Nation
Stakeholders Charge Media On Ethics
Media professionals in Nigeria have been called upon to be guided by the ethics of the profession by presenting balanced, unbiased and factual news reports and analysis, devoid of sensationalism and stereotyping.
The call was made in Umuahia, Abia State over the weekend in a communique issued at the end of a two-day seminar organised by the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), in collaboration with Forte and Heinz Limited, on the Role of the Media in Combating Violent Extremism and Terrorism in Nigeria.
“Media professionals, as a matter of responsibility, should strive to use official, credible and trusted sources of information while reporting terrorism”, adding that media professionals should be in the forefront of promoting peace and journalism in the country by publishing news reports and analysis that discourage violent extremism and terrorism but emphasise on peace and unity of the country.
The workshop which was attended by journalists from the five States in the South- East Zone of the country, was aimed at training the participants on how the Media, through their reportage, can combat terrorism in Nigeria.
Abia State Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Barr. Eze Chikamnayo, declared the workshop open.
Speaking while welcoming the participants, the Executive Secretary of NPC, Mr. Francis N. Nwosu, said the concern of the Council was not on why the media cover or report terrorism but how they report or cover it.
Nwosu further explained that the workshop was aimed at enhancing the instrumentality and capacity of media professionals on how to report, especially in a multi-ethnic country like Nigeria and to seek how the media could report on how the activities of terrorists could be mitigated.
Maintaining that the Media has a crucial role to play in combating violent extremism and terrorism in the country through their reportage, the communique noted that
since media reports embolden terrorists, the media should reduce the attention given to terrorists and terrorist activities in their reportage.
“The media should stop giving undue publicity to terrorism and terrorist activities; as well as types of coverage that may portray media as accomplices of terrorists.
“ The media should employ their professional skills in maintaining the delicate balance between the Public’s right to know and National interest to avoid setting the country on fire
“ The media must stop making itself an asset for the terrorists by shifting from the current drive for Breaking News to prioritizing public safety and National interest and responsible journalism”.
Continuing, the communique further advised the media to be very careful in publishing reports in order not to wittingly or unwittingly help extremists or terrorists to achieve their primary goal of spreading fear and sowing the seed of discord among the people or communities in the country.
“There is the need for improved networking among media houses/professionals on the one hand and the media with other stakeholders, particularly, the security agencies to tame escalating terrorism in the country
“ Journalists covering terrorism should be manda torily equipped with adequate resources to enhance networking among journalists working in their line of duty”.
By: Canice Amadi, Enugu
Rivers state Deputy Governor Professor Ngozi Nma Odu has commended “The Port Harcourt City One Love,”a Port Harcourt based humanitarian orgnisation For it’s commitment towards alleviating the sufferings of the poor and vulnerable in the society.
Professor Ngozi Nma Odu said this while speaking at this year’s edition of “operation feed the needy” a yearly outreach program of “The Port Harcourt City One Love ” in Port Harcourt.
The Deputy Governor said by feeding more than sixty thousands hungry people within the past six years, the Port Harcourt City One Love Movement has distinguished itself as a club that cares for the less privilege in the society.
She commended the , organization for listing eleven thousand persons to be fed in the current exercise.
Meanwhile The Port Harcourt City One Love has planned a permanent solution to the problem of feeding the poor in the state.
The leader of the group Mr Idaere Gogo Ogan who said this in an interview with newsmen during the distribution of food items to the poor and vulnerables in Port Harcourt said the organization is planning a permanent food kitchen where poor and vulnerable persons can work in anytime and get fed.
Idaere Gogo Ogan said more than sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons across Port Harcourt City and environs have been fed since the inception of “The operation feed the needy” program six years ago,adding that so far sixty thousands poor and vulnerable persons have beneffited.
He described the group as a platform to promote friendship, brotherhood, community development empathy and feeding the less privilege and hungry people
“That’s what we are doing today here,so we started the exercise six years ago”.he said.
Ogan said the effort was a private sector driven initiative but added “it also involves people in Government because the platform does not recognize any division,we bring everybody together in unity , friendship and brotherhood”he said.
He said the effort will go along way in alleviating hunger especially following the prevailing hunger in the country.
According to him “you know the country is very tough, people are hungry people are starving, there is a whole lot of economic hardship,so for us, this is just our own way of reaching out, our own social contribution to what is very difficult”he said.
Over eleven thousand persons were fed in the just concluded exercise.
Areas of coverage include, Isaac Boro park, Port Harcourt prison/Macoba, Borokiri/Enugu waterside Bundu areas Waterlines and others.
Some of the beneficiaries including an 80 years old widow commended the movement for the annual programm and urged other organizations to emulate them
John Bibor,/Esuuk Oyet/Suotor Memoye /Jeremiah Hannah
Nation
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