Community media practitioners unveil association in Lagos

The foundation members of the Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria (APCOM) at the weekend unveiled the association while declaring it open to members of the public in Lagos. Declaring that membership of the association is open to all ‘active’ community media practitioners who accept the aims and objectives of the association, president of the body, Mr. Dayo Akintobi said: “the association seeks to strengthen awareness for the community media sector within the wider media landscape and pursue avenues of cooperation with our mainstream media brethren in the promotion of cultural diversity, freedom of expression, and democratization of communication at all levels.”

“In addition, APCOM intends to undertake a serious effort to return to the reputation journalism once had, and to work assiduously to restore the role of the press to its original purpose — that is, to serve as a breeding place for ideas and opinions. As we begin this great journey of hope and renewal, we look forward to contributing our quota to the development of our dear country Nigeria and the individual communities and people that make it the great country it is,” he added.

In his remarks, secretary of the body, Lekan Lawal, said interested persons can obtain membership form, adding that only individuals who are interested in becoming financial members will pay an annual subscription fee of N6,000. He added that paramount on the agenda of the Association is the growth of its members declaring that members would benefit from international standard trainings and other developmental projects already put in place by the body.

The foundation members of the Association of Practitioners of Community Media in Nigeria (APCOM) include publishers of Ilupeju Today, Insidemainland, Kosofe InsideOut, The Alimosho Mail and Surulere Watch. Others are Isolo Voice, Agenda Newspapers and Itesiwaju Eko.