Press Day: Nigerian journalists must resist media gag – Media specialist…As 50 Kaduna journalists bag courageous award
(Special Assistant to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Mr. Samuel Aruwan presenting the award certificate to Sola Ojo of the Sun Newspapers in Kaduna on Wednesday)
//Godwin Ekosin, Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria//
A media specialist and former Director General (Media) to the immediate past governor of Kaduna State, Ahmed Maiyaki has called on the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) to resist any gangup against the practice of journalism in Nigeria.
Maiyaki who made the declaration on Wednesday at NUJ Secretariat in a paper presentation titled: The Media, Social Responsibility and Ethics also cautioned practising journalists to avoid sensational reports but go for only verifiable story with evidence.
Meanwhile the Special Assistant (Media and Publicity) to Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Samuel Aruwan has reiterated that his principal is not responsible for journalists that have been arrested within last two years saying, they have been arrested by security operatives in the state not because they were doing their legitimate business but due to inciting speeches credited to them.
Maiyaki who was frown at non reporting of critical issues in the state by media urged active members of NUJ to embark more on investigative and developmental journalism, calling on the editors to encourage developmental journalism by consider as much as possible such report send to them by their reporters for publication.
According to him, “this is a day dedication to the Journalists around the world for thier contribution towards the development of socio-economic and political change of the world.
“It is on this, that the United Nations, UN deem it fit to set aside 3rd of May of every year to celebrate and pursue press freedom and liberty of Journalists all over the world”, he said.
He called on the Journalists to always ensure elements of balancing, objectivity, and been accurate in their reportage, “write what is objective and nothing will happen, but when you write what is not correct you face the consequences”.
“It is obvious that Journalists faced a lot of challenges in carrying out our duties, but despite that a responsible Journalists must not inject personal interest into his or her publication.
“As Journalists , we hold a lot to the society to ensuring that we keep the public abreast of the happening around them without been biased.
“There are developmental issues around that needed to be reported, but they are left unreported and we focus more on press releases. Colleagues let’s go beyond reporting press releases,” he urged.
The event which was organized by the Peace Revival and Reconciliation Foundation of Nigeria in collaboration with NUJ, Kaduna Council witnessed 50 Journalists including Sola Ojo of the Sun Newspapers receiving award in recognition of their excellent, dynamic, honest, selfless service to humanity.