2022 WPFD: Speakers applaud Joseph Pulitzer’s courage, promotion of voiceless voices - ITREALMS

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Speakers at a screening of the documentary on “Joseph Pulitzer: Voice of the People” as part of the 2022 World Press Freedom Day (WPFD) have applauded the virtues of the late accomplished publisher, reports ITREALMS.

The screening was hosted by the United States (U.S.) Consulate General in Nigeria in collaboration with the Media Career Development Network (MCDN), at the Ikeja American Corner, Courier Plus Compound (inside former Concord Newspaper premises), Airport Road, Ikeja.

ITREALMS gathered that the documentary explored the remarkable man behind the prestigious Pulitzer Prizes, highlighting his life and accomplishments through a combination of archival footage, reenactments and interviews with authors, journalists and scholars.

Some of the panelists who spoke after the movie screening included the 2010 Winner of the CNN/Multichoice African Journalist Award, Pelu Awofeso; the 2021 WSCIJ-Nigerian Investigative Journalist of the Year, Kunle Akinrinade, and Deputy Director, Voice Of Nigeria, Mrs. Ugonma Cokey, and was moderated by a TV Host at Plus TV Africa, Maryann-Duke Okon. Whereas the coordination was jointly handled by the founder and Executive Secretary of MCDN, Mr. Lekan Otufodunrin and Information Specialist at the Public Affairs Section, US Consulate General, Lagos, Mr. Temitayo Famutimi.

They all applauded the courage exhibited by Joseph Pulitzer during his life time as a great publisher with some calling for the emulation of such traits among Nigerian publishers of today so as to be consistent in the promotion of voiceless voices.

The speakers equally decried lack of enabling environment for the woes of Nigerian media, stressing that is very hard for media practitioners to practice their trade in a harsh economic environment, which has left some media organisations to close shops, whereas those functioning depend largely on advert patronage which often have some political undertones that should be watched carefully.

As said by the panelist, enabling environment for media practice is important towards stimulating free and responsible media, especially in playing her roles in shaping and maintaining a democracy.

ITREALMS recalls that Joseph Pulitzer was born on April 10, 1847 at Makó, Hungary and died October 29, 1911 at Charleston, South Carolina, United States. Jose was an American newspaper editor and publisher who helped to establish the pattern of the modern newspaper and was acclaimed one of the most powerful journalists in the United States.

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