journalism at the Institute of Journalism, Accra, Ghana and also at the College of Journalism, London. He did his post-graduate studies in Political Communication and Government at the City of London Polytechnic (now London Metropolitan University) and later his Ph.D. at the University of Uyo.
He has previously worked as a journalist with the Cross River state-owned newspaper, The Nigerian Chronicle and the Quest Magazine published by the River State Newspaper Corporation where he worked as sub-editorial assistant, feature writer, production editor and as assistant editor.
He is a member of several professional bodies, including the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Nigerian Mass Communication Association, African Council for Communication Education, as well as Amnesty International.
Mr. Udoakah has about 28 publications to his credit. He is currently on sabbatical at the Federal University of Technology, Minna.
