This morning, a well-known online newspaper called Ndokwa Reporters strongly criticized the Delta State Government, led by Governor Sheriff Oborevwori. The newspaper said the government is making a big mistake by only working with big national newspapers while ignoring the hardworking local journalists in the state.
What’s the Issue?
Ndokwa Reporters believe the government is unfair because it invites only a few big media editors from national newspapers for special events and guided tours. These tours show off government projects, but local journalists, who report on these same projects every day and are closer to the people, are left out.
They said it’s like planning a party and inviting only faraway guests while ignoring your neighbors who see you every day.
A Delayed Meeting That May Not Help
The newspaper also spoke about a recent meeting between the Delta State Government and the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) in Delta State. They believe the meeting came too late and might not bring any real change, because the government still hasn’t involved the right people—especially community newspaper publishers and members of the Delta Online Publishers Forum (DOPF).
According to Ndokwa Reporters, these groups are important because:
- Community newspaper publishers reach people living in the villages and towns.
- The DOPF is made up of online media experts who have a strong voice across the state. “Journalism, Like Politics, Is Local”
In a strong message, Ndokwa Reporters reminded the government that just like politics is local, journalism is local too. That means the people who report from within the state know the stories better and should be part of how the government shares information.
They believe the current media team working with the government is outdated. These media handlers still follow old methods from the days of only print newspapers and radio. But today, most people—especially young people—get their news from phones, websites, and social media.
Learn from the United States
Ndokwa Reporters gave an example from America. They said President Donald Trump made sure online journalists had a place in the White House press briefings. If a big country like the United States respects online media, then Delta State should too.
Final Advice to the Government
The message from the editorial was clear: Governor Oborevwori and his team should stop acting like it’s the past and start working with the new digital media if they want the people to truly understand and support their efforts.
Otherwise, as Ndokwa Reporters put it, they are just “blowing in the wind”—making noise without real results.
