Sport has enjoyed mutual relationship with the media for a very long time now so much that both have risen to prominence.
The media has served as a channeled through sporting activities are promoted and funds are raised through different programs.
Imagine the El Classico or the Manchester derby not shown on TV or without a radio commentary, this will make the two giants matches to be just a mere recreational activity.
Media on the other hand have enjoyed the relationship from the fact that sports have continued to provide an agenda for discussion as well as news headlines for the media. It has continued to serve as a source of revenue for the media as well.
The two giants have enjoyed a romantic relationship so much that they seems to depend on each other.
Imagine the world cup not showing on any TV channel or having a commentary on radio! That will be catastrophic. Nobody will feel the impact. Some of the third parties benefiting from the relationship might not have had such benefits if not for the relationship sport and the media are enjoying.
Both sport and the media are benefiting financially from the relationship. Sports has used the media to gain popularity and turned itself into a business brand while the media used sports to gather audiences.
Both parties have been beneficiaries of the relationship.
Sport’s popularity came through sports writer’s activities were they design sports news and programs in such a way that will be attractive to sports enthusiast so as to sustain their interest.
Personally, sports news and programs were what drew my attention to the importance of sports. I listened to program likes sports world on the BBC presented by either Russell Fuller or Lee James, sport update by Tekidek Joshua on Globe FM Bauchi and sport news by Halilu Mohammed Teli on GMC.
However, I have learnt the role of Sports Writers is not only limited to giving sport update or designing a sport program, rather, promoting sporting activities through their daily reportage.
Coming down to Gombe state, things have not been as they are supposed to be.
Sports journalism in Gombe remain a no go area because sport writers refused to make sacrifices needed to push the association forward.
Most of the sports writers around are not registered with the professional body (SWAN), I inclusive. This lack of registration has made it difficult for officials to know genuine members of the association and those only attaching themselves with association.
Our membership is only in the mouth, that is why our sports report do not portray the objectives of the association and our report do not promote sports development in any way neither do they stimulate our sport managers and stakeholders.
We have media organizations operating within the state but we cannot boost of active sports journalism just because it lacks the juicy part of journalism.
With this lack of registration, coordination and good sport reportage, many people including our sports stakeholders have no idea about the existence of the association and give no attention to the association.
It is time for SWAN leaders to put themselves in order and bring the house to order because all members are scattered.
Call for an emergency general meeting with both members and officials to figure out the forward for the association in Gombe state.
Members should be duly registered to avoid bridge of the Associations constitution and if any member is found wanting he will face the consequences.
The body should organize a massive orientation for the general public especially the sport sector on the activities of SWAN.
Long live SWAN.
Long live Gombe SWAN
Long live Gombe sport
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