Mainstream Media Should Key into Social Media to be Relevant, DBS Broadcaster, Eunice Emeyazia

 

Mainstream Media Should Key into Social Media to be Relevant, DBS Broadcaster, Eunice Emeyazia

 

Eunice Emeyazia, a seasoned Journalist with the Delta Broadcasting Service is famous for broadcasting but there is a lot more about her. Delivering in-depth information to target audience, supervision of news production, conduct of interviews and live correspondence in the field also distinguishes her outstandingly. The Issele-Mkpitime-born News Anchor, in this interview, opens up to Media Personality, PEN MASTER (EMEKA ESOGBUE) on a number of issues that touches on her family background, growing up, her journalistic career and the hard work that her mother was known for. The fast-rising Newscaster also advises the media practitioners on social media which she believes is crucial to the sustainability of the of the mainstream media. Excerpts:

 

Pen Master: Miss Eunice Emeyazia, like several of your viewers, it is my pleasure to meet you. What is your usual feeling, meeting your viewers outside the studio?

 

Emeyazia: (Laughing aloud) Thank you, Pen Master. It's usually the feeling of "Ah people know me here too!" You know you do your thing and want to hide yourself in the crowd when you go out, but people will come to you and say "you are Eunice Emeyazia, right?" and I would be like "yes I am, though I can't recall where we met". The response has always pointed me to my work on TV or radio. Someone even told me, she identified me through my voice when I spoke, because she admires the way I speak. 

 

Pen Master: That's obviously the fame and what it is about. Anyway, may one should further ask: Who is Eunice Emeyazia? A lot of our readers will like to know? 

 

Emeyazia: Simply put, I am that girl privileged to be used by God to showcase His ability to make something out of nothing. I was born in Benin City, in the defunct Bendel State, now Edo State, and moved to Delta State in 1991 during the creation of states, with my parents and siblings. My mother gave birth to five children and I am number two.

 

Pen Master: This is good to know. But Eunice, how was growing up especially? You must have something to tell us about it.

 

Emeyazia: Growing up was great. I grew up in a home filled with love, peace and unity and it has remained till date. To God be the glory. I liked singing and never played with artists like Oritz Wilki, Alex O, Ras kimono, Shina Peters, Bright Chimezie, and other foreign gospel music ministers. My father always tuned to news - both foreign and local every day. So I listened and watched to admire the presentation styles of the Newscasters in the likes of Kalu Otisi whom I hope to meet some day, Ruth Benamaisia Opia, Funmi Coker, among others, were a delight to watch. 

 

Pen Master: Okay, but Eunice, tell us something about your mother

 

Emeyazia: My mother, Pastor Rose Emeyazia is family-oriented, humble, hardworking, selfless, and a caring woman. She is an introvert, a disciplinarian and soft spoken.  My mom served the Government for 35 years and retired meritoriously as an Accountant. Her love for God is undeniable as she has always spent time communing with God every day, from time immemorial. She never compromised her care for her home and has always demonstrated her belief that a woman should support and pray for her husband as a helpmeet. I recall how she joined her husband in cultivating a farm for many years and ventured into so many businesses, even as a Civil Servant, in order to generate more income for the home, yet she never complained.  Her father Chief Elijah Ukwute, an indigene of Owa- Aliosimi in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Nigeria, was also a great farmer and popular Chief who was called "Oloto." He married many wives and had a lot of children with them. Her mother, Janet, was kindhearted, soft spoken and had a calm spirit. Though not educated, my grandma encouraged all her children to pursue whatever dreams they could in life. 

 

Pen Master: Eunice, you have an interesting maternal background. Nevertheless, one may wonder how newscasting started for you. Miss Emeyazia, share the experience of a news anchor that you are with our teeming readers.

 

Emeyazia: Newscasting started way back when I was a little child acting as a newscaster with old newspapers. I took it further when I was assigned the newscaster during sisters program at my school then in Enugu State University of Science and Technology, ESUT. Then, after school, I joined DBS, Asaba and after some time, got rostered on the news. My first time was not so bad because I had been anchoring other live programmes on radio and TV. I was corrected with love in the areas I didn't seem to do well, especially pronunciations and composure. I am not perfect yet because life is a continuous learning process so I am still open to new ideas as the world evolves.

 

Pen Master: Thank you. As you mentioned earlier, we have seen the old generational likes of newscasters in Siene Razak Balogun, Ruth Benemesia Opia, Bimbo Oloyede and others. Did you envision to take after any of them? 

 

Emeyazia: (Laughing) Yes. Always admired and mimicked them, using the old Newspapers in our house to "form newscasting!" Looking back, I see how those little things have contributed in forming my presentation style.

 

Pen Master: Brilliant you indeed! Eunice, your presentation and oral skills have been praised greatly by your viewers and behind the scene, your adeptness in manning the camera is also something worth mentioning to our readers. How did you gain this media proficiency? The upcoming ones may like to know. 

 

Emeyazia: Sincerely, I learnt on the job. Theory from school formed the basis, but the proficiency came from practice over the years. My bosses at the office, the likes of the late Mr Tony Uzor, may his soul rest in peace, Mr Gabriel Mumeifo, Mr Yali Iyeke, Mr Albert Oshogbor, Pastor Great Edonyanbo, Mr Frankwhyte Osabohien, Mrs Alicia Okobi, Onome Iyaruwe; the list is endless, all played significant roles.

 

Pen Master: I see the source of the experience. Now, from Anioma perspectives, you are an illustrious daughter of Anioma but now, some of your people complain that not much of Anioma works of history and culture are televised by our electronic media compared to the print. Where do you think the challenge lies? 

 

Emeyazia: I would say that DBS Asaba has distinguished itself in that aspect. There are so many cultural programmes on radio and TV, including that of Anioma, and we have so many presenters of those programmes. So I may not totally agree with that statement. However, there had been challenges with funding or sponsorship of programmes generally and the cultural programmes are not left out. The onus is now on the presenter to visit these communities, interview the people and edit these activities for airing, all from their pockets. How much is their salary? No matter how passionate you are about your culture, passion can be suffocated with lack of funds. So, finance has been the bane.

 

 

Pen Master: ...but the question is still whether your media organization concentrates so much on matters of politics to the detriment of your people’s cultural activities?

 

Emeyazia: I would say yes. DBS is a government-owned station and the programmes of the government is expected to be showcased to inform citizens of the existence of the programmes and how they can key in, to benefit.

 

Pen Master: Okay! Eunice, is social media a threat to the mainstream media? 

 

Eunice: To an extent, I would say yes. That is why many media stations are now televising online on different social media handles. The world is evolving with technology and the earlier the mainstream media key in, the more relevant they would be among their contemporaries.

 

Pen Master: Thank you very much, Miss Eunice Emeyazia for your time.

 

Emeyazia: Thank you for the privilege