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Practicing journalists of Lokoja and Kogi (Kotonkarfe) origin have instituted an award with the maiden conferment ceremony scheduled to hold in December, 2017.
A statement released on behalf of Lokoja and Kogi (KKF) Indigenous Journalists Forum (LOKIJ) and signed by Yabagi Mohammed indicates that the body is made up of journalists from the area, irrespective of where they practice.
The document reads in part; “Lokoja and Kogi (KKF) Indigenous Journalists Forum (LOKIJ) is a body concerned with speaking for the interest of people of the areas and representing their cultures and traditions in the media.
“Our interest is in ensuring that the tradition of the indigenous people, especially the way they are perceived in the outside world, is understood and also accurately reported without bias or negative alterations and/ or imputations.”
It added that journalism, despite being a universal phenomenon, has always been faced with the problems of having issues being reported according to the understanding of the reporter, depending on the sources feeding such practitioners with information.
“Typical American society is seen as an Eldorado of a sort by non-Americans because of the way the media; television, radio, newspapers, films and the internet, portray it.
Lokoja and Kogi LGAs being part of Nigeria, nay Africa, may not be seen that way, but part of the notion the group is interested in changing is the reportage of the true situation of things’,” the statement added.
According to the group, the social, political, cultural, traditional antecedents of the people of these areas and the philanthropy of some notable individuals, makes the ancient towns thick, hence, the need for such persons’ stories to be told and appropriately appreciated.
The Award ceremony is scheduled for a date yet to be decided by the group.
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