The Nigerian Press Council (NPC) has charged media practitioners in the country to use journalism for the overall good of the nation.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Executive Secretary of NPC, Dr. Dili Ezughah gave the charge while declaring open a workshop on “Public Trust and Ethical Journalism in the Digital Age” on Wednesday.
The workshop held at Bingham University, Karu in Nasarawa State was organised by the NPC in collaboration with XEM Consultants Ltd.
According to Dr. Ezughah, stakeholders in the media profession holds the key to public peace, order, national development and entrepreneurship.
“Journalism in every geography and history thrives on public trust. That is why the proponents of the social responsibility theory of the press are of the view that the press has a duty to be socially responsible.
“The profession we have is a very potent agent for change. We can change for the good and we can change for the bad.
“So, we encourage you to use the power you have for the good of all of us, for a stable nation; a nation that is economically viable. We can do this.
“For staff of NPC, be properly guided in your regulatory functions,” Ezughah said.
He further explained that the advent of new media has brought both revolution to information dissemination as well as challenges in information management.
“The Council was set up to aid practitioners and direct them towards the ethics and direction of responsibility. The need to comply with the Code of Ethics cannot be overemphasized.
“It makes the practice of journalism a profession that creates peaceful environment for social exchange and ultimately impact society on social cohesion and development.
“This is in line with with President Bola Tinubu’s desire for continued free, responsible and accountable journalism practice under his administration.
“At the Press Council, our mandate consist of promoting high professional standards for the Nigerian Press; this, we execute through capacity building such as this workshop,” Ezughah said.
He stressed that the Council’s mandate also include monitoring media content and drawing attention to ethical preaches.
The NPC boss further called on the participants to capitalise on the opportunity to spread knowledge acquire in their work place and environment.
Also speaking, the National Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Mr Achike Chude, said journalism is a noble profession, adding that it is about public trust.
“Democracy depends on journalism. Section 22 of the Nigerian Constitution gave media the power to hold government and government officials accountable for the interest of the entire citizens.
“Therefore, journalists have a role to play, and such role has given them nobility,” Chude said.
TNG reports the NPC workshop drew participants from academia and the newsroom, including regulators, practitioners, lecturers and students of journalism.
A facilitator, Dr Santas Tsegyu from Nasarawa State University presented a topic on “Mass Media as a Mass Educator”.
Also, another facilitator, Mr Samuel Akpe presented his paper on the topic “Embracing Fact-checking in Journalism towards Embracing Public Trust, Mr Samuel Abu deliver a lecture on Ethics of Journalism.
No fewer than 75 journalists attended the workshop. While some of the participants expressed satisfaction, saying it was impactful, others said it was an eye opener.