By Ese Erica Ekama
Abuja – Mr Nnamdi Njemanze, the Executive Secretary, Nigeria Press Council has urged media organisations to insist and foster the culture of ethical journalism in the dissemination of news.
Njemanze made the call at the opening of a two-day workshop with the theme; “Journalism for Democracy in the Digital Age on Ethical Journalism’’ in Abuja on Thursday.
The workshop is being organised by the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), in collaboration with the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) for media professionals in Africa.
According to Njemanze, imbibing the culture of ethical journalism is the only way the media can sustain the trust of the people.
He stressed the need for journalists to strive to develop themselves, especially in the area of Information Communication Technology (ICT).
The executive secretary said it would go a long way in helping them to control the intrusive inflow of poorly processed information.
“As we are in a digital age, we must contend with how to make journalists ICT compliant, so as to relate and control the intrusive inflow of poorly processed information,’’ he said.
He said that the media was critical in forging national unity and reducing tension as well as building cohesion.
Njemanaze, however, said that an unethical media could also create dissonance, thereby, complicating the fragile fibre of national unity.
This, he noted was due to the demand for national security, and national unity in a multicultural and diverse society like Nigeria, which had led to restraints and professionalism for media coverage of sensitive situations.
He listed the situations to include; elections, and political gatherings, among others.
“While we enjoin media professionalism, it should not be a guise for promoting actions that could restrict freedom of expression and information of the media.
“For these are the essential foundation of any democratic society.’’
He said the theme of the workshop was apt and timely as it was aimed at raising awareness among media professionals on the need to imbibe ethical journalism, good governance and respect for equality.
In his welcome address, the President of NUJ, Mr Waheed Odusule said that the theme of the workshop was appropriate.
According to him, many African countries, including Nigeria are undergoing transformation to strengthen national unity and consolidate democratic governance.
Odusule urged participants to take advantage of the workshop to further sharpen their knowledge to better perform their duty.
The NUJ president also stressed the need for journalists to adapt to digital technologies, defend digital/interest rights in the context of the Freedom of Expression and the right of citizens to know.
The workshop is being attended by media professionals from Mali, Togo, Burkina Faso, Gambia, Benin, Ghana, Cote d’ Voire, and Nigeria among others.
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