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My ‘Brittle’ experience some years back
A THREAD
I rarely share personal affairs on this space but the Brittle saga resonates too closely, hence the decision to enter my mind& #39;s diary. Years ago I was reporting for a not-well-known platform.The publisher, one of the kindest...
A THREAD
I rarely share personal affairs on this space but the Brittle saga resonates too closely, hence the decision to enter my mind& #39;s diary. Years ago I was reporting for a not-well-known platform.The publisher, one of the kindest...
& most considerate human beings I’ve met till date.The publisher put me on this big story and I eventually delivered after two months’ waka waka and many days& #39; writing. I sent the story to the editor who worked on it and published (that’s the established line of communication).
On sighting the story, the publisher asked the editor to ‘pull it down.’ The editor asked why, didn’t get an answer but a continued insistence from the publisher.
Both called me. The publisher to taunt me and remind me he owns the platform, the editor to...
Both called me. The publisher to taunt me and remind me he owns the platform, the editor to...
ask me what he should do. ‘Kemi, I won’t pull this story down unless you ask me to,’ the editor said to my surprise. I’d already shared the story on my social media; comments, call to action, shares and all had started falling in then this insistence to yank it off.
The stand-off lasted for about three hours then I made a last call to the publisher to please allow the story to be. I actually begged. The publisher refused. Then I called the editor to pull it down. The story was off immediately. My two months’ work gone.
I put a call through to the editor of a reputable online platform, no space for my story. Next was to call a friend who runs a smaller online platform. About 12 hours later, my story is back. The story went ahead to gain such prominence I could never imagine.
The syndicated print version became a reference document in a court case, the state government paid more attention, more traffic to my friend’s website, I became the ‘hero’ of an entire community and then some recognitions. Why did the publisher ask that the story be yanked off?
Till today I don’t know and I never asked even though we’ve already mended fences and engaged in some other projects successfully since then. Maybe I can guess; some two weeks to the day the story was published, I discussed with the publisher my intention to move to another...
(I had no contract). Also, the publisher would have preferred the story run in a certain way. Maybe cut into parts or with some promotions. I am almost sure the publisher had no relationship with any of the warring parties. (These are just guesses).
The aim of sharing this is not to share in the hype but I think it’s high time we commenced real conversations on staffers/publishers relationship in Nigeria media space. Don’t be surprised, the Brittle case will end up being one of the most subtle if...
Nigerian journalists decide to spill their unending battles with media executives. A lot of journalists have had their stories yanked off, tampered with or even, in very many cases, told not to write on certain issues, people, organisation etc.
The Brittle case will go but the staffer/publisher disproportionate power/editorial tussle will remain with the Nigerian media sphere for the foreseeable forever.
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