Lawrence Mpama, a seasoned journalist, on Monday introduced a new community newspaper called “Cross Atlantic” to the Cross River chapter of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
Mpama, the former Editor of Watchman magazines, stated that the community paper aims to foster civic engagement and inform residents about local concerns and events, encouraging them to participate in their communities.
“Cross Atlantic arises from necessity. Every initiative has its time, and the era of Watchman magazines has concluded. However, leaving Watchman does not mean abandoning the essence of journalism. This newspaper is a well-conceived project, and I am thrilled to witness its launch as a strong and dynamic entity.”
During the unveiling, Nsa Gill, the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor of Cross River State, recognized the difficulties associated with producing community newspapers, drawing from his own experiences.
He advised the publisher to avoid getting caught up in social media trends, stressing the importance of maintaining an online presence to expand the newspaper’s visibility.
“The effort to bolster community newspapers is still relevant. I am pleased that experienced journalists are managing publications in Cross River, reflecting both expertise and professionalism. It is crucial to steer clear of social media hype. Our office will consistently advocate for the governor’s support of local media.”
Additionally, Comrade Archibong Bassey, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists in Cross River State, praised the publisher for enhancing journalism in the region. She encouraged young journalists to engage in developmental journalism, emphasizing that journalism has no retirement.
Messages of goodwill from other veteran journalists followed, all vowing to support the newspaper’s success and growth.
The presentation was attended by Charles Eniang, the publisher of Glimmer Newspaper, Mr.James Ebri, the publisher of Median newspaper, Mr. Anitie Akpan, publisher/Editor in Chief of Pillar Today newspaper, the Parmenent Secretary Ministry of Youth and Sports, Mr. Sam Egbala, the General Manager CRBC, Mr. Sam Nsor, former Head of Civil Service of Cross River State Mr. Timothy Ogbang Akwaji, former Parmanent Secretary, Ministry of Information, Mr. Emma Akpong, Florence Olohu, Editor in Chief of Nigerian Chronicle and several others.
