FIC Report (Abia State) – A University Lecturer, Associate Professor, Uwaoma Uche has advocated for the fusing of the responsibility of the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), Nigeria Communication (NCC) and Nigeria Press Council (NPC) to include regulation of the digital and internet based media to ensure sanity in journalism practice.
The renowned Academic and Head of Mass Communication and Director ICEP/JUPEP, Gregory University, Uturu, led the advocacy while delivering a lecture on the Theme: “Journalism Under Digital Siege” during the 2022 World Press Freedom Day celebration held at the NUJ Press Centre, Umuahia.
He said that most content creators of the internet and digital media are not trained Journalists and may not understand the requirements of social responsibility which is a major reason of putting the Journalism practice under surveillance.
Dr. Uche, who maintained that Press Freedom though fundamental like other freedoms, was not absolute stressed the need for the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and other Stakeholders to institute a framework to assess the performance of the various governments in Nigeria on Freedom of Information Act.
He urged Journalists to embrace adequate training in digital Journalism to be able to reduce if not eliminate the activities of charlatans parading themselves as emergency Journalists on the social media space.
He warned conventional Journalists to purge themselves of uncertificated Operators who pose as citizen and online journalists without the requisite training in Journalistic ethics and social responsibility and noted that cultural and religious differences should not be used as a tool to limit press freedom.
Presenting his address, a veteran Journalist and former Secretary to Abia State Government, Chief Ralph Egbu has cautioned practicing Journalists in Abia State against setting the State ablaze through clannish and sentimental reportage in the face of heightened political activities.
Chief Egbu, who was among the discussants at the special lecture challenged Journalists to refuse to be used to cause trouble in the State but be in the vanguard of promoting peace, tranquility and good governance as well as take interest in law making through beautiful reportage that would set agenda for both politicians and the public.
The Veteran, who doubles as a former Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism in Abia State said that the struggle between press freedom and the so called siege would always be there but maintained that the works of the dutiful Journalists would always speak for them.
He urged Journalists to jettison laziness and take their pride of place while encouraging them to strive to own media spaces both digital and conventional media, stressing that such attempt would make the real practitioner to dominate the media space with verifiable reportage.
Chief Egbu who congratulated the Abia NUJ on the World Press Freedom Day celebrations called for more training to enable the Practitioners perform their duties in line with ethics of the profession as well as protect their sources.
