A senior journalist, Owaen Fred Odianosen Itua, has called for fair compensation in the journalism industry. In a post on his Facebook page, Itua lamented the fact that journalists are often expected to work for free, citing the “ethics of the profession” as a justification.
“It’s time to raise the bar,” Itua said. “Being a journalist is no longer a charity work. We need to start negotiating for real payments. When an NGO calls for media coverage, we need to bill them adequately. When we’re invited to cover a wedding or a celebrity event, we need to charge accordingly.”
Itua also emphasised the need for financial journalism to be taught in schools, saying “Students of Mass Communication must be adequately tutored on how to make money from this profession before they’re pushed into a harsh society.”
He concluded by saying, “The era of free publicity is gone, and it’s time for us to start recognising the value of our work.”
Itua’s comments have sparked a conversation about the need for fair compensation in the journalism industry, and the importance of recognising the value of journalists’ work.