Applause For A Media Super Star

By Emmanuel Bello  

Happy birthday to my friend and brother, the publisher of Taraba Truth and Fact and CEO of Rock FM, Ayodele Samuel. A consumate news man, Ayodele and I worked together back in the day at LEADERSHIP newspapers. I can vouch for his work ethics and professionalism. Bold, taciturn, and friendly, he has been able to break the glass ceiling and establish himself as a reporter and media owner. One common talk in our business is that journalists don't know how to run a successful business. Some of the biggest titles today in the country are owned by non news entrepreneurs who invested and are reaping well from media business. 

 

Ayo puts a lie on that. He is a trained journalist who has also done well in setting up major media outlets. His highly sought-after TRUTH AND FACT NEWSPAPER and the Rock FM are all based in Jalingo and doing well. 

 

On a personal level, the publisher continues to remain in the sideline, not becoming the news itself. He has managed to remain a veritable employer of labor while gingerly guiding the editorial direction of his stable to uphold the cardinal doctrines of fair and balance.

 

He tells me he would soon veer into other areas of the media as the two traditional modes battle the strong tide and incursions of social/new media. 

 

Here is wishing him the best as he marks a milestone in his life. The media terrain is getting tough with the traditional mode losing audiences fast. Owners of platforms are doing their best to stay afloat as they deal with the crisis of finance and social media. Ayo looks set to battle all the odds, and I can only join friends and well wishers to pray that he continue to excel.