A former National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Shuaibu-Usman Leman, has urged Bauchi Government House journalists to move beyond routine coverage of official activities and embrace impact-driven reporting that helps citizens understand how government policies affect their daily lives.
Leman made the call on Thursday while presenting a paper titled, “Communicating Governance with Impact: Rethinking Government House Journalism for Enhanced Public Trust, Visibility and Citizens Engagement,” at a retreat for the Bauchi State Government House Press Crew held in Gombe.
He argued that the era of merely documenting governors’ activities had passed, stressing that government communicators must become interpreters of governance rather than recorders of events.
“You are not merely recorders of executive activity; you are the essential link between the Governor’s policy table and the citizens,” Leman said.
He warned that government communication had remained trapped in what he described as an “announce and defend” cycle, where explanations come only after public criticism or misunderstanding has taken root.
“The modern citizen is informed, connected and inquisitive. Citizens no longer wish to hear only that something has been done; they want to understand what problem it solves and how it affects their daily lives,” he said.
Leman urged government media teams to adopt three principles in communicating public policies: translate technical policies into simple language, demonstrate measurable evidence of progress, and engage citizens as active partners in governance.
According to him, public trust is built when journalists shift from event-based reporting to impact journalism that focuses on people, problems and outcomes.
“If we fail in this regard, we allow others to define the narrative—often inaccurately,” he added.
The former NUJ secretary also called for the revival of structured media tours to enable journalists independently verify government projects and produce richer, evidence-based reports.
“We should not rely too much on press releases and curated ceremonies to tell the story of governance. While these are necessary, they are insufficient. Media tours transform you from passive reporters of official statements into active witnesses of progress,” he said.
He maintained that transparency was the foundation of public confidence, noting that regular access to project sites would strengthen accountability and reduce misinformation.
Leman further reminded journalists covering Government House that their reports form part of the institutional memory of government.
“Every report, photograph and broadcast becomes part of the historical record upon which future generations will rely to understand how governance was conducted. Today’s communication becomes tomorrow’s history,” he said.
Earlier, Bauchi State Governor Bala Mohammed, represented by the Commissioner for Information and Communication, Usman Shehu, described the retreat as an important platform for media professionals to review their performance and deepen ethical journalism.
“It gives me great pleasure to identify with this Annual Retreat of the Bauchi Media Team,” the governor said, commending the initiative for strengthening professionalism and teamwork among journalists covering Government House.
He also urged participants to develop innovative approaches to government communication as the country gradually approaches another election cycle.
“As we gradually approach another election season, I encourage you to think outside the box by developing innovative and constructive ways of supporting government communication efforts while upholding the ethics and responsibilities of your profession,” the governor said.
The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Governor, Mukhtar Gidado, said the retreat had become an annual platform for continuous learning and professional development since he assumed office.
According to him, the training is designed to equip journalists with digital communication skills and ethical tools needed to navigate an evolving media environment shaped by artificial intelligence, multimedia storytelling and social media.
The two-day retreat, organised by the Office of the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Bauchi State Governor, had as its theme: “Empowering the Bauchi State Government House Press Crew with Digital Skills and Ethical Tools for Effective Policy Communication and Public Trust Building.”
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Gombe State Council, Faruk Muazu, represented by Shuaibu Umar, commended the Bauchi State Government for investing in journalists’ capacity development.
Similarly, the Director-General of Press Affairs, Gombe Government House, Ismaila Misilli, represented by Suleiman Musa, described the initiative as worthy of emulation, saying such training benefits both government communication and journalism practice.