Unwarranted meddlesomeness by some civil servants in journalism profession, by Muhammad Danjuma Katsina
Open letter from Katsina Times media group
For the attention of Katsina State Head of Service
We write to draw the attention of the state Head of Civil Service over the inappropriate and unwarranted interference by some civil servants who have decided to take over the duties of journalists in their establishments even as they are not professionals in journalism.
A quick point in mind is a recent ‘press release’ that emanated from the state Ministry of Higher, Technical and Vocational Education with Ref – KTS/MHVE/ADM/VOL 1/671/8 and dated 27/11/2024.
I observed that the release was copied to the Media Assistant to the ministry alongside some few local media houses which is not supposed to be so, as the Media Assistant is supposed to be the signatory to the release and he knows all the media houses such a press release should go to, to give equal opportunity to all Katsina indigenes.
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Similarly, sir, a press release is not an announcement but information given to media practitioners to transform it into a news item for dissemination to a target audience but in this case, it was referred to as an announcement made by one Sani Inuwa Danmusa on behalf of the ministry’s Hon. Commissioner.
Sir, should you get a copy of the release, you will realise that the first paragraph of the release hung on the succeeding one, this might be embarrassing for the ministry which is the Ministry of Higher Education.
In essence sir, I am trying to inform you to help in making everyone responsible to the demands of their assigned responsibilities, make information flow better and design a better channel over how journalists can seek clarification on issues.
Furthermore, since there are information handlers deployed to ministries and departments, they should be allowed to deal with media issues, if this is done, it will guard against sensitive or libellous issues that may be hard to resolve easily, a stitch in time,’ it’s said, ‘saves nine.’
Katsina state has many rich, experienced and professional media personnel at the Katsina State Ministry of Information and Office of Director General Media and Publicity, they can be of big assistance to any ministry or department in the state.
Journalism and Mass Communication is a profession which began from certificate to professorship, it is a dynamic and live profession which goes with time, experience and events, it is not a piece of work or language writing.
Katsina state civil servants should stop ridiculing themselves and the state.
Kindly accept the assurances of my highest regards as we work together for a greater Katsina State.
Signed by Muhammad Danjuma Katsina, publisher of Katsina Times.
@ www.katsinatimes.com
Jaridar Taskar labarai@ www.taskarlabarai.com
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