By Lawrence Mpama
Senator Hope Uzodinma of Imo State has harps on the need for ethical reportage to check Misinformation and fake news among media practitioners. He stated that the task before the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)’s leadership is to brace up and address the frightening challenges posed by social media practitioners in spreading fake news and misinformation across the country.
The governor asserted that information management is a difficult and important task that must not be left in the hands of those who can hardly draw a line between national interest and their selfish interests driven by inordinate ambitions
Senator Hope Uzodinma was speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the 8th Triennial Delegates conference of the NUJ in Owerri, Imo State capital. “As the Governor of Imo state, I have been severally subjected to attacks based purely on twisted information deliberately planted in the public domain to discredit me”. He emphasized that such wicked and unethical practices should not be tolerated and encouraged by the Union.The theme of the Triennial Delegates Conference was; “Media and Democracy: The Journalists Role In Holding Leaders Accountable”.
The Governor urged the Union’s leadership to urgently redefine members’ operational framework that would take into cognizance the activities of social media practitioners and how to rein in those he described as troublemakers who are causing grave damage to media practice in Nigeria.
According to him, it has become a huge cause for concern that the public can hardly draw a line between what constitutes news in the main stream media from what is being churned out from the stable of so-called internet influencers.
Senator Hope Uzodinma noted that, a strong local press is important in holding the leaders accountable, however averred that, an independent press is required to solidify Nigeria’s democratic process.
The governor thanked the Union for chosing Imo State to host such an important national gathering, pointing out that the successful hosting of the conference would go a long way to clear the bad notion in certain quarters that the state is not safe due to the over-hyped level of insecurity in the South-East geo-political zone.
Delivering his paper, the Guest Lecturer and President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, tasked media practitioners to uphold the integrity of the profession, stressing that media owners must invest in the capacity and mental development of their staff.
Dr Neliaku, who was represented by Professor Okey Ikechukwu, said constant capacity building and improved welfare would discourage practitioners from “selling out.”
Prof Okey encouraged media practitioners to support their colleagues by remunerating them whenever they are invited for public speaking events. The Guest Speaker also recommended media literacy, curriculum development, ethical reportage as part of measures to solidify the profession.
In his valedictory speech, outgoing President of NUJ, Comrade Chris Izuguso listed his administration’s modest achievements to include, upgrading the educational benchmark at the point of entry into the profession to boost public confidence in the integrity of practitioners.
He also said the Union has worked with other sister organizations like the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), Nigerian Guild of Editors, to strengthen the guidelines, so that nobody can capitalize on the loose framework of existing media laws to enslave those they recruit into their employ.
Lawrence Mpama is the Publisher and Managing Editor of Cross Atlantic Newspapers, former Editor of Watchman Magazine.
