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VENO TV: MEDIA FEATURE Journalists Cry Out as Consultants, Middlemen Turn Nigerian Media Owners into Beggars CJPAN Moves to Restore Dignity, President Appeals for Calm
Date: 20-07-26

By VENO International Magazine

The Celebrity Journal Publishers Association of Nigeria (CJPAN) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as the growing exploitation and marginalisation of Nigerian media organisations by consultants and middlemen who now dominate access to corporate advertising and media support.
Speaking on behalf of the association, CJPAN President, Comrade Funmi Olowosegun, appealed for calm among journalists and media owners, assuring members that the association would engage government agencies, financial institutions, multinational companies and other stakeholders to find lasting solutions.
According to her, consultants who were originally employed to manage corporate communications have gradually become powerful gatekeepers, determining which media organisations receive advertising patronage and financial support while restricting direct access between institutions and publishers.
For decades, the Nigerian media has served as the bridge between governments, businesses and the public by promoting policies, supporting economic growth, shaping public opinion and strengthening democracy.
However, media owners say the industry is now facing one of its worst financial crises—not because of censorship, but because the current system has reduced many publishers to what they describe as "beggars in their own profession."
They lamented that the value of media services has been drastically eroded.
"There was a time when a single advertorial placement in a reputable media organisation attracted no less than ?350,000, reflecting the cost of quality journalism, newsroom operations, distribution and editorial credibility.
"Today, some organisations offer annual media support ranging between ?20,000 and ?45,000, amounts that cannot sustain any serious media establishment."
The association acknowledged that a few corporate organisations still maintain responsible relationships with journalists.
It cited the example of a financial institution that provides ?500,000 every six months to journalists, amounting to ?1 million annually, describing the initiative as a model worthy of emulation.
CJPAN further noted that while a few organisations provide annual support ranging from ?150,000 to ?500,000, others merely distribute gift vouchers valued between ?10,000 and ?100,000 despite receiving year-round publicity.
Media owners argued that such gestures fall far short of today's economic realities, considering the rising costs of diesel, electricity, salaries, office rent, internet services, digital infrastructure, equipment and content production.
The association also condemned the growing practice of organisations sending numerous press releases daily to online media platforms with the expectation that they should be published immediately without payment.
According to CJPAN, every published story attracts costs through editing, graphics, website hosting, bandwidth, promotion and distribution, expenses that many institutions fail to recognise.
The association warned that the present arrangement threatens the sustainability of journalism.
"This is not support. This is exploitation. It is reducing Nigerian journalism to a profession of survival rather than professionalism," it declared.
CJPAN maintained that consultants should concentrate on crisis communication, brand management and reputation building instead of controlling advertising budgets meant for media organisations.
It argued that the existing system has effectively created a "toll gate" between institutions and the media, with consultants allegedly taking significant portions of media budgets before the remaining funds reach publishers.
The association warned that no organisation is immune from public scrutiny or reputational crises and stressed that a financially weakened media industry ultimately undermines transparency, accountability and national development.
"When journalism is driven by survival instead of ethics, everyone loses—the institutions, the media and the Nigerian public."
CJPAN therefore called on government ministries, departments and agencies, banks, telecommunications companies, multinational corporations and private organisations to restore direct engagement with media owners.
According to the association, direct partnerships would improve transparency, accountability, value for money, faster communication and stronger corporate credibility while helping media organisations invest in technology, pay staff adequately and deliver quality journalism.
The association stressed that publishers are not asking for charity but for genuine business partnerships built on mutual respect and fairness.
It also urged media organisations to strengthen professionalism by providing credible audience data, measurable impact and value-driven media solutions.
"The Nigerian media helped build many of the brands celebrated today. We shaped public opinion, promoted businesses, influenced policy and defended democracy. We deserve partnership, not marginalisation."
While appealing for patience among its members, CJPAN President Comrade Funmi Olowosegun assured journalists that the association would pursue constructive dialogue with relevant stakeholders.
The association declared that the time had come to end what it described as the "begging bowl culture" in the Nigerian media and restore dignity, professionalism and sustainability to the industry.
"You cannot build a strong nation or a trillion-dollar economy by starving the institutions and the people who tell its story." — CJPAN

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