Chooks Oko

ORGANISATIONAL ABILITY

These we had discussed severally earlier.

The average Editor sees the appellation BUSINESSMAN as derogatory, depicting a certain greed to make money. In fact, it is generally seen as an alias for wheeler-dealing omnibus money makers without scruples. But we all can see that it is not the case in the real sense.

The Editor, in other to run a good show, in or out of the Chair, need to combine his training and the instincts of a businessman to pull his company through while also making money for himself.

Frank Aigbogun, a successful Editor and Businessman says

The Editor must understand that business exists in the real world and not the idealistic creation of a journalist. A businessman and his work centres on producing results. Most importantly, the Editor must learn about how universal business principles are and once you grasp this, you can be in publishing, manufacturing, oil or gas. Many Editors I meet make the awful mistake of believing there is a Nigerian way. Profit is the same all over the world. It does not have a Nigerian or newspaper definition. Learning and patience are invaluable.

Frank should know, he has made a huge success of both worlds.

Arising from all these, and given the realities of the present economic dynamics, what should the Editor do to be seen as a successful businessman?

A. He must immediately take a SWOT analysis of his organisation. S- strength; W- weakness; O- opportunities; T- threats. These, done objectively, will place a clear picture of the health of the organisation on your table as it will immediately tell you your reception in the marketplace (feedback).

B. Having done A above, you will immediately know where the problem is and take steps to strengthen them. This could mean changing some ways you do business, repackaging, re-jigging staff, introduction of new features/programmes, cutting or increase in rates and other things depending on the result of the analysis.

C. Diversification into other/ ancillary areas of the business on a commercial basis taking care to ensure the best practices are adhered to in running the new business. Most successful businessmen have always said you need to have several sources of income. For instance, a newspaper house can diversify into selling of reels and other printing consumables, sister publications, consultancy services, shares in major companies and other money making ventures.

D. Keep your overhead as low as practicable maximizing each resource to the best of its potential.

E. Dress smartly and insist on same for your staff. Your appearance is most likely to either attract or repel the person you are prospecting for business.

F. Move around the circles that matter in your environment. That way, you will meet the decision makers, opinion molders and captains of industry.

Ladies and gentlemen, I am not forgetting that news gathering and dissemination is our primary concern. You can also make money and attract a lot of goodwill by sticking to the ethics of the profession. You will earn a lot of goodwill if your medium is seen as credible. That will surely earn you revenue that will elude others. In preparation for life beyond the chair, you might need to think of special publications. You can do biographies of great people, special publication on your area of primary assignment, collaborate with others to write on special areas, niche publications or even your columns or your experience.

Above all, the businessman wants results, as we have agreed, so approaching your everyday duty with such clear cut goals will guarantee you the yields of a successful businessman.

Having said all these, I throw it back at us, is the Editor a Businessman?

I thank you all.

• Being a paper presented by Chooks Oko, Editor-in-Chief/COO of Citizens Trumpet Newspapers at the All Nigerian Editors Conference holding in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on 22nd September, 2017.