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BY RAYMOND OSHO
ABEOKUTA: The Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun has charged media practitioners on professionalism and objectivity in their reportage to rejuvenate the dwindling glory of the noble profession.
Gov. Abiodun made the charge on Monday, December 2, 2019, at a lecture organised in Abeokuta, the state capital by the League Of Veteran Journalists, Oyo and Ogun state chapters to mark the 160 years of Journalism in Nigeria.
Abiodun reminded the audience which comprised majorly media practitioners that Journalism had gone from analog to digital, advising that that the pen professionals should verify news before publishing it in order not to misinformed the public.
He said, “Things have gone from analog and it has become digital. Today most people don’t really buy news paper anymore, they prefer reading online news”.
He regretted, “People have taken advantage of that revolution, it has just allowed some people to just write anything they like without verification.
“Criticism must always be welcome because if you allow yourself to be criticized. When the information that is being disseminated is false and you are not able to stop it your real time, at times it will have damaged the reputation of what is on your Toes.”
Speaking on the hate speech bill, Governor Abiodun insisted that the issue of dead penalty is forbidden and uncalled for.
The former Governor of Ogun state, Chief Olusegun Osoba while delivering lecture on “Re-inventing the practice of Journalism in Nigeria with emphasis on the influence of the social media”, said as a reliable profession, there is need to produce credible news and snub dissemination of fake.
“Apart from radio, television and newspaper, the internet has become a new radial to disseminate information especially through the social media, which has turned almost everyone to professional “internet journalist”
Osoba told veterans who were in the audience that, “It is important that as veterans you do not only keep abreast of the developments in the field of journalism and that you also play your role as elders you should be by monitoring the activities of other professionals, this will go a long way of repositioning the pen pushing profession as truly the first estate of the realm in the day system.
“It is therefore imperative that journalists as professionals should always be on guard against forces that seeks to take advantage of the formidable power of the profession for their selfish ends.
“It has even become more important that the profession that inject itself of partnership, ensure objectivity in its reportage and inculcate investigative journalism if it desires to continue to remain relevant.
To achieve this, Osoba insisted, “is to for veterans in the profession to ensure professionalism and unity among professionals and use the profession as a catalyst for continued capital development.
