Why Journalists Must Be Responsible In Their Statutory Duties As 4th Estate Of The Realm, By Emmanuel Ajibulu

In practical terms, you can judge the degree of civilization and the state of development of a given nation by going online or purchasing a newspaper and simply having a look at the headlines in the press.

Generally speaking, negligence and incompetence are tragic in any profession, but misleading reporting and bad journalism can have irreversible damages which are dangerous to a divided nation, and it often shows it’s manipulative influence in opinion letters posted by the independent.

When everyone sticks to their jobs and duties and invests some heart into whatever it is they do, the system will work. And you are free in choosing your way of life, personally or professionally, because that’s what a democracy is all about, but the press is the fundamental pillar of a country. We need free and independent press to hold to account those in power.

However, the news media has another important mission too: to educate society so that they question everything from a fair and unbiased perspective. Responsible and coherent journalism will also help governments work better. This can only be done by questioning everything they do and fact checking every single word and action.

The truth is incompetence and negligence by poor journalism have corrupted Nigerian society from top to bottom for decades, which sadly is evident by countless opinion letters published on different social and traditional media.

I also realize that any attempt to somehow regulate or oversee the media is highly dangerous, in terms of human rights and the freedom of the press, but there should at least be some sort of a licensing procedure or supervision for journalists, because a better press is beneficial for all parties involved.

I usually condemn opinion letters or news commentaries that are blatantly biased or outright false, but it’s unfair to “shoot the messenger,” especially when it’s obvious the level of ignorance, hate speech, lack of moral principles, outright lies and manipulation the writer has ingested.

Society these days seems to be doing everything for the sake of tribalism, political and cultural discourse and much of it is due to misinformation and misleading journalism, and something that is heartless and just horribly wrong.

Irresponsible journalism can have serious consequences, including:

1. Spread of misinformation
2. Inciting violence or hatred
3. Damaging reputations
4. Undermining national security
5. Eroding public trust

Nigeria needs responsible journalism that:

1. Upholds accuracy and fairness
2. Promotes critical thinking
3. Fosters national unity
4. Holds leaders accountable
5. Supports democratic values

To curb irresponsible journalism in Nigeria:

1. Strengthen media regulation frameworks
2. Enhance journalist training and capacity building
3. Encourage fact-checking and verification
4. Promote media literacy among citizens
5. Support investigative journalism

Key stakeholders:

1. National Broadcasting Commission (NBC)
2. Nigerian Press Council (NPC)
3. Media owners and managers
4. Journalists’ associations (e.g., Nigerian Union of Journalists)
5. Civil society organizations

Strategies:

1. Develop and enforce strict ethical guidelines
2. Implement effective complaint mechanisms
3. Conduct regular monitoring and evaluation
4. Collaborate with international media organizations
5. Foster public engagement and feedback

Benefits of responsible journalism:

1. Informed citizenry
2. Promotes transparency and accountability
3. Supports democratic governance
4. Fosters national cohesion
5. Enhances Nigeria’s global reputation

Challenges:

1. Political interference
2. Economic pressures
3. Lack of resources and training
4. Security threats
5. Social media misinformation

To address these challenges:

1. Encourage media independence
2. Provide training and resources
3. Enhance media security
4. Promote media literacy
5. Foster collaboration among stakeholders

Let’s work together to promote responsible journalism in Nigeria.

●Ajibulu is the publisher of VERACITY DESK an online news platform [veracitydesk.com], he is a social media influencer, infopreneur, and communication consultant, he writes from Abuja.