Focus On Investigative Reports, Cleric Tells Journalists

The Archbishop of Methodist Archdiocese of Port Harcourt, Most Rev. Sunday Agwu, has called on journalists in the state to dwell more on investigative Journalism.
He made the call yesterday during a special annual thanksgiving service organized by the members of the Rivers State Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) at the Baham Methodist Cathedral, Port Harcourt.
Agwu stressed that there was need for journalists to adhere to the ethics of the profession, and dwell more on investigative reports instead of concentrating on sensational reports.
He commended some Nigerian journalists for their immense contributions to nation-building, and also urged them not to relent, but should remain focused and to continue to uphold the truth in their reportage.
Agwu said that the most important job of the journalist was to seek the truth and expose it or hold government accountable for misuse of public funds, noting that, investigative Journalism was critical for the upholding of true and just democracy.
“As the Fourth Estate of the Realm, Journalists should endeavour to be objective in their reportage for the benefit of the society”, he advised.
In his speech, the State Chairman of NUJ, Omoni Ayo-Tamuno said the union decided to hold the thanksgiving, in order to thank God for protecting the lives of journalists in the state throughout the year 2016, adding that “as a union, we have come to seek the face of God as the year 2017 begins, so that His guidance and protection would continue to be the portion of every member of the Union”.

Susan Serekara-Nwikhana