Grace Egila.
Stallion Times Media Services (STMS) has commenced the implementation of a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Kogi State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Graphic Newspaper.
The Editor-in-Chief, STMS, Isiyaku Ahmed made the disclosure while presenting a position paper titled “how to make Graphic go online” to the Kogi State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Kinsley Olurunfemi Fanwo in his office at the State Ministry of Information, Lokoja.
He said from inception, the mandate of the Graphic is to serve as the official newspaper of the State government, saddled with the responsibility of propagating the policy and programs of the government as well as getting feedback from the citizens in order to enhance the course of good governance.
Ahmed noted that the hard copy prints have dropped drastically, hence the need to revitalize the online version which was first introduced in 2016 to Graphic.
“The online news will lead to improved accessibility for readers, leading to huge traffic and consequently generating revenue over time.
“The current weekly digital publication is facing the challenge of feeding readers with stale news but with the online version, the news would be published as they happened, to enable the Graphic stay in the highly competitive media industry, Stallion Times Editor-in-Chief added.
Also speaking, the Director of Digital and Printing Services, Ebenezer Adurodija aligned to the new development of moving the newspaper online, while highlighting some of the challenges of the Graphics Newspaper.
“Graphics newspaper does not have an updated budget allocation for the online version.
“All hands must be on deck to look into the area of budgeting.
“Nevertheless, I am interested in the part of the 10,000 readerships proposed by Stallion Times.
“This is because it will attract a wider readership which will be easier for the site to monetize the site.”
He, however, urged the CEO of Stallion Times to draft a more detailed proposal that will indicate how the initiative can be implemented and sustained.
Responding to the position paper, the state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Hon. Fanwo said the work done in the position paper is indeed commendable.
“I will like to buy into the initiative in order to move the accessibility of news forward.
“I will also have further conversations with some of my Directors to find a way to accommodate the initiative in this year’s budget, while we will make plans to see how it will be included in the subsequent budget.”
It could be recalled that in August 2022, Stallion Media Services signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kogi State Newspaper Corporation, publishers of the Graphic Newspaper.
Contained in the MoU is the conceptualization for the improvement of investigative stories, staff training and re-training, networking, and sharing of news content by both parties.