Awka – The Speaker, Anambra House of Assembly, Mrs Rita Maduagwu, on Tuesday urged journalists to discharge their duties without bias, as key players in the nation’s democracy.
Maduagwu said at a plenary session in Awka that the media had a vital role to play in informing and educating the people in the society.
“Journalists, through their reports, inform the public of all the happenings within and around them.
” They bring to bear rudiments of good living to the minds of the people, thereby reducing the level of crime in the society through their reportage.
“A factual report given by a diligent journalist will edify the society while unfounded reports will destablise a functional society.
“Journalists should shun speculative journalism which kills the profession and brings the image of the practitioners to ridicule.
“They should always be objective and verify information available to them before publishing, in order not to mislead the public or put confusion in the system,’’ she said.
Maduagwu charged journalists covering the activities of the state legislature to be accurate in their reportage.
The Speaker said that the house was transparent in its operations, urging journalists to feel free to approach its key officers for any information.
“We operate an all-inclusive and transparent system and have nothing to hide; we have a high level of cooperation among the lawmakers, irrespective of their party affiliation,’’ she said.
The speaker commended members of the assembly for their steadfastness and commitment to duty during her absence from plenary due to ill-health. (NAN)
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