29 August 2014
Starting on September 1, 2014, DW will be represented in West and Central Africa. Jan-Philipp Scholz (32) and Adrian Kriesch (27) will be reporting for Germany’s international broadcaster from Lagos, Nigeria.
German public service broadcasters ARD and ZDF have no correspondents in the region, so DW will be filling a gap with reporting by Scholz and Kriesch from and on West Africa.
Nigeria was chosen as a location for multiple reasons. On the one hand, it is the most populous country in Africa and located geographically in the middle of the continent. On the other hand, Nigeria reflects the ambivalent development of the entire continent – aside from the significant economic growth, Nigeria also struggles with a number of conflicts, such as with Boko Haram. ARD and ZDF have studios in Africa in Cairo, Rabat, Nairobi and Johannesburg.
Scholz and Kriesch have reported regularly from Africa for DW – especially on the situation in Nigeria. They work closely with a network of local correspondents from DW’s Africa department. One example of such cooperation was an interview conducted by Scholz and a correspondent from DW’s Hausa department with a schoolgirl who had been able to escape her kidnappers from the Islamist terror organization Boko Haram.
DW Africa
(Source: DW press release)
16 May 2014
The Broadcasting Board of Governors today announced an agreement with Channels Television, one of the 13 independent Nigerian TV stations. For the first time, Voice of America correspondents will report on events as they happen from around the world for the Channels evening newscasts.
“We are excited to deepen our innovative and interactive relationship with Channels TV,” said BBG Governor Matt Armstrong, who signed the agreement at a conference on ‘Africa’s digital media future’ which was organised by the Association for International Broadcasting in London. “We will work together collaboratively to cover local and global events, from Lagos, Washington, DC, and around the world based on VOA’s trusted news and information and the journalists at Channels TV. ”
VOA’s English-language reports will air on the Channels prime-time evening programs “The World Today” at 5:30 pm and “News at Ten” at 10:00 pm local time. Channels TV is popular with English-speaking Nigerians and has approximately a 15 percent audience share of adults over age 15.
This affiliate agreement is an expansion of an ongoing partnership. A Channels TV correspondent is a regular contributor to VOA’s Africa54 daily television news program. VOA has been providing Channels with correspondent reports from Ukraine, Cairo, and London, as well as feature, news, entertainment, health, and sports reports.
Speaking at the signing, John Momoh, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Channels TV, observed, “There is a trend in partnership and collaboration is needed amongst ourselves and with organizations like the Voice of America.” He added, “Nigeria’s digital future is promising.”
VOA provides news and information programming to Nigeria via radio, mobile and online platforms, in both English and Hausa. In addition to its website, radio broadcasts and popular mobile site, the Hausa Service recently launched DandalinVOA, a 24/7 mobile phone platform that provides users with the latest analyses, breaking news and information.
6 February 2013
The International News Safety Institute urges journalists and media workers to exercise extreme caution while operating in some areas of Nigeria.
Violence in northern Nigeria has escalated in the past two years. There is a high threat of terrorism and attacks are indiscriminate.
Curfews are being enforced across Nigeria, including Plateau, Kaduna and Yobe States and Kano City, Kogi Central Senatorial District and Mubi town in Adamawa State. Curfews are regularly used following incidents of unrest and can be imposed and lifted at short notice. Journalists and media workers will have to comply with these curfews, which can be monitored via local media outlets, if not risk arrest.
International news events have triggered anti-Western demonstrations, and Western diplomatic missions, interests and citizens could be the focus for protests. INSI encourages journalists to exercise caution while covering protests. News events may also present some opportunities for terrorist groups to exploit.
Demonstrations have occurred in a number of cities across northern Nigeria as well as Abuja.
Be vigilant while operating around government, security and educational institutions and international organisations as well as public venues such as restaurants, bars, markets, hotels, shopping centres, places of worship and areas frequented by expatriates, foreign tourists and business travellers.
INSI advises journalists to maintain a low profile, vary routines, and not set regular patterns of movement while travelling. A number of attacks have taken place on public or religious holidays, and there have been regular attacks on churches in northern Nigeria at times of worship.
There is also a threat of kidnapping throughout Nigeria and foreign nationals have been the target of kidnaps. On 20 December 2012 a French national was kidnapped by armed men in Katsina state in northern Nigeria. On 12 May 2011 a British and an Italian national were kidnapped in Kebbi State. Both hostages were killed in Sokoto on 8 March 2012.
The Islamist sect Boko Haram (“Western Education/Values are Forbidden) has admitted to being behind a number of attacks against churches and other establishments since 2009. More than 600 people were killed last year on attacks blamed on it, while human rights groups say that the sect has killed more than 3,000 people since 2010. While Boko Haram has carried out many attacks, it is also clear that some of the attacks have been carried out by bandits with no links to Boko Haram. When no responsibility is taken, the violence is often discovered to be politically motivated rather than religiously driven.
INSI advises against travel for international journalists to the following areas:
Borno State
Yobe State
Riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers, Akwa Ibom and Cross River States
Warri city
Kano city
Should it be vital to go there, a robust security plan must be in place, to prevent problems during the story.
INSI also urges journalists to exercise extreme caution while travelling in:
Bauchi State
Jos city
Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Government Areas in Plateau State
Gombe State
Mubi Town in Adamawa State and the area north of Mubi Town that borders Borno State
Non-riverine areas of Delta, Bayelsa, Rivers and Akwa Ibom States
Abia State
Kaduna City
Zaria City
If you need any further information on working in Nigeria please contact INSI – Hannah Storm (+44 7766 814274; email: hannah.storm@newssafety.org)
