Publisher, Gist Newspaper/Magazine, Mrs Sotonye Toby Fulton, has promised that her newly inaugurated chapel would uphold strictly the rudiments of the journalism profession.
Fulton said this shortly after the executive members of the Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), inaugurated the Gist Newspaper/ Magazine chapel, on Monday in Port Harcourt.
She noted that the executive members of Gist Newspaper/Magazine’s Chapel are highly professional journalists, who uphold their integrity and moral standard.
Fulton maintained that staff of Gist Newspaper/Magazine are well motivated to work for balanced and objective reportage that would be of benefit to the people of the State and the country at large.
The publisher revealed that the inauguration was the second inauguration, stressing that in obedience to the NUJ Constitution, the second inauguration had to be done to reactivate what was done before.
According to her, “although this inauguration is the second one, we have to renew our zeal to promote and to objectively give accurate reportage that is devoid of bias to the noble journalism profession.
“With enough enthusiasm, commitment, dedication, discipline, diligence and devotion, all these would be our watch words as we join forces to clamour for press freedom, while also accomplishing set goals of economic sustainability of Gist Magazine
Earlier, Chairman, Rivers State Council of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Stanley Job Stanley, while conducting the inauguration and swearing-in ceremony, charged them on objective reportage.
Stanley emphasised that this is the second time that the chapel is being inaugurated due to some unforseen circumstances, while charging members of the Chapel to fight and overcome anything that will deter them from not maintaining the tempo.
“The purpose is to encourage growth and professionalism in the profession as it is aimed at boosting professional and accurate reporting of events as the stories break and also provide employment, welfare as well as the well being of her staff.
“You all must abide by the union’s Constitution and discharge your obligation without fear or favour. This is one of the reasons why the chapel was duly approved with clearance from the National Secretariat of the union after sighting all necessary documents”.
On his part, the Chapel Chairman, Amaike Ihuoma Okoronkwo on behalf of his executive members pledged to uphold the tenets of the journalism profession as the Gist Newspaper/ Magazine Chapel kickstarts operation under his watch.

By: Susan Serekara-Nwikhana