By Amos Tauna
A veteran journalist and Manager, Freedom Radio, Malam Adamu Ladan, has enjoined media practitioners in the country to ensure they are always guided by the ethics of the profession.
Speaking at a media clinic organized by Africa Media Development Foundation, AMDF, on the theme, “The Media and Ethical Reporting” in Kaduna, northern Nigeria, the veteran journalist observed that it is only when they work by the ethics of the profession that they would make meaningful contribution to the development of the country.
He asked, “Journalism as a profession has rules guiding its practitioners, are the rules being strictly followed? Journalists should be guided on the principles of truth in the discharge of their duties.
“The society want to hear the truth from journalists for them to have the confidence of the people. Journalists therefore should strive to uphold the truth in all spheres of life.
“The story must be accurate and precise while every news source must be given the privilege of fairness. The journalist on his part must be fair and objective in his writing.
“The story must be of public interest and the journalist must be reminded of his social responsibility to the society in carrying his duties. These and other things should be strictly uphold by media practitioners for them to be able  to make meaningful impact on the society.”
Earlier, the coordinator of Africa Media Development Foundation, Sekyen Dadik, explained that the media clinic, an annual event , seeks to bring media practitioners, media executives and the Civil Society Organizations to x-ray issues that affect the media with a view to proffering solutions.
She explained that the aim of the meeting was to ensure journalists are reminded of the need to maintain ethical standard at all times in carrying out their responsibilities of enlightening and educating the general public of the happenings around them.
In engaging and encouraging participants especially journalists to ensure best practices that do not compromise ethical standard, she enjoined media practitioners to ensure that the truth become their watchword in all spheres of life.
The meeting also went into a session of discussion on issues impeding the realization of free and fair practice of the profession in the country with participants advised to always be conscious of their conduct.
The participants in their contributions lauded the Initiative of the AMDF for staging the clinic annually for the past three years
They stressed the need for other relevant organizations including the Nigeria Union of Journalists to join hands with AMDF in the task of enhancing the knowledge of media practitioners.
https://www.africaprimenews.com/2018/04/27/news/el-rufai-to-nigerian-journalists-detach-bigotry-sentiments-from-your-reportage/
