Fake News: NUJ President Urges Journalists To Adhere To Professional Ethics

NEWSDAILYNIGERIA: The President, Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) Chris Isiguzo, has urged Journalists to strictly adhere to the codes of ethics of the profession in the discharge of their duties to avoid spreading fake and unverifiable facts as News to members of the public.

Isiguzo, gave the advice at the 2023 College of Arts and Social Sciences Public Lecture entitled “Rethinking the Social Media: Fake News and the Death of the Gatekeeper” at Igbinedion University Okada, Edo State.

The NUJ president, who was the Guest Speaker at the 2023 college of Arts and Social Sciences of the university, urged Journalists to always stick with the ethics of the profession..

He stressed that care must be taken to check facts and do away with information that could cause mayhem and undermine peace, unity and development of the country.

Mr Isiguzo appreciated the complimentary role of social media to mainstream media but noted with dismay the way fake news had dominated social media space.

He therefore cautioned that there are consequences for infractions for anybody caught in the web of fake news to defame anybody or use seditious statements capable of causing mayhem in the country.

The NUJ president recounted a number of fake news that dominated media space in recent times and urged mainstream media not to be in a hurry to publish any unverified story, all in a bid to be the first to break a story.

Speaking on what the union was doing under his watch to curb the spread of fake news, Mr Isiguzo said the union under his leadership, had encouraged setting up of National Media Complaints Commission and the union also played a prominent role in the revised code of ethics which was last reviewed in 1998.

He explained that the code of ethics would guide journalists and social media influencers alike to know their rights and be more professional in the practice.
He further warned that mudslinging and blackmail should not be mistaken for investigative journalism.

Earlier, Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Lawrence Ezemonye said the university had been using the college lectures on yearly basis to examine topics of national and global significance to generate ideas for policy direction, make critical interventions in national discourse, and set agenda for development in all fields of human endeavour.

Represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof Ralphael Adeghe, the Vice Chancellor remarked that the choice of the topic was to provide intellectual platform to address the issue of fake news associated with new media and social media.

Also, the Dean, College of Arts and Social Sciences of Igbinedion University, Doctor Blessing Oligbi said she was impressed that the college was always at the forefront of promoting the core values of the University, especially its mission to enhance human advancement.

He explained that unlike the mainstream media where there are gatekeepers to check the spread of fake news, there are no gatekeepers to carry out such responsibilities on social media.

Source: Radio Nig Bronze FM