Media stakeholders harp on press freedom, principled journalism
- Katsina City News
- 14 Dec, 2024
- 269
Culled from Daily Trust
Stakeholders in the media have stressed the urgent need for government to ensure press freedom in Nigeria while journalists and media houses practice principled journalism.
They spoke on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2024 Annual Conference of the International Press Institute (IPI) themed ‘Democracy, Media Freedom and the Imperative of Protecting the Nigerian Civic Space’.
The chairman of the IPI Board of Trustees (BoT), Malam Kabiru Yusuf, urged journalists to remain steadfast in defending press freedom.
He linked freedom to health which value, he said, could only be felt when it is lost.
He said, “It is the journalists who feel the absence of press freedom when every part of the society is affected by it. We also carry the banner of freedom for all. That is a thing about journalists; it is not just about bread and butter but values like freedom.
“Freedom is what you don’t value unless you lose it. It takes ill health to value health. That is why a lot of young people carry on like they will live forever but when they get about my age, they begin to see they are mortal after all. They are then reminded.
“I can say somebody in the South read the story of the kids that were arrested during the hunger protest and say these kids are from Kano and not forget about them, but they say they are kids and whatever they did, let us look into their case and set them free. Ultimately, a political decision was made.”
The IPI Board of Trustees’ chairman added, “For me, in journalism, this is the highest. We exist to air what is going on in society, to give people the chance to speak their minds, and have debate on issues of the day.
“While this is not the day-to-day concern of the journalist, it is a value we share with the rest of the society. Ultimately, it is what keeps us proud to be journalists. We will continue to advance journalism.”
Also, a renowned media expert, Prof. Tonnie Iredia, called for a re-evaluation of media practices.
He urged journalists to embrace the agenda-setting role of the media, uphold ethical values, and move beyond superficial reporting.
“The media must focus not just on informing but also on educating. It should adopt a follow-up approach, work collaboratively with the public, and apply principled journalism to advance society,” he said.
He also called for collective action to protect press freedom, promote accountability and ensure that the media continues to serve as a cornerstone of Nigeria’s democracy.
The Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, urged media houses to be responsible in carrying out their duty and understand that “for every right, there is a corresponding responsibility, and that freedom does not come unbridled.”
He said media freedom involves knowing and acknowledging the immense power that the press wields, thus making it the shapers and moulders of public opinion and permanent public record.
He cautioned against abusing this power while coming to a realisation that the civic space is not only about freedoms.
On his part, the IPI president, Musikilu Mojeed, commended the collaboration that made the event possible and the participation of key stakeholders, including the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS) and representatives of the Nigeria Police Force.
He stressed the importance of dialogue in addressing challenges to press freedom.
“I see the same thing with freedom. We think it does not matter then we are busy with our own lives but when it touches us, we now realise the value of freedom. I am so proud that in the whole country, this is not something we sectionalise, it is not that someone will say this issue only affects them in the North or South or it affects Islam or Christianity.
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