• Embrace Professionalism, Promote Rivers State – RSG Tasks Media  
• Be Ambassadors Of Excellence In Media Practice – NUJ

By Deborah Ibaningo, Iwor Romgbo, Cleverline Allison   

It was an outpouring of plaudits today as Kristina Reports; an online media outfit in Rivers State opened its Port Harcourt office with a message from the State Government that the positive development trajectory of the State should be mainstreamed. 

Kristina Reports, which has been operating in Bonny Island, headquarters of Bonny Local Government Area of the state, in the past two years, had its chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) inaugurated by the State Council of the Union.

The Executive of the Kristina Reports Chapel inaugurated was made up of Chairman; Boma Waribor, Vice Chairman; Jewel Bright, Secretary; Deborah Ibaningo, Assistant Secretary; Kingba Jacks, Treasurer; Cleverline Allison, Financial Secretary; Iwor Romgbo, and Ex-Officio; Emmanuel Nwafor.  

Embrace Professionalism, Promote Rivers State – Commissioner  

Media organizations in Rivers State have been charged to promote the development trajectory of the state in a professional, balanced and dispassionate manner.

The Rivers State Commissioner for Information and Communication, Paulinus Nsirim, who was represented by the Director of Public Enlightenment in his ministry, Obele Chu made this call today during the inauguration of the Kristina Reports Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

“Kristina Reports should be used not to propagate negativities but positives about our State. Fight the cause of Rivers State and its people. Use your medium positively to radiate the cause of the economic emancipation of Rivers State and its people, the social emancipation of Rivers State and its people and everything that concerns the state and its people.”

He regretted that the political realities of today’s Nigeria have put Rivers State in a position wherein it was being shortchanged politically and economically.

“We are not shy about saying that because we find ourselves in a very critical, political economic situation as far as Nigeria is concerned. If you look at our position, we are the goose that lays the golden egg but what happens? The basket will be taken to somewhere else and, of course, you and I know that what we get is not commensurate with what we produce.”  

He praised the Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo, and described him as “a beloved son”, while assuring the virtual medium of his ministry’s support.

“He has asked that I congratulate you, because he is very happy for this event happening today. He has been following you and your events very carefully, methodically, religiously, spiritually and otherwise, (you know he is a pastor too). And I would say that he sees you as a beloved son in whom he is well pleased.”

Expectations Are High, Do Not Disappoint – Permanent Secretary  

The Permanent Secretary, Rivers State Ministry of Sports, Honour Sirawoo charged the management and staff of Kristina Reports to continue in promoting the cherished ideals of the pen profession, noting that expectations were high that the bar of competence would be raised.

“Honour is very, very happy for this day, he is celebrating you. We are celebrating you. He said he brought you somewhere and today you have exceeded the level and you are going somewhere. He is happy.”

“Do not disappoint those who brought you up and there are those of us who are looking up to you. We have left the stage. The stage is now in your hands and the rest of them that were inaugurated today. The pen we have is a very strong one. It can build, it can destroy. Don’t be an agent of destruction. The important thing is the name. Build up a very nice name, it will take you far. Be the best.”

Represented by his Technical Assistant on Special Duties, Sam Eleonu, he stated that the antecedents of the Publisher precede him, and that Jumbo has exceeded his expectations since the time he met him and began mentoring him.

Kristina Reports Here To Reinvent Journalism – Publisher

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Kristina Reports, Godswill Jumbo said the medium was born out of the need to mesh the traditional and contemporary media practice with a view to deliver optimum development content that is grassroots driven.

He stressed that in its two years of existence, Kristina Reports has sustained the path of professionalism, fairness and positive purveyance of social development, responsible governance and value vending.

Be Ambassadors Of Excellence In Media Practice – NUJ

Inaugurating the Kristina Reports Chapel, Chairman of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Stanley Job Stanley urged the medium to promote the ethos of journalism by adhering to the principles and guidelines for media practice in Nigeria.

“I also want to urge you to be very, very factual because each time we make blunders, we make mistake and apologize it tends to rubbish the image of the profession.”

