Media
By Anthony Isibor
RAY Ekpu, Vice chairman of the governing board, Nigerian Institute of Journalism, NIJ, says that contrary to mischief makers, there is nothing like alternative facts.
According to him, Facts are facts, alternative facts are misinformation and disinformation.
Ekpu, who was speaking at the commissioning of the Sir Kingston- Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre donated to the NIJ by Adebutu (Baba Ijebu), also noted that Journalism is a profession built from the foundation to the roof with facts, “Correct facts, correctly stated, checked and cross-checked for their validity.”
According to the veteran journalist, it is these correct facts that can help decision makers take good decisions.
He berated the resort to lie-telling especially largely in social media now infiltrating the profession and made possible by technology.
He explained that while technology has helped the profession of journalism to grow, it has also caused It to groan because every piece of technology always comes with its benefits and burdens.
“Today, they are many people who are not trained in journalism, who claim to be citizen journalists. They sit in one room and punch one computer and send out messages which they call breaking news.
“But on closer examination, nothing is breaking news. Journalism is not a one-man band. It is not wild speculation, it is not rumor mongering, it is not a storyteller – it is a multi-person orchestra who are trained to check and cross-check facts before sending them to the world as news, and that has led our legislators to attempt from time to time to place more legislative cuffs on media practice.”
Ekpu, who also used the opportunity to thank sir Adelabu for providing the institute with a research centre, called for more similar gestures and efforts to train journalists and provide them with requisite tools instead of more legislative handcuffs.
“It is a profession with professional canons and also code of ethics. Truth-telling is its article of faith.
“The media do not need more handcuffs. They need more training, they need support, that is what can give more oxygen to our democracy and our country, so that both our democracy and our country can breathe well.
He added that most of the great tertiary institutions in the world became rich due to support from philanthropists, who contribute generously to the endowment fund. “NIJ is about establishing its own endowment fund, and it is our hope that our men and women of means will generously support this institution to become a legendary trainer of journalists.”
Realnews reports that the building, which now stands majestically at the heart of the NIJ premises is said to be first infrastructure in the NIJ in 37 years and was built within five months.
The NIJ, established over 50 years ago, was jointly founded by the International Press Institute, IPI, and the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria as a retraining facility for practicing journalists.
A.I
Oct. 31, 2024
Tags: Ray Ekpu Sir Kingston- Kessington Adebutu Sir Kingston- Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre
