....as Journalists are admonished to deviate from sensationalism* Kingsley Omoyeni Commissioner for Information and Civic Orient...
....as Journalists are admonished to deviate from sensationalism*
Kingsley Omoyeni
Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode today led other members of the State Information Chapel of Osun NUJ on a Thanksgiving Service at the Redeemed Christian Church of God, Osun Province 1 to kick start the Chapel's Press Week.
Also in attendance at the well attended Thanksgiving Service were: Coordinating Director, Ministry of Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Bukola Aderibigbe, Director, Press and Public Relations, Mr Mushood Sulaiman, Deputy Director, Mrs Toyin Adeoye as well as the Chairman of the Chapel, Comrade Abdulganiyu Sofiu.
In an admonition to Journalists in the state, the P.I.C.P, Osun Province 1, Osogbo, Pastor Olajide Oluwajobi, urged Journalists to avoid sensationalism but disseminate only information that can unite Nigerians instead of things that can further divide the nation.
Reading from the book of Isaiah 57: 7 and Second Samuel 4:10, Pastor Oluwajobi stressed that media practitioners have a huge role to play in the unity of the nation especially at this time that the nation is facing security challenges in every nook and cranny of the state.
He said Journalists should begin to realize that information is power and has the tendency to change the mentality and perception of the people weather positively or negatively, hence media practitioners have a duty to give out what is right and can unite the people at all times.
In an address at the service, Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Mrs Funke Egbemode urged consumers of information to endeavor to always visit only verified sources for their information so as not be misled.
While urging the people to always believe what is right at all times, the Commissioner advised them to always be carful of what they read or believe on social media, stressing that as good as the social media is, it is very capable of causing disunity if not well handled.
According to her, "Social media as beautiful and awesome as it is, we should be careful what we read and believe on social media pages, we should read and believe only what is right.
"There are quacks in this profession, we should avoid reading and believing what quacks write or disseminate, we should not continue to blame the real Journalists for the mistakes of quacks in our job". She stated.
Osun NUJ State Information Chapel Press Week continues tomorrow with the official opening ceremony and free medical check-up as well as a health talk.
COMMENTS