Governor Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun State has charged journalists to be above board to maintain the sanctity and integrity of the profession, enjoining journalists to embark on thorough investigation of any news item before it is published.
Governor Amosun gave the admonition in an address delivered on Tuesday at the opening of a two-day summit organised by the Oyo State chapter of the Nigerian Union Journalists (NUJ).
Ogun governor, who was represented on the occasion by his special adviser on information and strategy, Rotimi Durojaiye, noted that journalists must understand that image was very important in all that they do.
According to Amosun, “A good image engenders trust and wide acceptability. Journalists therefore, as members of the fourth estate of the realm, should uphold reputable image that will give greater acceptability to the profession.”
The governor equally stressed that journalists must eschew sensationalism in their reportage, but serve as an unbiased outlet for the realisation of the rights and freedom of expression of the citizenry.
Speaking further on the issue of integrity, the governor regretted that the issue of ‘the highest bidder gets the good side of the news’ had painted the journalism profession in bad light before the populace, saying, “This phrase is actually doing more harm than good to the profession.”
He charged journalists to cultivate the norm of fair and objective reportage in discharging their roles, saying, “With the power inherent in the profession to shape the opinion of people, you must use it well in order to promote your profession such that it is endeared to the citizenry.”
He also urged journalists to act as a two-way channel between the public and the policymakers, by letting the policymakers feel the pulse of the public and what the public expects of them.
Journalists should always be on their guard against forces that seek to take advantage of the formidable power of the profession for their self-aggrandisement or personal enrichment, he pointed out.
“It has even become more important that the profession divests itself of partisanship, ensure unbiased reportage and inculcate investigative journalism if it desires to continue to remain relevant,” he said.
He however lauded the Oyo State NUJ for organising the lecture, pointing out that journalists were the image-builders of the government and trustees for the public and their media.
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