“Let us be very factual. If we are not sure of it we are told to leave it out except you are very sure of it. But if you are sure you can publish no matter who is involved and damn the consequences. Nothing will happen to you.”

He harped on the time tested principles of factuality, fairness and finesse in the reportage of issues and events, regretting that failure to abide by these had exposed the profession to unnecessary embarrassment, stressing the need to carve a niche and exemplify excellence in that area.  

“It is good you are coming to Port Harcourt, only few are from the rural areas. So, just distinguish yourself and ensure that what others could not do, you are able to do them very well.”

With Quality Professionals On Board, Success Is Certain – IIJ

Coordinator of the International Institute of Journalism, (IIJ), Port Harcourt Campus Dr. Ibituru Pepple, who doubles as the Chairman of the Editorial Board of Kristina Reports, said that with the crop of passionate professionals on board, the medium was certain of blazing the trail in unassailable splendour.

‘Beginning Of Greater Things To Come’ – Ofonime Umanah

Publisher and Editor-in-Chief of Today’s News Now (TNN) Newspaper, Ofonime Umanah described the event as “the beginning of greater things to come”, admonishing the medium to embrace the ethics of journalism in order to make a mark and excel.

“I am really appreciative of what has happened. Godswill worked with me for quite some time and I knew that he was someone who was going to go places. So, I needed to come and see the beginning of what he was going to do professionally. This is the beginning of greater things to come.”

“If you want to make a mark in journalism, stand out. The moment he stands out he will go places. The moment he does what others are not doing he will go places. The moment he is able to stick to the integrity of the journalism profession, he will go places.”  

New Platform For Skills, Talents Exposition – SWAN

Rivers State Chairman of the Sports Writers Association (SWAN), Udede Jim-Opiki expressed delight at the inauguration of the Kristina Reports Chapel, observing that the platform should open up a new vista of opportunities for media practitioners to showcase their skills and talents.

“When a media platform is created several things come to mind. It means a new place for the performance of professionals. When that happens we have one more place to showcase our profession, one more place to see people doing what they are trained for.”

“They should groom professionals while using professionals. Secondly, for the masterminds of the outfit, the challenge is to nurture it to maturity. So, it is both professional and entrepreneurial.”  

Sustain Grassroots Journalism Structure – ExxonMobil  

Public and Government Affairs Officer of Mobil Producing Nigeria Limited (MPNL), Dr. Bara Kabaka Brown praised the professionalism, knowledge depth, and inclusivity of Kristina Reports’ offerings, commending the medium for mainstreaming issues associated with Bonny Kingdom and Bonny LGA, enjoining it to sustain the path of excellence in media practice.

“Kristina Reports has been on the scene for a while but is being officially introduced to the public today. Kristina Reports is being positioned for better service delivery. One good thing about Kristina Reports is that it is focused; it is a grassroots journalism structure. It has a specialization which is what should be encouraged.”

“It is here to bring Bonny to the limelight. It is here to bring the issues of Bonny to the limelight. It is here to bring all we need to know about Bonny to the limelight. That is why I am here to identify with my brother and to wish him well.”

On hand to witness the event were a former General Manager of Rivers State Newspaper Corporation (RSNC); Celestine Ogolo, Regional Manager, BusinessDay Newspaper, South-East and South-South; Ignatius Chukwu, President of Willbros Football Club; Navy Capt. Adedoyin Williams, Kristina Reports’ Legal Adviser and Managing Partner, Deeds Chambers; Sydney Ben-Iwo, Esq., Managing Partner, Veritech International Consult Limited; Fubara Willie-Pepple, Chief Executive Officer of M & Bethlehem Nigeria Limited; Ben Pepple, and a former President of the Bonny Graduates Forum (BGF); Ipiriala Jumbo, and among others.

Kristina Reports which went into operation in July 1, 2018 in Bonny LGA, Rivers State has strived to remain steadfast as an engaging virtual medium focused on leveraging global best practices for the delivery of well researched, balanced and grassroots driven content.