Fake News: Gov Uzodinma Tasks NUJ, Media Practitioners On Integrity, Ethical Standards
BY UBON EKANEM, OWERRI – The Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma has tasked the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ)’s leadership to brace up and address the frightening challenges posed by social media practitioners in spreading false information across the country.
Governor Uzodinma said 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
Speaking as the Special Guest of Honour at the 8th Triennial Delegates conference of the NUJ taking place in Owerri, the Imo State capital, he said; “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 said such wicked and unethical practices should not be tolerated and encouraged by the Union.
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.
Governor Uzodinma, while noting that a strong local press is important for holding the leaders accountable, said an independent press is required to solidify Nigeria’s democratic process.
He said the media must hold the leaders accountable, but in doing so they must provide accurate news and be truthful in their reportage.
“The challenges are enormous. The rise of social media, fake news and disinformation are some of these issues. Here, I will recommend adequate media literacy, fact checking and responsible journalism.
“In Imo, we have introduced an award of excellence, where we celebrate journalists who are responsible in their reportage.
“So, I will encourage the leadership of the NUJ to step in to uphold the integrity of the profession. Ethical reporting must be emphasized, while there is the need to check disinformation”.
Senator Uzodinma 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.
In his presentation, 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 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.”
While encouraging 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 achievement 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 to that members of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) do not capitalize on the loose framework of existing media laws to enslave those they recruit into their employ.
The theme of the Triennial Delegates Conference is; “Media and Democracy: The Journalists Role In Holding Leaders Accountable”.
