City People at 30: Kehinde Recalls Risks, Challenges of Using Media to Check Military Governments At ORAN roundtable*

*At ORAN Roundtable, Kehinde Recounts Media Struggles Under Military Rule, Digital Revolution*

*Kehinde Recounts How City People Emerged from University Idea into 30-Year Media Brand*

The Chief Executive Officer of City People Media Group, Dr. Oluseye Kehinde, has recounted the challenges that confronted media practitioners during Nigeria’s military dictatorship, saying the emergence of social media and digital platforms has fundamentally transformed the media industry.

Kehinde spoke at the 6th Media Roundtable of the Online Reporters Association of Nigeria (ORAN) held in Lagos on Friday, where he shared his experiences in journalism and reflected on the evolution of the Nigerian media industry.

The roundtable, held at the City People Office, Gbagada, Lagos, was organised as part of activities marking the 30th anniversary of City People magazine. The theme of the event was “Achievement + Challenges of Digital Era + Celebrating.”

Speaking extensively on his career journey, Kehinde disclosed that although he studied History and Political Science at the university, his passion for journalism developed later, eventually leading him into the media profession.

He described City People magazine as a product of an idea he conceived while still at the university, noting that the publication grew from an ambition to establish a distinctive platform within Nigeria’s media space.

According to him, his journey in journalism coincided with a turbulent period in Nigeria’s political history, particularly under military rule, when journalists and media organisations faced considerable pressure and restrictions.

Kehinde recalled how he and a number of colleagues used the media to challenge prevailing narratives and scrutinise the activities of successive military governments.

He said their commitment to using journalism to hold government accountable came at considerable personal risk, adding that he and some of his colleagues were eventually declared wanted by the government of the time because of their positions and activities in the media.

He explained that the media played a significant role in shaping public discourse during the period, particularly when conventional avenues for political expression were severely constrained.

Kehinde also took participants through the changing nature of journalism, highlighting the profound impact of the internet, social media and online publishing on the traditional media business.

He noted that while digital technology had created new opportunities for journalists and publishers to reach wider audiences almost instantaneously, it had also introduced fresh challenges, including the proliferation of unverified information, intense competition for audience attention and changing revenue models.

The City People publisher emphasised that the media industry had moved from an era dominated by newspapers and magazines to one in which news and information are consumed across multiple digital platforms.

He, however, stressed the continuing importance of journalism despite the technological changes, particularly the responsibility of media practitioners to provide credible information and contribute meaningfully to public discourse.

The roundtable provided an opportunity for media publishers and online journalists to reflect on the industry’s past, assess its present realities and consider the challenges and opportunities presented by the digital era.

The event also formed part of the activities celebrating 30 years of City People, one of Nigeria’s longstanding entertainment and lifestyle publications.

Kehinde’s presentation offered participants an account of his transition from a university student of History and Political Science to a career in journalism, as well as his experience of building City People from an idea conceived during his university years into a recognised media brand.