Members of online media practitioners association attached National Assembly have decried marginalization by the conventional media, ABN TV reports.
They said their members are not allowed to enter the chambers to cover proceedings of the Assembly but rely on information from the conventional media reporters to file their report.
At a recent visit to the Chairman House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, members of National Assembly New Media led by their Chairman, Yemi Itodo further stated that their members are not permitted to sit and the press Centre especially during an address by lawmakers.
Mr. Itodo wondered why online journalists are not accorded the same acceptability their colleagues enough Of Killings In Rivers, Right Group Cautions FG, Nigeria Army
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He expressed disgust that the National Assembly environment should be a bastion of national unity and love has been converted to a place of discrimination and hate.
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While thanking Hon. Benjamin Kalu for his support, he expressed dissatisfaction that the management of the National Assembly has not deemed it necessary to appreciate them apart from few individual lawmakers, including the Deputy speaker who occasionally reaches out to them.
Mr Itodo while assuring the commitment of his members to their reportorial duties appealed to Hon. Benjamin Kalu to use his good office as the official Spokesperson of the House of Representatives to liaise the chairman of various committees to ensure their members are included in the coverage of committee sittings.
He further sought an interface between the Speaker, Femi Gbajabiamila and the online press corps to further foster a synergy just like the Senate has accorded them due to recognition, accusing the Speaker’s media handlers of deliberately ensuring their discrimination.
Hon. Benjamin Kalu in his reaction assured that under his leadership, the online media practitioners will be accorded the necessary support and recognition they need in performing their duties while extolling their quickness in reporting events.
He charged them to improve on their sources and credibility of information to engender public trust.
