Sports Journalists Must Understand The Rules, Be ICT Compliant…Nezianya
A veteran sports journalist, Tony Nezianya, has called on journalists to become more professional in the discharge of their duties in view of the important role they play in the promotion of sports which is a veritable vehicle for national development.
Nezianya, a Senior Special Assistant to Gov. Willie Obiano on media said practitioners must deepen their understanding of general and specific rules of various sporting events in order to remain authorities in their area of specialty.
The former Image Maker of Nigerian Olympic Committee made the call at the Award and Recognition night of 2020 Anambra SWAN WEEK in Awka while delivering a lecture entitled “ Journalism and Sports Development in Contemporary Society”
He said sports journalists must endeavour to provide, technical, factual and timely information in their reportage.
He said journalism creates convergence for all stakeholders including athletes/players, administrators, financiers, marketers and spectators adding that for a journalist to blend all these for better understanding he must be knowledgeable
“In all the groupings, it is the activity of journalists with bias for sports reporting, commentating and analysis that provide a coordination for these healthy interactions.
“Now that sporting activities have been professionalised, it is only fitting that the sports journalist must also professionalise his services to benefit the growth and development of humanity.
“As professionals in the field, you must be knowledgeable in the rules and regulation involved in the practice of sports and must be in a position to provide authentic information.
“There are General rules and regulations and there are also specific rules guiding a particular game and competition,” he said.
He said practitioners should endure they were technologically savvy and aspire to report sports at the highest stage as well as belong to relevant affiliate bodies including the Association of International Sports Press (AIPS).
“There is an absolute need for the sports journalists to raise their levels too, ICT has come with many tools for the practice excellence in sports journalism.
“If you are a practicing journalist and not ICT-compliant, please look for some other jobs.
“I recommend that all practicing sports journalists must aspire to cover the World Cup and The Olympic Games, at least once in their lifetime while on the job, to date, I have covered five Olympic Games.
“You must also strive to register as an AIPS member, however, to get there you must be a member of the SWAN, sports writing is no longer the job for the never-do-wells from other departments to be dumped on the sports desks,” he said.
John Abang, Commissioner of Police in Anambra received an award as Best Nigeria Police Games Host CP for the beautiful organisation of NPG 2020 Games , Emeka Okeke, Founder of Aspire FC, Adazi-Ani got an award for midwifing one of the most successful amateur club in the state.
Pius Okoye, member representing Awka South 2 Constituency in Anambra House of Assembly got awards for his support for grassroots sports development with uninterrupted sponsorship of annual Obizi Cup for four years .
Okechukwu Onuegbu of Blueprint Newspapers was voted the best Sports Journalist in Anambra.
