Avoid Sensationalism, Speculations and Exaggeration: NBC

Avoid Sensationalism, Speculations and Exaggeration: NBC
Adoba Ochono, Abuja

Nigerian broadcasters have been implored to avoid sensationalism and to refrain from speculations and exaggeration that could aggravate mass panic or hysteria.

The Director General of the National Broadcasting Commission, NBC, Mr Yomi Bolarinwa, who made the appeal at a media parley in Abuja, on Thursday, urged broadcasters to handle their journalistic responsibilities with care, considering the challenges facing the country at the moment.

Mr Bolarinwa reminded them that the Nigeria Broadcasting Code has comprehensive guidelines for coverage of disasters and emergencies which must be strictly adhered to.

He said that though the broadcast regulatory commission does not censor, gag or muzzle any broadcast station, it will not tolerate flagrant violation of the code of ethics of broadcasting, or the law guiding the operations of broadcasting industry in Nigeria.

On broadcast levy in the country, Mr Bolarinwa said the commission has modified the prescribed levy on the annual income of licensed broadcast stations with effect from January first.

He said the levy has been reduced from two point five percent to one point five percent.

In view of this development, the head of the commission said no station has any excuse to default in payment, as payment will be firmly enforced.

Digital terrestrial broadcasting

On Nigeria’s transition to digital terrestrial broadcasting, Mr Bolarinwa said it will affect all segments in the broadcast value chain, so broadcast stations will need to overcome the challenges of digital compliant studio equipment, content provision, new coverage planning, training for its personnel and public awareness.

To ensure the effective implementation of the process, Mr Bolarinwa said the government was fashioning out an appropriate policy on the methodology and pace of migration.

The Nigerian government is now at the last stages of approving the white paper on the transition, as it had fixed June this year as the date to transit from analogue to digital broadcasting.

The International Telecommunications Union, the specialized agency of the United Nations for Information Communication Technologies, which Nigeria is a member state fixed June 17, 2015, for all member countries to transit from analogue to digital broadcasting services.

Cokey